Opinion ID: 1163394
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Voluntariness of Witt's Confession

Text: In her third claim of error, Witt challenges the voluntariness of her confession and contends the district court erred in denying her motion to suppress the statements she made to Special Investigator Callaghan. She alleges her confession was induced by a deputy's statement that the length of her stay in jail depended upon her cooperation in the investigation. Witt additionally challenges her confession's voluntariness on grounds that she was not permitted to communicate with her family and was interrogated by a government agent trained in stealth interrogation while she was suffering from sleep deprivation and the stress of her boyfriend's death. In evaluating the voluntariness of an accused's statements, we must examine the totality of the circumstances surrounding the interrogation. Vigil v. State, 859 P.2d 659, 664 (Wyo.1993); Burk v. State, 848 P.2d 225, 233 (Wyo.1993). Statements are made voluntarily if they are the product of a free and deliberate choice rather than intimidation, coercion, or deception. Vigil, 859 P.2d at 664 (quoting Frias v. State, 722 P.2d 135, 142 (Wyo.1986)). Mere emotionalism and confusion do not necessarily invalidate a statement or confession. Black v. State, 820 P.2d 969, 975 n. 4 (Wyo.1991) ( citing Corn v. Zant, 708 F.2d 549, 567 (11th Cir.1983), cert. denied, 467 U.S. 1220, 104 S.Ct. 2670, 81 L.Ed.2d 375 (1984), vacated on other grounds, 772 F.2d 681 (11th Cir.1985)). Lastly, statements by the police to the effect that it would probably go easier for the accused if she cooperated have been declared innocent and constitutionally acceptable. Black, 820 P.2d at 976 ( citing United States v. Leon Guerrero, 847 F.2d 1363, 1366-67 (9th Cir.1988); Hawkins v. Lynaugh, 844 F.2d 1132, 1139-41 (5th Cir.1988), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 900, 109 S.Ct. 247, 102 L.Ed.2d 236 (1988); United States v. Pelton, 835 F.2d 1067, 1072-73 (4th Cir. 1987), cert. denied, 486 U.S. 1010, 108 S.Ct. 1741, 100 L.Ed.2d 204 (1988); United States v. Guarno, 819 F.2d 28, 31 (2nd Cir. 1987); Beasley v. United States, 512 A.2d 1007, 1015-16 (D.C.App.1986), cert. denied, 482 U.S. 907, 107 S.Ct. 2485, 96 L.Ed.2d 377 (1987); State v. Robertson, 219 Neb. 782, 366 N.W.2d 429, 433 (1985)). In opposition to a motion to suppress alleged involuntary statements, the prosecution must convince the trial judge by a preponderance of the evidence that the confession was voluntary. Dodge v. State, 562 P.2d 303, 308 (Wyo.1977). This Court will uphold a district court's factual determinations on a motion to suppress unless we find them clearly erroneous. Wilson v. State, 874 P.2d 215, 218 (Wyo.1994). Since the district court conducts the hearing on the motion to suppress and has the opportunity to: assess the credibility of the witnesses; the weight given the evidence; and make the necessary inferences, deductions and conclusions, evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the district court's determination. Wilson, 874 P.2d at 218 ( citing United States v. Werking, 915 F.2d 1404, 1406 (10th Cir. 1990)). The record does establish, as Witt contends, that Deputy Sisson informed her the length of her stay in jail depended upon the investigation's outcome and her cooperation in that investigation. The record also confirms that Witt was detained for close to six hours before Special Investigator Callaghan arrived and began her interrogation of Witt, and during that time Witt was emotional, experienced difficulty staying awake and was not permitted contact with her family. The record also discloses, however, that Witt was twice advised of her Miranda rights: initially during her trip from Chugwater to the Platte County Sheriff's Office and a second time just before she provided her taped statement to Callaghan. Additionally, she was twice asked, once at 10:30 p.m. before Callaghan arrived and once around midnight by Callaghan before she began questioning Witt, whether Witt would prefer to go home and return in the morning for questioning. Witt declined both invitations. The district court had the opportunity to consider the totality of the circumstances outlined above and the demeanor of the witnesses in presenting the evidence. Upon review of the record, viewing it in the light most favorable to the district court's determination, we cannot conclude that the finding of voluntariness was clearly erroneous. The district court did not err in admitting Witt's statements.