Opinion ID: 2061240
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Statements to Law Enforcement Officials.

Text: Circumstantial evidence established Washburne's presence at the murder scene. Owen's blood was found on Washburne's tennis shoe. The interviews of Washburne initially suggested he had little knowledge of the events prior to the murder. As more evidence was gathered by law enforcement officials, Washburne provided information in an attempt to build a case against Hooper. He admitted he picked up Hooper and Owen at a bar and dropped Owen off at her home. He later admitted to transporting them to the crime scene. After stating Hooper had killed the victim, Washburne later said he tried to hit Hooper with a baseball bat but missed and hit Owen. A. Washburne requested the court to suppress all statements he made to law enforcement officials. He argues the statements were not voluntary and were secured in violation of his constitutional rights. The statements were a result of interviews that occurred between July 15 and August 9. Washburne contends the use of these statements violated his rights under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. See Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 467, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 1624, 16 L.Ed.2d 694, 714 (1966). The State has the burden to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that Washburne's waiver of his constitutional rights was knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently given and that the inculpatory statements were made voluntarily. State v. Vincik, 398 N.W.2d 788, 789 (Iowa 1987). An express written waiver alone is not enough to establish waiver. Id. We have held [s]tatements are voluntary if they were the product of an essentially free and unconstrained choice, made by the defendant whose will was not overborne or whose capacity for self-determination was not critically impaired. State v. Payton, 481 N.W.2d 325, 328 (Iowa 1992). B. The first interview with Washburne began shortly before midnight on July 15 when he came to the Keokuk police station to speak with an officer about the homicide. DCI agent Mower, who did not know Washburne, spoke to him. After taking a break to compare Washburne's information with that of others who had been interviewed, Mower read Washburne his Miranda rights. During the interview, Mower and Washburne visited different areas of Keokuk tracing Washburne's travels on the evening of July 13 and the early hours of the 14th. On the evening of July 16, Washburne returned to the police station to talk to Mower. Mower again read Washburne his Miranda rights and Washburne acknowledged he understood his rights and waived them. During this interview, Washburne told Mower he was required to report to the Hancock County jail in Carthage, Illinois the next day and asked if he could talk to Mower before going there. Mower was not sure he would be able to see him before he left for Illinois, but told Washburne he would come to Carthage later that week. On July 17, Washburne reported to the Hancock County jail and began serving his jail sentence for theft. Mower went to the jail to talk to him on July 20 at about 2:30 p.m. Mower again orally advised Washburne of his Miranda rights and Washburne acknowledged he understood them and agreed to waive them. This interview continued for approximately one and one-half hours. At that time, Mower told Washburne he did not believe him. Washburne then said he had nothing else to say and Mower ceased asking questions. When Washburne asked if Mower thought he needed a lawyer, Mower told him he could not advise him. Mower left the jail and he did not participate in any other interviews with Washburne. Mower testified at both the suppression hearing and the trial. Keokuk Police Captain Dobson first interviewed Washburne regarding the homicide on July 20. The interview took place in the Hancock County sheriff's office and began about midnight and concluded at approximately 2:00 a.m. on the 21st. Dobson had been advised that Washburne had requested to speak to officer Gull of the Keokuk police department. Because Gull was not involved in the investigation, Dobson notified a deputy of the Hancock County sheriff's department that if Washburne wanted to talk to someone, he was available. After the deputy talked with Washburne, he advised Dobson that Washburne would speak to him. Dobson contacted Hedlund and reported Washburne's request. Both Dobson and Hedlund then traveled to the Hancock County jail. When they arrived, Dobson, using a written form from the Keokuk police department, advised Washburne of his Miranda rights. Washburne acknowledged that he understood his rights and wished to talk to the officers and signed the form. The interview lasted approximately two and one-half hours. Both Dobson and Hedlund asked Washburne questions. Dobson, who had known Washburne before the homicide investigation, testified at the suppression