Court Opinion

ID: 8572379
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-23 15:12:39.849207+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:53:55.755795
License: Public Domain

Latimer, Judge
(dissenting):
1 dissent.
The majority finds an issue of the involuntariness of accused’s pretrial statement because the triers of fact could have concluded it was the result of an unlawful inducement pressed upon him by law enforcement agencies. As I interpret the Court’s opinion, the inducement finds its root in alleged statements by an investigator that unless the accused cooperated with him, the prosecution would be turned over to civilian authorities and it would be better for him to be tried by the military. The question, therefore, is simply whether those statements could be found to have constituted either a threat or an inducement which so operated on the mind of the accused as to deprive him of that mental freedom of choice inherent in a voluntary confession. In my judgment, they could not and I will analyze them in the order stated.
In considering the first assertion that the accused would be turned over to Federal civilian authorities unless he cooperated with the military service, I fail to understand how or in what way that was an illegal or unlawful threat. This is not a case of obtaining a statement by threats of prosecution, for the accused had every reason to know he would be tried for his offenses. Both Federal and military authorities were involved in investigating and arresting him and either could have proceeded against him for his criminal conduct. It was not suggested that he would not *595be prosecuted if he confessed or that he would be extended leniency by either department of Government. Moreover, he knew his offenses were serious and, regardless of which agency tried him, if found guilty, he would receive a severe sentence. Much can be said in favor of the fundamental fairness of either or both systems and many well-informed judges believe the civilian courts afford an accused more protection than do courts-martial — a concept I do not share — but merely suggesting that one or the other might represent the Government is no more than a fair statement of the possibilities that existed in this instance.
Moving on to consider the effect on the accused of that statement, he makes no showing that he was frightened to such an extent he confessed to an offense he did not commit. Of course, he made a statement that he feared being turned over to the civilian officials but when interrogated as to the basis for his fears he conceded he did not know. Neither do I except the fear that naturally arises from the prosecution for the commission of a serious offense. Fear springing from that source is not coercion within the meaning of the law.
The second statement that accused would be benefited if prosecuted by military authorities was nothing more than an expression of a personal opinion of the interrogator. But it was not improper or illegal and it could not have deprived the accused of his freedom of choice. He well understood he was not required to make any statement and if he relied on the opinion, he knew he would be tried and the statement would be used against him. I, therefore, do not find that he was induced to speak involuntarily. In cases of this nature we must set some standard of reasonableness, otherwise investigators will be denied the right to converse with persons accused of a crime. The theory behind the rejection of involuntary confessions is that they are likely to be untrustworthy because they are the product of a mind which is harassed by unlawful influences. However, the pangs of the conscience and the fears incident to prosecution* do not fall jin that category. Moreover, much of accused’s statement was exculpatory and repeated by him at the trial. That hardly suggests that the original product was wrung from him by unlawful acts.
The remaining claim of involuntariness stems from accused’s allegations that he was “pressed hard” by not being allowed to see his wife or visit his off-post home. Under the circumstances, detention and restriction of the accused to his company area was ordinary procedure and accused knew the reasons for his confinement within bounds. Administrative restriction to assure a suspect’s “continued presence pending investigation” is specifically authorized by both the Code and the Manual. Article 9, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 USC § 809; paragraph 205, Manual for Courts-Martial United States, 1951. In addition, being “pressed hard” is a vague and nebulous phrase, and accused offers little to support or clarify his statement. It was never asserted that the motivation for his pretrial statement was the possibility of permission to leave the post or see his wife, nor is it contended that such an inducement was ever offered. No doubt the accused labored under considerable fear and strain during this period for much incriminating evidence had not been uncovered. Faced with the prospect that additional information would be obtained which would multiply his offenses, fears and mental torture would seem normal in all save perhaps the most hardened criminals. Such mental reactions, springing as they do from a personal consciousness of guilt, cannot be used as the basis for a showing of involuntariness. United States v Hagelberger, 3 USCMA 259, 12 CMR 15; United States v Colbert, 2 USCMA 3, 6 CMR 3.
There is yet another reason why this case should not be reversed. Assuming, arguendo, that accused’s testimony raised an issue of voluntariness, I would apply the doctrine of compelling evidence. The statement was not a confession and it added little to the quality or quantity of the evidence for the prosecution. On even a hasty perusal of the record, one is struck with *596the weight and credibility of the evidence supporting the Government’s case. During the evening of September 4, 1956, shortly after his apprehension, accused was found to be in possession of marked and recorded bills which had been dusted with powder and planted in the mails. Though his fingers, under the fluorescent light, gave mute testimony to the illegal acquisition of the bills, accused’s sole unsupported explanation was that the money had been received in change at the post exchange.
Shortly thereafter, nine unopened letters addressed to men in his company were found in a magazine on the front seat of his car. The explanation in this instance was that the addressees had not been present for mail call on September 4, and the mail had subsequently been forgotten. Four of the addressees testified at trial that they had been present when mail was distributed that day. Another unsealed letter found in accused’s jacket pocket was similarly explained, and the addressee testified that he, too, had been present for mail call.
A search of the trunk of accused’s car later in the evening of September 4, 1956, revealed twenty-two letters postmarked in February and March 1956. In his written admission, accused stated that such letters had been the subject of a previous investigation involving complaints of money missing from letters, that they had been placed in the trunk during preparation for an inspection and subsequently forgotten.
On September 5, 1956, a search of accused’s apartment was conducted with his permission. Investigators found a bundle of letters, wrapped with the type of cord used at the post office and placed in a drawer behind some clothing. Accused sought to explain this in his statement by saying that these letters had been taken home for readdressing at night some months previously, that he did not know how the letters had gotten in that particular location, but they could have been carried there by the children.
In the light of the foregoing evidence, I have no difficulty in concluding that accused was not prejudiced by the erroneous instruction, even if it is assumed that the voluntariness of his statement was placed in issue. Apart from any damaging testimony in his pretrial statement, a chain of circumstances has been forged which unerringly compels the objective observer to a finding of guilt.
I find no merit in the other assigned errors, and would therefore affirm the decision of the board of review.