Opinion ID: 1738279
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: First statement from Weeks to Bradford

Text: ¶ 47. Weeks generally cites the motion to suppress in his issue caption, but he never made any specific argument in his brief on the exclusion of this statement. He only specifically cites the tape-recorded statement in the brief. He does argue, however, that Bradford was an agent of the State. It is unclear whether this contention is made for the first statement. Therefore, the issues will be addressed. ¶ 48. During a suppression hearing, the trial judge sits as a fact finder. Hunt v. State, 687 So.2d 1154, 1160 (Miss.1996). The trial judge can only be reversed for manifest error if the decision is against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. Id. ¶ 49. The only testimony in the record relating to Bradford's status as an agent came from Sheriff Jones at the pretrial hearing and later Bradford himself at trial. Both testified that Bradford was not an agent of the State at the time of this first statement by Weeks. No testimony to the contrary was offered by the defense. ¶ 50. In light of the testimony and the holding in Hunt, the trial judge did not err, and the finding is not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. Consequently, the trial judge's ruling on this issue is affirmed.