Opinion ID: 1696930
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Whether the Defendant's Miranda Rights Were Violated, Rendering the Defendant's Unsigned Statements Inadmissible

Text: ¶ 29. Jordan argues that his constitutional right to counsel was violated when he was interrogated despite having requested counsel and refused to sign a waiver-of-rights form. Jordan testified at the suppression hearing and reiterates on appeal that he requested an attorney when he was being questioned by Captain Chambers, but was told by the captain that his statement would not be used against him. ¶ 30. In Miranda, the United States Supreme Court held that the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments' prohibition against compelled self-incrimination requires that the accused be advised of his right to remain silent and his right to counsel before any custodial interrogation. Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966). Once advised of his Miranda rights, an accused may waive these rights and respond to interrogation. North Carolina v. Butler, 441 U.S. 369, 374-75, 99 S.Ct. 1755, 60 L.Ed.2d 286 (1979). ¶ 31. Waiver must be voluntary, knowing, and intelligent. Miranda, 384 U.S. at 444, 86 S.Ct. 1602. The prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a statement was given after a valid waiver. See, e.g., Coverson v. State, 617 So.2d 642, 647 (Miss.1993) (citations omitted). Waiver is considered voluntary if it is the result of a free and deliberate choice rather than intimidation, coercion or deception. Id. Knowing and intelligent waiver must be made with a full awareness both of the nature of the right being abandoned and the consequences of the decision to abandon it. Id. (citations omitted). However, this Court has held that a defendant's refusal to sign a waiver does not constitute a per se invocation of his Fifth Amendment rights. Adams v. State, No. 95-KA-01012-SCT, 1997 WL 663086, 1997 Miss. LEXIS 514, at  (Miss. Oct. 16, 1997) (citing Mohr v. State, 584 So.2d 426, 429 (Miss.1991)). ¶ 32. The trial court determines whether a statement was coerced or given after a voluntary, knowing, and intelligent waiver of rights. Baldwin v. State, 757 So.2d 227, 234 (Miss.2000). The judge may admit a statement if the totality of the circumstances indicates beyond a reasonable doubt that the statement was freely given. Id. (citing Smith v. State, 737 So.2d 377, 382 (Miss.Ct.App.1998)). The determination of the voluntariness of a waiver of rights is a mixed issue of law and fact. Holland v. State, 587 So.2d 848, 860 (Miss. 1991) (citations omitted). Therefore, this Court will not reverse a trial court's findings if they were based on appropriate principles of law and supported by substantial evidence. Id. ¶ 33. In this case, Judge Lewis conducted a suppression hearing outside the presence of the jury and concluded that the prosecution had proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Jordan's waiver was valid. Frost v. State, 483 So.2d 1345, 1350 (Miss.1986); Manix v. State, 895 So.2d 167, 180 (Miss.2005). ¶ 34. In the early morning hours of April 28, 2005, Captain Chambers and Detective Hankins took a statement from Jordan. Captain Chambers testified that before the questioning began, he advised Jordan of his Miranda rights. He further testified that Jordan did not request an attorney, and that he was not threatened or coerced in any way. The testimony of Detective Hankins corroborated this. Later in the morning on April 28, 2005, Detective Oliver testified that he advised Jordan of his Miranda rights before questioning him. Furthermore, he testified that Jordan was not threatened or coerced in any way, and that Jordan stated he did not want to sign a waiver-of-rights form, but that he was willing to talk to officers. Detective Oliver testified that Jordan never requested an attorney, and never expressed a desire to stop the interview. MBI Officer Milton Williams, who was also present during Detective Oliver's interrogation of Jordan, testified that Jordan never requested an attorney. ¶ 35. The trial court found both statements were given after a voluntary, knowing, and intelligent waiver. The trial court applied the proper legal standards and found that, after being advised of his Miranda rights, Jordan made voluntary statements to the officers that were in no way a product of threats, coercion, or promises. Accordingly, we find this issue to be without merit.