Opinion ID: 2631750
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Testimony concerning propriety of subterfuge in police questioning

Text: Pantano asserts that the prosecution improperly asked, and Detective Given improperly testified, that lying to a suspect was proper according to his training and this court's precedent. Pantano reasons that the prosecution improperly utilized this line of questioning to vouch for Detective Given's credibility and to convey inadmissible hearsay. Pantano failed to object to this testimony on the grounds he now claims. His counsel merely objected to the form of the question posed to the witness, rather than to its substance, which is generally insufficient to preserve the claimed error for appellate review [28] unless it rises to plain error affecting substantial rights. [29] We conclude that this testimony does not constitute plain error and whatever error that could be ascribed to it did not affect Pantano's substantial rights in light of D.D.'s testimony and Pantano's confession. Finally, beyond misleading a suspect concerning his constitutional rights, it is proper for police authorities to use certain types of subterfuge as part of custodial and noncustodial interrogations.