Opinion ID: 1615154
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Motion to Suppress DNA

Text: Victorino argues that the trial court erred in denying his pretrial motion to suppress DNA samples and nail scrapings, which he claimed were forcibly obtained from him. [4] After holding an evidentiary hearing, the trial court held that Victorino freely and voluntarily provided DNA samples and nail scrapings. We agree. At the motion hearing, Victorino testified that after he was taken into custody, he was placed in an interview room. Victorino admits that he was properly advised of his Miranda [5] rights and that he agreed to give an interview. Victorino testified, however, that he refused the subsequent request of two uniformed investigators to provide DNA samples, saying he would not comply without a warrant. According to Victorino, Investigator Richard Graves then pried Victorino's mouth open while Investigator Charles Dowell swabbed Victorino's cheek; then, Dowell held Victorino's hand down, while Graves took nail scrapings. In contrast, Investigator Graves testified that when he asked to collect the samples, Victorino first stated that his DNA was already on record. When Graves indicated that he was unaware of that record, Victorino complied with the request, opening his mouth for the swab and allowing the collection of nail scrapings. According to Graves, Victorino never refused and was cooperative at all times. Investigator Dowell's testimony was completely consistent with the testimony of Graves. In addition, Sergeant Robert Kelly, who was standing outside the room's open door, testified that Victorino never asked that the sample not be taken, never said anything about a search warrant, and never resisted. Instead, Victorino was very cooperative and polite. The trial court specifically found the officers' testimony to be more credible than Victorino's testimony. In reviewing a trial court's order on a motion to suppress, this Court presumes that a trial court's findings of fact are correct and reverses those findings only if they are not supported by competent, substantial evidence. Appellate review of the trial court's application of the law to the historical facts is de novo. Cuervo v. State, 967 So.2d 155, 160 (Fla. 2007) (citation omitted) (citing Connor v. State, 803 So.2d 598, 608 (Fla.2001)). In this case, the trial court's findings that Victorino freely and voluntarily consented to providing DNA samples and fingernail scrapings are supported by competent, substantial evidence. Graves, Dowell, and Kelly testified that Victorino was cooperative and neither refused to give the samples nor demanded that the investigators first obtain a warrant. Furthermore, the trial court specifically found the investigators to be more credible than Victorino. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's denial of Victorino's motion to suppress DNA samples and nail scrapings.