Court Opinion

ID: 9792714
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 02:35:00.264386+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:44.764770
License: Public Domain

Chief Justice ROVIRA
dissenting:
The majority concludes that defendant’s request for counsel was clear and unambiguous, and therefore, affirms the trial court’s ruling suppressing statements made by defendant during an interrogation. Because I do not believe the record supports this conclusion, I would reverse the trial court’s suppression ruling and remand the case for a supplemental eviden-tiary hearing to determine whether defendant’s request for counsel was ambiguous and, if so, whether further questioning of defendant fell within the permissible limits set forth in Smith v. Illinois, 469 U.S. 91, 105 S.Ct. 490, 83 L.Ed.2d 488 (1984).
I
The facts pertinent to this dissent occurred after defendant arrived at the Arva-da police station. Once defendant was booked-in, Detective Buckley and Sergeant Roemer began interviewing him at approximately 4:45 p.m. on August 21, 1992. Buckley advised defendant of his Miranda 1 rights from a written departmental form. Defendant was told that the police officers wanted to question him regarding “an alleged sexual assault.” Evidently, this was the first time defendant was informed of the reason for his arrest. What transpired next was a source of some confusion at the suppression hearing. At the hearing, Buckley testified that defendant stated2 that he wished to speak to an attorney to discuss a polygraph test. Buckley was aware that defendant had taken a polygraph test in the course of a sexual assault investigation approximately 20 years earlier. Apparently, trying to clarify what defendant meant when he made this request for counsel, Buckley inquired as to whether defendant was referring to the polygraph test taken in connection with the previous investigation. When defendant responded affirmatively, Buckley informed him that they were not investigating that incident, and Roemer informed defendant that the statute of limitations had run on that potential charge. Buckley then asked if defendant still wished to consult an attorney. However, knowing the police were not interested in the prior investigation, defendant did not reassert his desire to see an attorney; rather, he agreed to answer some questions. Buckley readvised defendant of his Miranda rights and asked if defendant understood them. Defendant not only said he did, but he signed a waiver form so indicating.
Defendant was charged with third degree sexual assault.3 He entered a plea of not guilty and moved to suppress statements he made during the interview.4 At the suppression hearing, defendant argued that the statements: (1) were obtained in violation of his rights under the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article II, section 18, of the Colorado Constitution because his initial request for an attorney had not been honored; (2) *1366were the result of an invalid waiver of Miranda rights because he was never properly informed of the charges about which he was to be questioned; and (3) were obtained in violation of Rule 5 of the Colorado Rules of Criminal Procedure. The trial court agreed with at least two of defendant’s arguments and ordered the statements suppressed.5 As the majority opinion only addresses whether defendant clearly and unambiguously requested counsel, I will do the same.
II
A
In Edwards v. Arizona, 451 U.S. 477, 484-85, 101 S.Ct. 1880, 1885, 68 L.Ed.2d 378 (1981), the Court held that “an accused ... having expressed his desire to deal with the police only through counsel, is not subject to further interrogation by the authorities until counsel has been made available to him, unless the accused himself initiates further communication, exchanges, or conversations with the police.” However, the rule of Edwards is not absolute. Specifically, if a suspect’s request for counsel is either ambiguous or equivocal, the authorities may properly question the suspect for the limited purposes of clarifying the suspect’s ambiguous statement or to elucidate the suspect’s wishes regarding the presence of counsel. Smith v. Illinois, 469 U.S. 91, 105 S.Ct. 490, 83 L.Ed.2d 488 (1984); Nash v. Estelle, 597 F.2d 513 (5th Cir.), cert, denied, 444 U.S. 981, 100 S.Ct. 485, 62 L.Ed.2d 409 (1979); and People v. Benjamin, 732 P.2d 1167 (Colo.1987). Thus, in evaluating the trial court’s ruling, we must examine the record to determine whether defendant clearly invoked his right to counsel. Because I would find that the record is unclear on this issue, there is no need to determine whether further questioning of defendant fell within the limits set forth in Smith and its progeny.
B
Based on the record, it is apparent that defendant requested, in some sense, the assistance of counsel. It is far from obvious, however, whether this request was clear and unambiguous, or equivocal and conditional so as to bring Buckley’s further questions within the purview of Smith v. Illinois, 469 U.S. 91, 105 S.Ct. 490, 83 L.Ed.2d 488 (1984), and if within Smith, to determine if defendant effectuated a valid waiver of his right to counsel.
The record of the suppression hearing reveals that after originally reading defendant his Miranda rights, Buckley testified that defendant replied “he would like an opportunity to discuss the polygraph that he had taken in reference to this incident.” The prosecution then inquired, “Did he say it pretty much in that way as all one sentence or were — was the fact that he wanted an attorney and he wants to discuss the polygraph interpreted by a question from you at all?” Buckley responded, “No, it was basically all — all in one. He said he wanted to talk with an attorney and discuss with him in reference to the polygraph.”
*1367On cross-examination, counsel asked Buckley whether, following his advisement, defendant stated, “I’d like to have an attorney”? Buckley responded, “Well, he said that in conjunction with the other part of that I previously testified to.”
On redirect, the prosecution indicated that he would like to play the tape recorded interview where the request for counsel and the discussion of the polygraph test and prior investigation occurred. While the exact reason for playing the recording is not stated, it appears that counsel sought to play the recording because there was confusion regarding precisely what defendant said and how Buckley responded. Though Buckley was the sole witness at the hearing and the tape might have clarified exactly what was said by Buckley and defendant, the trial court did not allow the People to play the tape at the suppression hearing.6
From the preceding facts, the majority concludes that defendant’s request for an attorney, based upon his assumption that the interrogation involved a previous sexual assault investigation, was neither ambiguous nor equivocal. Maj. op. at 1364. The majority incorrectly asserts that “[a] request for an attorney must be ambiguous from its inception ... to permit ... limited further questioning of the defen-dant_” Maj. op. at 1363 (emphasis added). In fact, in deciding if a request for counsel is ambiguous, the focus is not just on the request itself; rather, questioning does not have to cease if the circumstances leading up to the request for counsel render the request ambiguous. Smith v. Illinois, 469 U.S. 91, 98, 105 S.Ct. 490, 494, 83 L.Ed.2d 488 (1984) (emphasis added). The source of confusion and uncertainty surrounding defendant’s request for counsel arises from the fact that he had been investigated for a sexual assault 20 years prior to this arrest, and he believed the present arrest and questioning involved that incident. Because of the prior investigation and Buckley’s knowledge of the pri- or investigation, the circumstances of the interview are such that it is unclear whether defendant requested counsel to discuss his old polygraph test and then, upon realizing the prior investigation was not at issue, waived his right to counsel; or whether he requested counsel be present in a general sense pursuant to Miranda.

