Opinion ID: 3047130
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: May 12, 2009 Interview

Text: On May 12, 2009, NCIS Special Agent Mary Beth Eversman, FBI Agent Brian Ozden and National Security Agency Special Agent Steve Cutcliff interviewed Woods. The interview took place at Woods’s Fort Gordon workplace during his working hours. It began when Woods’s chief escorted him to a private office where the agents had gathered. After Woods’s chief left, the agents displayed their credentials and told Woods that they wanted to speak to him 2 because his email address had been associated with a child pornography website.1 The agents did not intend to take Woods into custody at this time; the agents did not handcuff Woods, and they did not tell Woods that he was under arrest. The agents were not armed. Agent Eversman later testified that Woods was free to leave or to refuse to speak to them. Woods gave no indication that he did not want to speak with the agents. Before questioning Woods, the agents gave Woods a form entitled “Military Suspect’s Acknowledgment and Waiver of Rights.” Agent Eversman later testified that pursuant to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the military must provide this waiver form to every military suspect in advance of interviewing the suspect about allegations against him, even if the suspect is not in custody. The waiver form, which Agent Eversman read aloud to Woods, stated: I . . . Morgan Chase Woods . . . have been advised by Special Agent(s) Mary Beth Eversman and Brian Ozden that I am suspected of receipt and/or transfer of child pornography. I have also been advised that: (1) I have the right to remain silent and make no statement at all; (2) Any statement I do make can be used against me in a trial by courtmartial or other judicial or administrative proceeding; (3) I have the right to consult with a lawyer prior to any questioning. This lawyer may be a civilian lawyer retained by me at no cost to the United States, a military lawyer appointed to act as my counsel at no 1 The agents gave Woods this false reason to protect Woods’s ex-wife. 3 cost to me, or both; (4) I have the right to have my retained civilian lawyer and/or appointed military lawyer present during this interview; and (5) I may terminate this interview at any time, for any reason. I understand my rights as related to me and as set forth above. With that understanding, I have decided that I do not desire to remain silent, consult with a retained or appointed lawyer, or have a lawyer present at this time. I make this decision freely and voluntarily. No threats or promises have been made to me. After reading the form, Agent Eversman asked Woods if he had any questions. Woods had no questions. Agent Eversman then asked Woods to indicate that he understood his rights by initialing next to each numbered paragraph on the form. Woods initialed each of the numbered paragraphs on the waiver form. In addition, both Woods and Agent Eversman signed the bottom of the waiver form. Then, Agent Eversman asked Woods to read the last paragraph of the form and asked Woods whether he would be willing to talk with her. Woods said yes. Woods never asked for a lawyer before or during the interview. The agents did not tell Woods that he would not be prosecuted if he cooperated. Agent Ozden testified that the agents made no threats, inducements or promises. Woods admitted that the agents made no promises to him at the time the agents advised Woods of his rights. However, Woods later testified that he was “flustered” at the time he signed the waiver form. 4 After signing the waiver form, Woods told the agents that he had viewed child pornography on his desktop computer at his current home but had received the child pornography inadvertently. Woods told the agents that he and his now ex-wife had used a different computer at their former home.2 The interview lasted approximately 30 minutes.