Opinion ID: 323699
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: barfield's appeal

Text: 27 Barfield makes the same attack on his confession. It was obtained by Special Agent Gamber, accompanied by three other agents, pursuant to questioning at the Tripp home, where Barfield was living. Mrs. Tripp testified that Barfield was 'just like' one of her own children. The interrogation ws conducted in her presence. The interview began with Gamber reading the Miranda warning. Barfield then signed the customary waiver. Like Rybka, Barfield at first denied any knowledge of the burglary. After about 15 minutes, he admitted knowledge of the burglary but denied that he took any part in it. After about 45 minutes, Barfield did admit his participation. 28 As frequently the case in such incidents, the testimony concerning Barfield's confession is in sharp conflict. Barfield testified that Gamber promised that if he told the truth he would be placed on probation, that if he did not he could get 30 years. Moreover, Barfield said that Gamber told him that lying would result in his being thrown in jail that night. He claimed that at one point the agent told him that he was nothing but a 'd liar'. Nevertheless, on cross examination, Barfield said that he told the truth because Mrs. Tripp advised him to do it. 29 As in Rybka's case, Barfield was questioned at his own home, in the presence of a lady who looked upon him as if he were a son. He was read the Miranda warning and said he understood it. He signed the customary form, admitting that he understood his constitutional right to silence but agreeing to give it up. Moreover, Barfield had had previous experience with the police. The trial judge found him to have a 'maturity beyond his years'. 30 Barfield was only 14 years old but the individual questioned in West v. United States, 399 F.2d 467, 5 Cir. 1968, was only 15 and no parent was present at his interrogation, which was conducted at a juvenile facility. 31 As in Rybka's case, and indeed as in all such cases involving the voluntary or involuntary character of an alleged confession, including the waiver or nonwaiver of constitutional rights, we must resort to a critical, but fair and impartial, analysis of the totality of the circumstances. 32 In Barfield's case that procedure produces a result no different to that reached as to his associate, Rybka.