Opinion ID: 1859882
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Krishun's Motion to Suppress Statement

Text: ¶ 43. Krishun contends that the Miranda warnings were not administered prior to her being questioned and, therefore, her statement should have been suppressed. The United States Supreme Court said in Miranda that the Fifth Amendment privilege serves to protect persons in all settings in which their freedom of action is curtailed in any significant way from being forced to incriminate themselves. Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 467, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966). ¶ 44. Greg Conley, investigator for the Grenada County Sheriff's Department, testified as to the statement made to him by Krishun. The statement was made December 2, 1997, in the early morning hours between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m. Krishun had been picked up and brought to the sheriff's department. Officer Conley stated that Krishun was brought in as a witness only, not arrested on any charges. He testified that she was free to go at any time. After her statement was taken, she was returned home. In the suppression hearing, Officer Conley stated that other people, believed to be witnesses, were also questioned during the same period of time as Krishun. The other victim was also questioned. Krishun's statement was not recorded. Krishun was not locked up in a cell while the other witnesses were being questioned, but lay on a couch and went to sleep. After the witnesses were questioned, Officer Conley testified that Krishun was taken home. Officer Conley could not state how long Krishun had been at the sheriffs office, but it appears it was sometime. Officer Conley stated that at no time was Krishun under arrest. According to Officer Conley, it was only after the statements from the other individuals that Krishun was later arrested. ¶ 45. We find that there is no indication that Krishun asked that the questioning stop. The testimony of Officer Conley was that Krishun was not a suspect but a witness at the questioning. If Krishun had been arrested or forcibly detained, then why did the sheriffs department take her back home and then turn around to come back and arrest her? This Court finds that Krishun was not detained in custody without the ability to leave. Due to the circumstances, the officer for some reason wished to question the witnesses before they carried Krishun back home. Krishun was never placed in a cell nor was there any evidence of any restraint while at the sheriffs office. The court held a suppression hearing outside the jury's presence during the trial. We find that the trial court properly found the statements to be admissible.