Opinion ID: 2172991
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: admissibility of the defendant's pretrial statement

Text: Prior to trial a Goodchild hearing was held to determine whether the defendant had been properly advised of his rights and whether the defendant's statement concerning his place of residence was voluntarily made and thus admissible. The trial court concluded that the defendant had been properly advised of his rights and that the partial statement 4220 was voluntarily made. We have stated that the findings and conclusions of a trial court in a Goodchild hearing will not be upset unless they are against the great weight and clear preponderance of the evidence. State v. Hockings, 86 Wis.2d 709, 722, 273 N.W.2d 339 (1979); State v. Verhasselt, 83 Wis.2d 647, 653, 266 N.W.2d 342 (1978); Norwood v. State, 74 Wis. 2d 343, 364, 246 N.W.2d 801 (1976); McAdoo v. State, 65 Wis.2d 596, 605, 223 N.W.2d 521 (1974). At the hearing Detective McKale testified that he was present either in the office of the district attorney or the vice squad on February 28, 1978, at approximately 12:30 p.m. when the defendant, accompanied by his attorney, surrendered himself. McKale did not recall being instructed by the defendant's lawyer that the defendant was not to be questioned. Detective Kuehn testified that on February 28, 1978, at approximately 12:30 p.m., he had a conversation with the defendant which lasted ten to fifteen minutes. Kuehn stated that he advised the defendant of his rights and asked whether the defendant understood each of the rights, to which the defendant replied that he did understand. Kuehn testified that the defendant at that time appeared to be in a normal condition and not intoxicated. After advising the defendant of his rights, Kuehn testified that he asked the defendant the extent of his education and that the defendant told him he was a graduate of West Division High School in Milwaukee. Kuehn asked whether he read and understood the English language, and the defendant responded that he read, understood, and wrote it. Kuehn testified that the defendant also told him he was employed at Ethan Allen Boy's Home but was on leave. Kuehn then testified, I asked him where he lived, at which time he stated 4220, then he stopped and stated he was not to answer this question on advice of his attorney. In Norwood, supra at 463-65, we said: To be admissible into evidence, an inculpatory statement must be the voluntary product of a free and unconstrained will, reflecting deliberateness of choice. Pontow v. State (1973), 58 Wis.2d 135, 137, 205 N.W.2d 775. The question is whether it was obtained under such circumstances that it represents the uncoerced free will of the declarant or whether the circumstances deprived him of the ability to make a rational choice. Roney v. State (1969), 44 Wis.2d 522, 533, 171 N.W.2d 400. Whether or not a statement is voluntary and not the result of coercion depends on the totality of circumstances surrounding the statement. Grennier, supra, 210; McAdoo, supra, 605; Brown v. State (1974), 64 Wis.2d 581, 585, 219 N.W.2d 373. A careful balancing must be made between the personal characteristics of the declarant and the pressures to which he was subjected in order to induce the statement. State v. Wallace (1973), 59 Wis.2d 66, 81, 207 N.W.2d 855. In Schneidewind, supra, 117, this court set forth the relevant factors which must be considered on both sides of the balance: `. . . Courts must look to the totality of the circumstances in determining whether a confession or admission can be called voluntary. A court must examine such factors as the age of the accused, Haley v. Ohio (1948), 332 U.S. 596, 68 Sup Ct. 302, 92 L. Ed. 224; the education and intelligence of the accused, Townsend v. Sain (1963), 372 U.S. 293, 83 Sup. Ct. 745, 9 L. Ed.2d 770; the conditions under which the interrogation took place, Fay v. Noia (1963), 372 U.S. 391, 83 Sup. Ct. 822, 9 L. Ed.2d 837; the physical and mental condition of the accused, Blackburn v. Alabama (1960), 361 U.S. 199, 80 Sup. Ct. 274, 4 L.Ed. 242; and any inducements, methods and stratagems which were used to persuade the accused to confess, Lynumn v. Illinois (1963), 372 U.S. 528, 83 Sup. Ct. 917, 9 L.Ed.2d 922; and what the responses were to his requests for counsel, Haynes v. Washington (1963), 373 U.S. 503, 83 Sup. Ct. 1336, 10 L. Ed.2d 513.' The defendant argues that, in light of the totality of the circumstances, the partial statement, 4220, was involuntary and that it reflected the defendant's deliberate choice to follow the advice of counsel and not answer. We cannot accept this argument. [2] The defendant appeared voluntarily at the police station in the presence of his attorney and was advised of his constitutional rights. He does not now claim he was improperly or insufficiently so advised. Thereafter, the defendant spoke freely of his educational background, his ability to read, speak, and write English, and his employment. There is no suggestion that detectives used improper methods or that the conditions prevalent during the questioning were oppressive. Essentially the problem is whether the defendant's mid-answer realization that it might not be in his best interests to reveal his place of residence renders that portion he had already answered involuntary. We think not. It is improper to equate imprudence with involuntariness. Although the defendant may later regret what he has said, that alone does not alter the fact that when it was spoken it was `the voluntary product of a free and unconstrained will.' Pontow v. State, 58 Wis.2d 135, 137, 205 N.W.2d 775 (1973). On the basis of the record before us, we hold that the finding of voluntariness by the trial court is clearly not contrary to the great weight and clear preponderance of the evidence. [3] The defendant next contends that Detective Kuehn's testimony at trial to the effect that the defendant said 4220, and stopped was an impermissible comment upon the defendant's exercise of his fifth amendment right against self-incrimination. Our cases have consistently held it improper to comment upon a defendant's choice to remain silent at or before trial. Odell v. State, 90 Wis.2d 149, 152, 279 N.W.2d 706 Per Curiam (1979); Rudolph v. State, 78 Wis.2d 435, 441-42, 254 N.W.2d 471 Per Curiam (1977); Reichoff v. State, 76 Wis.2d 375, 379-80, 251 N.W.2d 470 (1977); State v. Johnson, 60 Wis.2d 334, 342-44, 210 N.W.2d 735 (1973). In Reichoff we characterized the improper testimony as manifestly designed to demonstrate a tacit admission of guilt on the part of the defendant. The purpose of the evidence was to allow the jury to draw an inference of defendant's guilt from the defendant's silence. 76 Wis.2d at 378. We do not think this characterization can be made of Detective Kuehn's testimony in this case. At the Goodchild hearing Kuehn's testimony included a direct reference to the defendant's choice to remain silent upon the advice of counsel. The trial court, however, after finding the defendant's statement admissible, instructed the prosecution that any reference to the fact that the defendant stated, `My attorney advised me not to say anything,' or whatever that was, would be improper. At trial Kuehn testified only that in response to a question about his address the defendant said 4220, and stopped. The words and stopped do not imply the defendant's guilt, nor do they `turn on the red light of potential prejudice' respecting the defendant's right to remain silent. Reichoff, supra at 380. Rather, we believe the words were merely a necessary explanation for the partial answer which, if left unexplained, would have suggested the defendant lived at an address other than the one involved in the case. Because we view this language as explanatory and not intended to suggest a tacit admission of guilt on the part of the defendant, Reichoff, supra at 378, we conclude that it did not constitute an impermissible comment upon the defendant's exercise of his fifth amendment rights.