Opinion ID: 2372367
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: voluntarinesscoercion

Text: In reviewing the trial court's determination regarding the voluntariness of a custodial confession or inculpatory statement, this court makes an independent determination based on the totality of the circumstances and does not reverse the trial court unless its determination is clearly against the preponderance of the evidence. Noble v. State, 319 Ark. 407, 892 S.W.2d 477 (1995). The factors to be evaluated in considering the totality of the circumstances include the age of the accused, lack of education, low intelligence, lack of advice of constitutional rights, length of detention, repeated and prolonged questioning, and the use of physical punishment. Id. This court reviews the evidence in the light most favorable to the state. Id. When conflicting testimony concerning the circumstances of a confession is offered, it is the trial court's province to weigh the evidence and resolve the credibility of the witnesses. Id. Conflicting testimony was introduced at the suppression hearing on the issue of whether Roberts and Oliver coerced appellant's statement by making references during his interrogation to his mother and sister-in-law and their potential criminal liability arising from items of contraband discovered during the search of their residences. Oliver testified that, during his interrogation, appellant made the statement that his mother and sister-in-law would be arrested unless appellant told the police what [they] want to know, to which Oliver replied that Gladys and Debra Moore were already arrested and would not be arrested again. The officers testified they discussed with appellant that Gladys and Debra Moore were in custody, but denied that any promises, threats or coercion occurred. The officers testified that, by his request, appellant's challenged statement was not recorded. The officers testified that appellant wanted to talk and Oliver testified appellant wanted to talk about cutting a deal. In contrast, appellant testified that threats were made about locking up his mother and that his statement was not true but was given to get his family out of jail which he felt was required in order to save them. According to the officers' testimonies, appellant's interrogation began at approximately 3:35 p.m. when appellant was read his constitutional rights, verbally acknowledged to the officers that he understood them, then read and signed a standard Arkansas State Police waiver of those rights. The evidence showed the interrogation lasted two to three hours. In its order denying the motion to suppress, the trial court stated: 9. Moore testified he had served in the military for almost three and one-half years, and State's Exh. D, Description of Subject, indicates he had a tattoo U.S.M.C. (usually United State [sic] Marine Corps) on his right bicep, and a 12th grade educational level. These factors are additional indication Moore's will was most likely not overcome by anything the officers may have done or by the general stress of the arrest and detention he described. 10. Moore apparently does not deny the statement, but claims he gave the statement to get his mother out of jail and to save them, meaning his mother and sister-in-law. Having found he understood his rights, waived them, and that his mother and sister-in-law were lawfully in custody that day, his reasons are understandable, but do not invalidate his statement on this record. Appellant's assertion that his statement was coerced by the officers' threats regarding his mother and sister-in-law presented an issue of credibility for the trial court which it adjudged in the state's favor. Given the conflicting evidence, we cannot say the trial court erred in rejecting appellant's claim that his statement was coerced and denying his motion to suppress.