Opinion ID: 2389751
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: cooper's motion to suppress

Text: Cooper first argues that during the trip from Massachusetts to Bangor, he was under the influence of drugs adversely affecting his mental faculties and making him incapable of knowingly and voluntarily waiving his rights against self-incrimination. The trial court found otherwise, reasoning that the objective evidence coupled with the testimony of Officers Clarke and Wooster suggest the [defendant] is not out of touch with reality and lacking in the requisite mental faculties to waive his rights and make a statement to the police. The trial court concluded that beyond a reasonable doubt ... the state has shown that these statements were voluntary.... We review the trial court's finding as to Miranda issues for clear error. State v. Thompson, 603 A.2d 479, 480 (Me. 1992); State v. Leone, 581 A.2d 394, 397 (Me.1990). The hearing justice's determination that a statement was voluntary will not be overturned if the evidence rationally supports that determination. State v. Bragg, 604 A.2d 439, 440 (Me.1992). In ruling on the admissibility of the defendant's statements, the trial court must find by a preponderance of the evidence that he knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived his Miranda rights, and that his statements were voluntary beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Gosselin, 594 A.2d 1102, 1105 (Me.1991); State v. Bleyl, 435 A.2d 1349, 1358 (Me.1981); State v. Collins, 297 A.2d 620, 626-27 (Me.1972). The trial justice's determination in the present case that Cooper's statements were voluntary and not in violation of Miranda is rationally supported by the evidence presented at the suppression hearing and, therefore, is not clearly erroneous. Deputy James Wooster testified that he read Cooper his Miranda rights and that Cooper provided an oral response of yes to each segment. Furthermore, Wooster noticed nothing unusual about Cooper's physical and mental condition. In fact, Wooster stated that Cooper gave appropriate answers to all of the questions asked by Detective Clarke. Detective Clarke, an investigator experienced in observing drug users, also testified that he noticed nothing unusual about Cooper's reactions or his responses to questions that would indicate that he was impaired. Finally, the Superior Court's finding is further supported by the striking detail with which Cooper testified concerning his activities on the day of his interrogation. In particular, he remembered being read his rights and stated that he knew what his rights were. There was no evidence presented indicating that the officers acted in a coercive or intimidating manner. Rather, the officers testified that Cooper was both calm and responsive to questioning. Additionally, Cooper was aware of the nature of the charges pending against him in Maine. Finally, Cooper failed to present any medical evidence demonstrating that his state of mind was impaired at the time of the questioning by the two sheriffs. Rather, Cooper simply testified that he smoked some weed and smoked some crack on the morning of the interview. Even if the Court believed that testimony, that fact alone does not compel a finding that the defendant was unable to understand and voluntarily waive his rights. See State v. Tribou, 488 A.2d 472, 475 (Me.1985) (defendant had been drinking and smoking marijuana); State v. Finson, 447 A.2d 788, 792 (Me.1982) (even a person heavily intoxicated is not necessarily incapable of waiving constitutional rights). Therefore, in light of the evidence introduced at the suppression hearing, the record rationally supports the conclusion that Cooper's waiver of his Miranda rights was knowing, intelligent, and voluntary, and that the statements he made were voluntary. As a result, the Superior Court did not commit clear error.