Opinion ID: 2830344
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Personal characteristics

Text: Mr. Rodebaugh argues several personal characteristics indicate his confession was involuntary. In particular, he contends his “ability to exercise clear and rational judgment was compromised” during the interview due to sleep deprivation. Aplt. Br. at 27. He notes he had slept for only about three hours over the two days before the interview. He states he asked the law enforcement agents if the interview could take place after a nap, but they refused. Mr. Rodebaugh’s daughter-in-law testified that, after the interview, “his mental state was distraught; extremely worn out” due to sleep deprivation. ROA, Vol. III at 105. Mr. Rodebaugh’s arguments are not persuasive. - 10 - The district court found Mr. Rodebaugh’s lack of sleep was the “normal course” for him. Id. at 320. It noted that another guide, a witness at trial, testified that Mr. Rodebaugh slept typically only a couple hours each night and some nights not at all. The witness noted that although Mr. Rodebaugh was “worn down” on the day of the interview, this “wouldn’t have been any different from any other season.” Id. at 312. The court also found Mr. Rodebaugh did not exhibit physical signs of sleep deprivation, like nodding off. He was coherent throughout the interview. In fact, he drove himself to the interview and back. The record also contains no evidence to indicate Mr. Rodebaugh “was unusually susceptible to coercion because of age, lack of education, or intelligence.” Lopez, 437 F.3d at 1065 (quotations omitted). As the district court said, “At the time of his confession, the defendant was a 69-year-old man who was operating a successful guiding business.” ROA, Vol. III at 319.7 Mr. Rodebaugh graduated from high school and completed some trade school. The district court noted he was healthy and not taking any medications. Mr. Rodebaugh fails to demonstrate the district court’s findings on his characteristics, which weigh in favor of voluntariness, were clearly erroneous.