Court Opinion

ID: 9790097
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 01:46:07.555045+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:26.071706
License: Public Domain

VAN CISE, Judge,
dissenting:
I respectfully dissent. In my opinion, the statements made by the defendant on each of the three occasions were voluntary and he was adequately advised each time.
As for the first statement made on March 30 to ATF agents, subsequent to the defendant’s arrest that day for illegal possession and sale of stolen firearms, defendant was twice advised of his rights before questioning. He indicated that he understood his rights, signed a written acknowledgment and waiver, and, as found by the court, responded “freely, voluntarily, and intelligently” to the questions asked.
The defendant’s arrest related to his possession and sale of certain stolen firearms, *968one of which he had obtained from the murder victim, Walker. Another possible, related charge, was the violation of the federal law prohibiting prior convicted felons from possessing firearms. Therefore, the defendant’s prior criminal record and use of guns, as well as the source of the stolen guns found in the defendant’s possession that day, were clearly reasonable, foreseeable subject matters of questioning.
In order to validate a waiver by a defendant of his Miranda rights as knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily made, the defendant, after the Miranda warning, need not be informed of specific charges which may be brought against him. People v. Herrera, 633 P.2d 1091 (Colo.App.1981), citing People v. Casey, 185 Colo. 58, 521 P.2d 1250 (1974) and People v. Weaver, 179 Colo. 331, 500 P.2d 980 (1972).
Here, the defendant was fully aware that his activities surrounding possession and sale of stolen firearms were the basis for his arrest and the agents’ investigation. Questions regarding the source and the use of the .22 pistol found on him that day were foreseeable, and the defendant’s Miranda waiver was valid and proper. Thus, the trial court properly refused to suppress the March 30 statement in which the defendant denied his presence and involvement in the Walker shooting.
The two subsequent statements were made almost two months and three and one-half months, respectively, after the first statement. The second statement, on May 26, was made under unique circumstances to Colorado law enforcement officials Konkel and Curtis, who had travelled to the Kansas City jail to interview the defendant. Kansas City jail personnel told the defendant that Colorado authorities were there to see him and asked him if he wished to speak with them. The defendant agreed to the visit, told Curtis he wanted to get it off his chest and that he wanted to talk with them. The interview-visit was conducted in the jail day room, containing some desks and vending machines. The defendant was fully advised of his Miranda rights and, again, signed an acknowledgment and waiver form. The defendant then reviewed a summary of his oral statement, written by Konkel, corrected the statement, initialed the corrections and signed it.
The third statement, on July 13, was made to federal agents after defendant had been convicted of the firearms violations. He was readvised, at which point he said, “I understand my rights but I won’t sign anything without my lawyer.” The agents got up and started to leave. The defendant then told the agents, “I won’t sign any forms without a lawyer, but I’ll talk to you.” The defendant then told the officers how he obtained the stolen .22 pistol and about the Walker killing.
The trial court correctly found that all of these statements were voluntary, and were made after a knowing and intelligent waiver. There was no error in admitting them.
Since the other contentions for reversal are without merit, the conviction should be affirmed.