Opinion ID: 1325116
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Admission of Evidence Resulting from Statement to Armentrout.

Text: In the sentencing proceeding, the Commonwealth sought to introduce testimony of Armentrout concerning statements Frye made to him while they were incarcerated in the Alleghany County jail. Out of the presence of the jury, the court heard Armentrout's account of Frye's planned escape and statements to Armentrout about some of his past criminal activities. Overruling Frye's objections, the court admitted this testimony, testimony of Cale, and physical evidence relating to the alleged plan of escape. The testimony of Armentrout and Cale showed that Armentrout, a professed Christian, frequently spoke with Frye about his religious beliefs in an effort to convert him to Christianity. In the course of their conversations, Frye asked Armentrout to assist in his escape plan, ultimately writing a note to Armentrout on a dictionary page about securing the necessary tools. Armentrout gave this note to the jailor, who in turn delivered it to Cale. Cale and Armentrout then spoke about Frye's planned escape and his request that Armentrout help him. Cale asked Armentrout to notify Cale if Frye supplied any additional writings or anything. Accordingly, when Frye gave Armentrout the map depicting the site of the buried money, Armentrout turned this map over to Cale. Cale said he talked to Armentrout only twice, at their initial discussion, at which he requested any other information Armentrout obtained, and at the time when Armentrout gave him the map. Cale said they never discussed making a deal, but he conceded he told Armentrout he would mention his cooperation to the Commonwealth's attorney. Armentrout testified that his initial purpose in talking with Frye was his concern for Frye's salvation. He pursued the matter and helped the Commonwealth in an effort to see that the stolen money was returned. He confirmed Cale's account that he received no promises in return for his aid. Armentrout stated that he talked with Cale before he told Frye he could have a relative verify the existence of the money and, if it were there, help him in his escape plan. He said that Cale told him, in discussing the escape plan with Frye, to suggest certain information concerning the location and condition of police cars. As time went by, he said he gave Cale a couple letters Frye wrote to him in which Frye said that, having done his part, he wanted Armentrout to do his part in assisting his escape. Citing Massiah v. United States, 377 U.S. 201, 84 S.Ct. 1199, 12 L.Ed.2d 246 (1964), United States v. Henry, 447 U.S. 264, 100 S.Ct. 2183, 65 L.Ed.2d 115 (1980), and Maine v. Moulton, ___ U.S. ___, 106 S.Ct. 477, 88 L.Ed.2d 481 (1985), Frye contends this evidence was inadmissible because the Commonwealth obtained it by knowingly circumventing his Sixth Amendment right to the assistance of counsel. The Commonwealth argues, however, that the evidence is not tainted, saying Armentrout was not an agent of the Commonwealth because he, not the Commonwealth, initiated the informant relationship, he was not under the Commonwealth's control, and he received no promises in return for his help. The United States Supreme Court has recently rejected the notion that the Sixth Amendment right to counsel, after the accused is formally charged, adheres only when the government initiates the confrontation between an accused and an informant. See Moulton, ___ U.S. at ___, 106 S.Ct. at 486-87. While the Sixth Amendment is not violated when, by luck or happenstance, the government obtains incriminating statements from a defendant after his right to counsel has attached, the guarantee of this Amendment does extend to knowing exploitation by the government of an opportunity to confront the defendant out of the presence of counsel. Id. at ___, 106 S.Ct. at 487; see Henry, 447 U.S. at 276, 100 S.Ct. at 2189. In Moulton, however, the Court limited its holding in one crucial respect. The proscription against knowing circumvention of the right of the accused to have counsel present in any confrontation between himself and a government agent extends only to pending charges concerning which the right of counsel has attached. The legitimate public interest in thorough investigation of other criminal activities requires that the exclusionary effect of this rule not be extended to evidence of crimes not yet charged but obtained in surveillance of a defendant. Thus, only such statements as incriminate the defendant on the pending charges are obtained in violation of the Sixth Amendment and must be excluded. ___ U.S. at ___, 106 S.Ct. at 489. On the facts of the present case, any evidence obtained through the initial conversations of Armentrout and Frye was admissible because the police obtained such evidence by the fortuity of Armentrout's presence and his voluntary decision to bring the information he had learned to the attention of the police. However, once Cale knew that Frye would make statements he had a constitutional right not to make to a concealed agent of the police, as Armentrout became, continued use of Armentrout as an informant denied Frye his right to assistance of counsel and precluded use of any incriminating statements pertaining to the charge of capital murder. No such evidence, however, if elicited, was offered or used at trial. The only evidence resulting from Frye's statements to Armentrout introduced at trial was evidence of past and future planned criminal activity unrelated to the offense for which he was on trial. Such use of this evidence did not violate the Sixth Amendment.