Opinion ID: 1436538
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: villarreal's confession

Text: Villarreal argues that his confession is inadmissible because his Miranda rights were violated and the police failed to record his confession. Detective Cowan testified that Villarreal confessed to having E.L. perform fellatio on him and to holding her down while Bedient raped her. Villarreal's confession was typed several hours after it was given and was signed by the officer to whom Villarreal confessed, but not by Villarreal.
Villarreal asserts that he refused to speak with the police after being arrested and therefore his confession was obtained in violation of his Miranda rights. The police may question an individual who agrees to speak with them after being read his Miranda rights. See State v. Wood, 868 P.2d 70, 83-85 (Utah 1993). Detective Cowan and Officer Hodgkinson arrested Villarreal, read him his rights, and questioned him. Initially, when asked if Villarreal agreed to talk with the police, Detective Cowan answered, At that time he refused to answer any questions. Detective Cowan then clarified his answer by stating that Villarreal did not refuse to answer, he did answer but denied his involvement in the crime. Denying involvement is different from refusing to answer. Defendant's initial hesitance to answer questions, which may be a natural reaction to being questioned, does not indicate that his right to remain silent was violated. State v. Whitsel, 339 N.W.2d 149, 152 (Iowa 1983). Denying involvement is an answer that may properly prompt further questioning from the police. Any lack of clarity about whether Villarreal agreed to speak with the police was resolved by Officer Hodgkinson, who testified that when he asked Villarreal, [D]o you wish to talk with me now? Villarreal responded, Yeah. Thus, defendant's Miranda rights were not violated.
Villarreal also asserts that his confession was inadmissible because the police failed to record it contemporaneously. The record of Villarreal's confession was made sometime after it was given, but the same day. The police officer to whom Villarreal confessed typed and signed it, but failed to have Villarreal sign it. At trial, Villarreal's counsel argued that Villarreal denied the confession ever occurred. We hold that the testimony concerning Villarreal's confession was properly admitted. See Holcomb v. State, 307 Md. 457, 515 A.2d 213, 214 (1986) (delayed commemoration of confession to police that was not signed by defendant was properly admitted); Boyd v. State, 430 N.E.2d 1146, 1148 (Ind.1982) (same). We have previously addressed the importance of making a contemporaneous record of a defendant's confession, whether by written or electronic means. See State v. Carter, 776 P.2d 886, 891 (Utah 1989). In Carter, we criticized the failure of investigating officers to record the defendant's confession verbatim and endorsed the practice of tape recording confessions, at least when possible. Such practice better ensures that the confession is accurate when presented to the finder of fact and removes some of the errors that naturally occur in the memories of all persons in recalling events, especially precise words. If an officer's memory of a confession is distorted, inaccurate, or incomplete, whether because of the lapse of time or a variety of psychological factors, the defendant may be forced into the dilemma of having to waive his right not to testify or allowing an erroneous account of the confession to go to the jury. Recording confessions guarantees that constitutional rights are protected and justice is effected. Id. Thus, electronic or other recording of a confession is a simple and inexpensive means of preserving critical evidence in an accurate form and should be implemented wherever possible. Villarreal argues that contemporaneous recording of a confession is not only a desirable practice, but is mandated by the Utah Constitution. A majority of courts ruling on the issue have held that contemporaneous verbatim commemoration of confessions is not constitutionally required. People v. Raibon, 843 P.2d 46, 49 (Colo.Ct.App. 1992); see In re R.J.C., 210 Ga.App. 286, 435 S.E.2d 759, 761 (1993); State v. Rhoades, 119 Idaho 594, 809 P.2d 455, 462 (1991); People v. Eccles, 141 Mich.App. 523, 367 N.W.2d 355, 356 (1984); Williams v. State, 522 So.2d 201, 208 (Miss.1988); Jimenez v. State, 105 Nev. 337, 775 P.2d 694, 696-97 (1989); State v. Gorton, 149 Vt. 602, 548 A.2d 419, 422 (1988). Only Alaska constitutionally requires contemporaneous recording of an accused's statements to police. See Stephan v. State, 711 P.2d 1156, 1162 (Alaska 1985). States that have required tape recordings or their equivalents have done so legislatively. See, e.g., Tex.Code Crim.P.Ann. art. 38.22, § 3 (Supp.1995). Notwithstanding the desirability of recording confessions, it is neither practicable nor possible to require contemporaneous recordings in all instances. When a formal confession is given in a police station, it could, and should, be recorded. But confessions, and admissions short of a confession, can be made anywhere at unexpected times and places where formal recording is impossible. Barring all such evidence would deprive the courts of much evidence that is generally reliable. Thus, we hold that contemporaneous recording of a confession is not mandated by the Utah Constitution.