Court Opinion

ID: 9629650
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 09:46:47.105983+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:07:22.261230
License: Public Domain

MR. JUSTICE KELLEY
concurring in part and dissenting in part:
I concur in part I and dissent as to part II. The statements of the defendant made to the probation officer, in my opinion, were properly received in evidence. The statements were not made in the course of the criminal investigative stage, but at a stage of the proceedings when the defendant was preparing to plead guilty to a lesser offense than that with which she was charged and in the hope of receiving favorable consideration at the hands of the court. The statements were wholly voluntary, not elicited by trickery, deceit or under duress. The defendant was represented by counsel.
The defendant had a choice — either to exercise her right to remain silent or to tell her story to the probation officer. She elected the latter option in the expectation that it would result in more favorable treatment at the time of sentencing. I can see no reason why, when she changed her mind, her statement should not be used against her at trial.