Court Opinion

ID: 1065230
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 19:20:10.515903+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:49:24.971085
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: Judges Humphreys, McClanahan and Petty
Argued at Salem, Virginia

CLEVELAND WAYNLEE SOUTHERS, S/K/A
 CLEVELAND WAYNELEE SOUTHERS
                                                              MEMORANDUM OPINION* BY
v.     Record No. 1434-05-3                                  JUDGE ROBERT J. HUMPHREYS
                                                                 DECEMBER 28, 2006
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

                       FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY
                                  Michael S. Irvine, Judge

                 Joshua O. Elrod (Mann, Vita & Elrod, P.L.L.C., on brief), for
                 appellant.

                 Karen Misbach, Assistant Attorney General (Robert F. McDonnell,
                 Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.

       Appellant Cleveland Waynlee Southers (“Southers”) appeals four convictions of statutory

burglary, in violation of Code § 18.2-91, and three convictions of grand larceny, in violation of

Code § 18.2-95. He contends the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress his

statement to police. For the reasons that follow, we disagree, and affirm Southers’ convictions.

                                            ANALYSIS

       Southers contends on appeal, as he did in the trial court, that his confession should be

suppressed because (1) it was not made freely and voluntarily, (2) he did not make a knowing

and intelligent waiver of his right to counsel, and (3) he did not make a knowing and intelligent

waiver of his right to remain silent. We disagree with Southers’ first contention, and decline to

address the second two.

       *
           Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
       On appeal, “[the] appellant carries the burden to show . . . that the denial of a motion to

suppress constitutes reversible error.” Motley v. Commonwealth, 17 Va. App. 439, 440, 437
S.E.2d 232, 233 (1993) (citing Fore v. Commonwealth, 220 Va. 1007, 1010, 265 S.E.2d 729, 731

(1980)). “In reviewing the trial court’s denial of a motion to suppress on appeal, we will review

the evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, the party prevailing below,

together with all reasonable inferences that may be drawn.” King v. Commonwealth, 39
Va. App. 306, 308, 572 S.E.2d 518, 519 (2002) (citing Dickerson v. Commonwealth, 35
Va. App. 172, 177, 543 S.E.2d 623, 626 (2001)). We review de novo, however, the trial court’s

application of defined legal standards to the particular facts of a case. See Ornelas v. United

States, 517 U.S. 690, 699 (1996).

                           I. The Voluntary Nature of the Confession

       Southers claims that his confession was not freely and voluntarily given and should

therefore be suppressed. We disagree.

       “The Commonwealth has the burden to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that a

defendant’s confession was freely and voluntarily given.” Bottenfield v. Commonwealth, 25
Va. App. 316, 323, 487 S.E.2d 883, 886 (1997) (emphasis added). “The test to be applied in

determining voluntariness is whether the statement is the ‘product of an essentially free and

unconstrained choice by its maker,’ or, on the other hand, whether the maker’s will ‘has been

overborne and his capacity for self-determination critically impaired.’” Stockton v.

Commonwealth, 227 Va. 124, 140, 314 S.E.2d 371, 381 (1984) (quoting Schneckloth v.

Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218, 225 (1973)). “In determining whether an accused’s will has been

overborne, courts assess ‘the totality of all the surrounding circumstances.’” Id. (quoting

Schneckloth, 412 U.S. at 226). This includes the defendant’s background, experience, mental

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and physical condition, and the conduct of the police. Commonwealth v. Peterson, 15 Va. App.
486, 488, 424 S.E.2d 722, 723 (1992).

       With regard to police conduct, “coercive . . . activity is a necessary predicate to the

finding that a confession is not ‘voluntary’ within the meaning of the Due Process Clause of the

Fourteenth Amendment.” Colorado v. Connelly, 479 U.S. 157, 167 (1986). In considering the

conduct of the police, we “must consider the interrogation techniques employed, including

evidence of trickery and deceit, psychological pressure, threats or promises of leniency, and

duration and circumstances of the interrogation.” Terrell v. Commonwealth, 12 Va. App. 285,

291, 403 S.E.2d 387, 390 (1991). Regarding juvenile confessions specifically, “the greatest care

must be taken to assure that the admission was voluntary, in the sense not only that it was not

coerced or suggested, but also that it was not the product of ignorance of rights or of adolescent

fantasy, fright or despair.” In re Gault, 387 U.S. 1, 55 (1967). The mere absence of a parent or

counsel does not mean the confession was not made voluntarily. See Roberts v. Commonwealth,

18 Va. App. 554, 557, 445 S.E.2d 709, 711 (1994). Instead, “[t]he absence of a parent or legal

counsel is merely a factor to be considered, albeit a significant one.” Id.

