Opinion ID: 2272453
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: J.F. Confesses to Beating A.F.

Text: The first portion of the interrogation began at approximately 7:30 p.m. and lasted about seventy minutes. The officers spent the first several minutes of the interview establishing J.F.'s voluntary presence and his ability to leave. [9] When first questioned, J.F. reaffirmed the story he had previously told another officer  that A.F. fell down the stairs because he accidentally kicked her. Within approximately five minutes, however, J.F. changed his story and admitted that he accidentally hit A.F. while play fighting. While J.F. initially only admitted to tapping A.F. in the stomach, within half an hour of interrogation, he admitted to hitting A.F. hard on both sides of her body and he demonstrated by punching the detective's hand with obvious force and touching the detective on his sides to show where the hooks landed on A.F. [10] Despite his admissions, J.F. maintained that he hit A.F. hard without realizing she was there because he kept swinging his arms with his eyes closed. Before ending the interview, the officers questioned J.F. about a possible sexual assault of A.F. by J.F. or another family member. J.F. said he did not think A.F. had ever been inappropriately touched and the officers did not push the issue. Sgt. Parker then asked J.F. if he fe[lt] a little better when [you] tell the truth? and J.F. responded, Sure do. At 8:42 p.m., Sgt. Parker told J.F that they were concluding the interview and offered him a soda or water. As Sgt. Parker was leaving the room he asked, You ready to go home ain't you?