Opinion ID: 2113536
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: issues

Text: The defendant filed a pre-trial motion to suppress the aforementioned statements, which was overruled. At the trial, the statement was admitted into evidence over his objection. The basis for the motion and objection was that the statement had been taken without the defendant having first been properly advised. It is not denied that the officer taking the statement had told the defendant, prior to the interrogation, that he had a right to have a lawyer of his choice and that if he could not employ one, one would be appointed for him when they returned to Posey County. It is the defendant's contention that he was misled into believing that he was not entitled to counsel, as a matter of right, at the time of the interrogation and that, but for such misconception, he would not have submitted to it. The defendant relied upon Goodloe v. State, (1969) 253 Ind. 270, 252 N.E.2d 788, wherein we ordered a new trial because of the admission of statements made following an inadequate warning. In that case, the appellant had been advised that    if she didn't have any money for an attorney the state would furnish her an attorney. We held that to be insufficient under the requirements of Miranda v. Arizona, (1966) 384 U.S. 436, 478, 479, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694, because it did not inform her that she had the right to the presence of an attorney during the interrogation. Defendant's case, however, is more akin to Emler v. State, (1972) 259 Ind. 241, 286 N.E.2d 408 and Thompson v. State, (1971) 256 Ind. 48, 267 N.E.2d 49. In Emler v. State, supra, we held that informing the defendant of his right to appointed counsel, with the qualification that such counsel could be available only at a later time, did not imply the absence of a right to have counsel present during the interrogation, in view of a clear explanation of the defendant's right to consult with an attorney at any time before or during interrogation. In the case at bar, Defendant had signed a waiver form, as follows: INTERROGATION; ADVICE OF RIGHTS YOUR RIGHTS INDIANA STATE POLICE POST Place Danville Date 12-29-73 Time 12:03 A.M. Before we ask you any questions, you must understand your rights. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in court. You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions and to have him with you during questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you before any questioning if you wish. If you decide to answer questions now without a lawyer present, you will still have the right to stop answering at any time. You also have the right to stop answering at any time until you talk to a lawyer. WAIVER OF RIGHTS I have read this statement of my rights and I understand what my rights are. I am willing to make a statement and answer questions. I do not want a lawyer at this time. I understand and know what I am doing. No promises or threats have been made to me and no pressure or coercion of any kind has been used against me. Signed Lester Niehaus Witness: Tpr. Joseph R. Rhodes 1927 Witness: E. Reine 1454 Time: 1206 A.M. The testimony disclosed that the interrogating officers fully advised the defendant of his rights, as contained in the foregoing excerpt and that he stated that he understood them. There was no contention that the giving of such waiver was involuntary but only that the warnings given to him were misleading. Additionally, the evidence disclosed that the defendant had been interrogated on two prior occasions and had been advised on those two occasions that he was entitled to counsel during interrogation. The question to be determined by the trial judge upon the issue of the admissibility of the statements was whether or not they had been made voluntarily and with the knowledge that he was not required to make them. Clearly, the evidence was sufficient to warrant the conclusion that they were.