       Reviewing the totality of the circumstances surrounding Southers’ confession, we cannot

conclude that Southers’ arrest, or any of the events that followed, caused Southers’ will to be

overborne. Prior to taking Southers’ statement, Deputy Conner advised Southers of his Miranda

rights. Neither his mental nor physical condition was impaired at the time. Compare Peterson,

15 Va. App. at 488, 424 S.E.2d at 723-24 (defendant made incriminating statements while

questioned by police in the back of an ambulance, while under the influence of cocaine, in pain

and disoriented from injuries received, having breathing problems and chest pains, and

connected to a heart monitor). Although Southers was handcuffed, this alone is insufficient to

amount to coercive conditions. See United States v. Cardwell, 433 F.3d 378, 390 n.4 (4th Cir.

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2005) (holding that being handcuffed for two hours in the front seat of a police car does not

amount to oppressive conditions). Southers was not denied any other physical comforts,

mistreated, or threatened. Compare Beecher v. Alabama, 389 U.S. 35, 36 (1967) (statement

obtained after police held a gun to suspect’s head). Likewise, Southers was not intimidated or

deceived by Conner, or anyone else, before he made the statement. Compare Leyra v. Denno,

347 U.S. 556, 559-61 (1954) (statement obtained after suspect spent hours with psychiatrist

trained in hypnosis, while suspect believed the doctor was a general practitioner).

       Southers’ behavior at the sheriff’s department further shows that he made his statement

both freely and voluntarily. Southers agreed to come to the sheriff’s department on the condition

that Deputy Burgdorff came as well. Southers said he would only speak to Burgdorff, and he

asked to speak to his brother before he made a statement about the alleged burglaries. During his

testimony, Southers even admitted how he had to talk his brother into admitting his involvement

with the four burglaries and how they “picked” the four burglaries from the list. Moreover,

Conner did not make any promises of leniency to Southers, other than telling him that his

cooperation could help him in the end.1 Although Southers asked where his mother was, there is

nothing in the record that indicates he requested her presence. Southers was very young and not

well-educated at the time, but indicated he understood his rights at the suppression hearing.

Initially, when the sheriff’s deputies executed the search warrant on Southers’ home, officers in

body armor surrounded Southers with their weapons drawn, but this was no longer the situation

when Southers confessed at the sheriff’s department.

       Despite his age and the absence of his mother, the overall conditions Southers was

subjected to when he made his confession fail to support Southers’ claim of coercion, the

       1
         Southers testified that the deputies told him he would “go home that day” if he gave a
confession, but Conner denies this. Viewing the evidence most favorably to the Commonwealth,
we disregard Southers’ testimony on this subject.
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“necessary predicate to the finding that a confession is not ‘voluntary’ within the meaning of the

Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.” Connelly, 479 U.S. at 167. The record

supports the trial court’s decision that the confession was voluntary, and we therefore affirm its

decision.

        II. The Waiver of the Right to Counsel and the Right Against Self-Incrimination

       Southers also argues that his confession is inadmissible because he did not knowingly

and intelligently waive his right to remain silent and his right to counsel. Southers, however,

cites no authority or principles of law in support of either of these arguments. “‘Statements

unsupported by argument, authority, or citations to the record do not merit appellate

consideration.’” Budnick v. Budnick, 42 Va. App. 823, 833, 595 S.E.2d 50, 55 (2004) (quoting

Roberts v. Roberts, 41 Va. App. 513, 527, 586 S.E.2d 290, 297 (2003)); see Rule 5A:20(e)

(requiring appellants to brief the “principles of law, the argument, and the authorities relating to

each question presented”).

       Because Southers has presented no authority or citations in support of these arguments,

Southers has waived these arguments on appeal. Thus, we decline to address them. See Rule

5A:20(e).

                                          CONCLUSION

       Because Southers’ encounter with the police was not coercive, we hold that his

confession was given voluntarily. Moreover, because Southers’ remaining arguments are

procedurally defaulted, we do not address them. We therefore affirm the trial court’s decision

denying Southers’ motion to suppress.

                                                                                      Affirmed.

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