hearing as to the circumstances surrounding the interview, Washburne's demeanor, and his physical and emotional condition. On July 24, Dobson and Hedlund again went to the Hancock County jail at Washburne's request. This interview lasted one hour and twenty-five minutes. Dobson testified as to the circumstances and his observations of Washburne. On August 3 Dobson and Hedlund conducted two interviews with Washburne in the Hancock County sheriff's office. Again Washburne was advised of his Miranda rights and he consented to the interview and signed the form. At that time, Washburne told Dobson that he, Washburne, had been advised by his attorney that he should not talk about the case, but he still wanted to discuss it with Dobson and Hedlund. Additional interviews were conducted on August 4 and 9. Dobson testified that he administered the Miranda warning before each interview with Washburne, and that Washburne understood his rights and agreed to waive them. The written reports as to the conversations with Dobson were offered and received as evidence in the suppression hearing. Dobson also testified at trial. Dobson received collect calls from Washburne that were recorded by Hancock County jail officials and received as evidence at the suppression hearing. These telephone conversations took place on July 26, August 3, 9, and 10. Hedlund testified at trial about the interviews he and Dobson conducted on July 20, 24, August 3 and 4. He also testified as to the circumstances, Washburne's demeanor, and his ability to comprehend and answer questions. C. Washburne offered evidence at the suppression hearing and at trial to show he was incapable of voluntarily waiving his Miranda rights or voluntarily participating in interviews with law enforcement officials. Washburne was examined and treated for complaints of anxiety and hallucinations on August 4. The doctor who examined Washburne saw no evidence of psychosis. His assessment was that Washburne was experiencing short-term stress and depression. After Washburne was charged with murder, at his request, he was examined by a psychologist, Dr. Shepard, Ph.D., and a psychiatrist, Dr. Varner, M.D. At the State's request, Washburne was examined and tested by a psychiatrist, Dr. Taylor, M.D. Dr. Varner testified that, because of Washburne's mental condition at the time he was in the Hancock County jail, he did not have the mental capacity to effectively waive his constitutional rights or to make any knowing and voluntary statements to law enforcement officials. Washburne had involuntarily ingested methamphetamine on June 22 or 23, 1995, and as a result suffered from hallucinations. In Dr. Varner's opinion, the ingestion of methamphetamine in June had caused hallucinations and episodes of panic disorder. Between June 23 and August 14, Washburne continued to experience flashback and perception disorders. Based on his review of the taped telephone conversation of August 3, it was Dr. Varner's opinion that Washburne was extraordinarily anxious and probably was experiencing a panic attack at the time. In contrast, Dr. Taylor testified he did not find any indication of hallucinatory experiences during Washburne's interviews with law enforcement officials or during his examination of him. Additionally, Washburne denied he experienced panic attacks during the time he was being interrogated. Dr. Taylor testified the ingestion of methamphetamine on June 22 or 23 would have had no effect after a few days if no additional drugs were taken. Washburne assured Dr. Taylor he had not used any street drugs since June 23. In Dr. Taylor's opinion, Washburne was experiencing anxiety and depression that would not have a debilitating effect on Washburne's ability to appreciate and understand his Miranda rights or his ability to make voluntary statements or decisions. We consider a number of different factors in making our evaluation of the voluntariness of a statement. State v. Smith, 546 N.W.2d 916, 926 (Iowa 1996). In our consideration of the factors set forth in Smith, we find from the evidence Washburne was twenty years old at the time of the interviews. He had prior experience with law enforcement. He was not intoxicated or under the influence of drugs at the time of the interviews. He was provided Miranda warnings. He possessed average or above-average intellectual capacity. The officers did not act in a deceptive manner and Washburne appeared to understand and respond to questions. The interviews were spread over a twenty-five-day period. His reactions to the interviews were normal. Washburne was not subject to physical punishment or deprivation of food or sleep. Although Washburne was experiencing anxiety and depression, his emotional condition did not deprive him of his capacity for self-determination. We conclude the State met its burden to show that Washburne's waivers of his Miranda rights were knowing, voluntary, and intelligent, and that Washburne's incriminating statements were voluntary.