III

The role of the trial court during a suppression hearing is critical. “In ruling on a motion to suppress a confession or inculpa-tory statement, a court must engage in both factfinding and law application.” People v. Gennings, 808 P.2d 839, 844 (Colo.1991). Factual findings by the trial court must provide a reviewing court with “a clear understanding of the basis of the trial court’s decision and ... enable [the appellate court] to determine the ground on which it reached its decision.” Mowry v. Jackson, 140 Colo. 197, 201-02, 343 P.2d 833, 836 (1959). In the course of suppressing defendant’s statements, the trial court stated “he [defendant] then invoked his rights to have an attorney and was talked out of it by the detective.” There is no evidence to support the contention that Buckley talked defendant out of invoking his right to counsel; therefore, not only are we not bound by this finding of fact, see People v. Johnson, 653 P.2d 737, 740 (Colo.1982) (factual findings with no basis in the trial record are clearly erroneous and must be set aside), but if the court did indeed find defendant’s request for counsel was unambiguous and not honored, the trial court apparently relied upon this incorrect fact. Compelled by these considerations, along with the fact that the court failed to listen to the tape recording which could have clarified whether defendant clearly invoked his right to counsel, I believe the trial court failed to provide a clear understanding of the basis of its decision by not sufficiently examining whether defendant’s request for counsel was ambiguous or clear.
IV
While the exclusion of evidence is sanctioned to deter and remedy against the *1368abuse of constitutional rights, People v. Hamilton, 666 P.2d 152 (Colo.1983), it “is not intended as a barrier to prevent the police from carrying out their functions and duties when the police action is reasonable.” People v. Eichelberger, 620 P.2d 1067, 1071 n. 2 (Colo.1980). Due to the serious consequences of excluding relevant and probative evidence, I believe this case should be remanded to illuminate the facts surrounding the request for counsel to determine if the police action was a reasonable attempt to clarify defendant’s wishes, or rather, a deprivation of his constitutional rights.
In sum, while the record supports the trial court’s conclusion that defendant in some way requested the assistance of counsel, the court made no findings regarding the issues of whether that request was ambiguous and if so, whether the further questioning of defendant without the presence of counsel was constitutionally permissible, and if permissible, whether defendant waived his right to counsel. Because the record is insufficient, I would not reach the merits of the People’s argument. I would reverse the trial court’s suppression ruling and remand the case with instructions to more fully assess the merits of defendant’s claim that his request for counsel was not honored by the authorities in violation of the United States and Colorado Constitutions.
Accordingly, I respectfully dissent.
I am authorized to say that Justice VOLLACK joins in this dissent.

. Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966).

. This characterization of defendant’s request is used simply in the interest of clarity and should not be regarded as a conclusion as to what precisely was said by either the defendant or Detective Buckley. See infra § 11(B).

. See § 18-3-404, 8B C.R.S. (1986).

.The interview lasted 22 minutes. During that time, defendant admitted kissing the victim once while she was at his home. He also recalled that he telephoned her and apologized for kissing her. After Buckley remarked that he "should tell the truth for one time in his life," defendant told Buckley to throw him in jail and get him an attorney. At this time, the interview ended and defendant was not questioned any further.

. It is unclear from the record upon what legal basis the trial court suppressed defendant’s statements. In response to the Peoples’ request to play the tape recorded interview, the trial court stated:
I’m not exactly sure — well, that may be an issue — [defendant’s request for counsel and possible waiver] but I’m not exactly sure that’s the definitive issue. The issue, as I see it at least — well, it's two-fold, and that’s there may have been a violation of Rule 5 of the Criminal Rules of Procedure. Greater than that is whether or not in fact — well, there are two issues — whether or not there was a proper waiver of the Miranda rights, but the issue comes as to whether or not there was a proper waiver of Miranda rights as to the question of whether or not the defendant was properly advised as to what the charge was; and I think if you get past those two issues, Mr. Poland, I will then go and listen to the tape to see whether or not he actually did waive or whether or not he didn’t waive....
(Emphasis added.) The trial court proceeded to issue its ruling suppressing the statements; however, the court never asked the prosecution to play the tape recording of the interview. This fact suggests that whether the interrogating officers failed to honor defendant’s request for an attorney was not a basis for the court’s decision.

. See supra n. 5.