Opinion ID: 75487
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: voluntariness of grayson's statements to law enforcement

Text: 155 Grayson contends that the trial court erred in denying this motion to suppress his confessions. He contends that his intoxication and alcohol withdrawal, as well the coercive environment in which he was questioned, made his statements unreliable and involuntary. We disagree. 156 The evidence offered at the suppression hearing amply supports the trial court's finding that the confessions were voluntary. For example, Sergeant Pratt testified that he did not smell alcohol on Grayson or see any other indications of alcohol or drug use. Grayson was not slurring his speech and the only time that Pratt experienced difficulty understanding Grayson during his interviews was when Grayson lowered his head and talked straight to the floor. Pratt acknowledged that no alcohol or drug tests were performed despite Grayson's statements that he had consumed gallons of wine the night before. He described Grayson's general demeanor as normal, although he admitted that Grayson appeared nervous a few times and became fidgety. The transcripts of Grayson's statements also do not suggest that he was intoxicated or suffering from alcoholic withdrawal at the time. Further, these transcripts demonstrate the officers' repeated and exhaustive efforts to apprise Grayson of his rights and to ensure that his statements were voluntarily given. In light of this record, we conclude that the trial judge did not err in denying Grayson's motion to suppress his confessions. 21 157