Opinion ID: 283896
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: fellabaum's admissions in the absence of counsel

Text: 30 Fellabaum also urges that the trial court erred in admitting damaging statements made by him on three separate occasions to agent Tolan of the F.B.I. The heart of the objection is that Fellabaum's known counsel was not notified of any of the three sessions. 31 The trial court admitted the testimony after a hearing on the motion to suppress. In the course of the hearing, Tolan testified that on each occasion Fellabaum was given proper warnings and advised of his rights, consistent with Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966). He further testified that Fellabaum had requested on each occasion that his counsel, a Mr. Sonenshine, not be present; he 'did not want Mr. Sonenshine advised of the fact that he was being interviewed by the F.B.I.' (Tr. 46-47, 59, 63). At each questioning Fellabaum signed written waivers of his right to counsel. 32 At the time of his statements to Tolan, Fellabaum was in New York awaiting sentencing after a guilty plea in another matter; Mr. Sonenshine represented Fellabaum in such case. In addition, Attorney Sonenshine also represented Sherman Kaminsky, a co-conspirator in the instant action. 33 No claim is made that agent Tolan actually pressured or coerced Fellabaum into making the statements. The issue comes down to this: May a defendant, who has an identified counsel, be questioned when, after adequate constitutional warnings, he has fully, repeatedly, and affirmatively declined the presence of counsel? We conclude, under the circumstances appearing in this case, that such questioning is fully consistent with all constitutional safeguards. As stated in Miranda at page 475, 86 S.Ct. at page 1628: 34 'an express statement that the individual is willing to make a statement and does not want an attorney followed closely by a statement could constitute a waiver.' 35 This court stated in United States v. Smith, 379 F.2d 628, 633 (7th Cir. 1967), cert. den. 389 U.S. 993, 88 S.Ct. 491, 19 L.Ed.2d 486 (1967) that 36 'We are of the opinion that in post-Miranda cases the Miranda rule applies with greater force to preclude as unconstitutional the admission of statements resulting from in-custody interrogation after known retainer or appointment of counsel and without counsel's presence or approval, unless it very clearly appears that the accused deliberately and understandingly chose to forego the assistance of counsel at such interrogation.' 37 The burden of showing a waiver in this type of case rests heavily on the government, but we think that the factual situation in the case at bar is precisely what was referred to in the Smith case. Three separate times Fellabaum deliberately and affirmatively asserted that he did not want to have his counsel present after receiving full warnings as to his rights. No evidence to the contrary appears in the record. See United States v. Nielsen, 392 F.2d 849 (7th Cir. 1968). 38 The motion to suppress agent Tolan's testimony was properly denied.