State of Tennessee v. Larico S. Ficklin ( 2001 )

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT JACKSON
Assigned on Briefs August 7, 2001
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. LARICO S. FICKLIN
Direct Appeal from the Criminal Court for Shelby County
No. 97-02834 W. Fred Axley and James C. Beasley, Jr., Judges1
No. W2000-01534-CCA-R3-CD - Filed August 27, 2001
A Shelby County jury convicted the defendant of second degree murder, and the trial court sentenced
him to 25 years as a Violent Offender. In this appeal, the defendant alleges (1) the evidence was
insufficient to sustain his conviction, and (2) the trial court erroneously admitted the defendant's
custodial confession. We conclude that the defendant's initial arrest was without probable cause, and
that the defendant's confession was obtained approximately 53 hours from his arrest without a
judicial determination of probable cause. The defendant's confession was, therefore, erroneously
admitted, and the error was not harmless. We reverse the defendant's conviction and remand for a
new trial.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Criminal Court Reversed;
Remanded for New Trial
JOE G. RILEY, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which DAVID G. HAYES and ALAN E. GLENN,
JJ., joined.
A.C. Wharton, Jr., Public Defender; Garland Erguden, Assistant Public Defender (on appeal); and
Larry H. Nance, Assistant Public Defender (at trial), for the appellant, Larico S. Ficklin.
Paul G. Summers, Attorney General and Reporter; J. Ross Dyer, Assistant Attorney General;
William L. Gibbons, District Attorney General; and Edgar A. Peterson, Assistant District Attorney
General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
The state’s proof indicated that the 21 year-old defendant met the victim, Belinda Pitts, then
thirteen years old, in July of 1995, and immediately began a sexual relationship with her. The two
continued their relationship, and the victim became pregnant. On May 13, 1996, the victim’s mother
and grandmother noticed the victim was missing. The victim’s body was discovered on May 15th,
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The mo tion to supp ress was hear d by Judg e Axley, wher eas Judge Beasley p resided o ver the trial.
and the defendant was seized for questioning later that day. After approximately 53 hours of
detention, the defendant confessed to the crime. The jury convicted the defendant of second degree
murder.
TRIAL TESTIMONY
The victim’s mother, Carol Ann Pitts, the victim’s grandmother, Laura Reed, and the victim
resided together. Pitts testified she first met the defendant in August of 1995, when he came to her
home asking to see the victim. In response, Pitts sent the defendant away, informing him that the
victim was too young to “receiv[e] company.” Despite Pitts’ instructions, the defendant continued
seeing the victim.
Pitts stated that on Sunday, May 12, 1996, she, Reed, and the victim went to Tunica,
Mississippi, where Pitts and Reed gambled at a casino. They returned home at approximately 10:00
p.m. Pitts further stated that Reed awakened the victim for school Monday morning. Pitts and Reed
traveled to Tunica Monday morning after the victim went to school. When they returned home at
approximately midnight, they discovered that the victim was missing. Pitts reported this to the
police.
Pitts went to work on the evening of Tuesday, May 14th, and returned home early Wednesday
morning. After Pitts returned home, the defendant came to her residence and stated that he had been
unable to locate the victim and inquired if she had heard from the victim. The defendant again came
to her residence later that morning and informed her that someone saw the victim going toward “the
wooded area of the [Bellevue] Park.” Pitts requested that the defendant accompany Reed and her
there, and he agreed. The defendant never stated the identity of the person who informed him of the
sighting of the victim near the park.
Pitts drove Reed and the defendant to the park, approximately five blocks from the residence.
They exited Pitts’ vehicle, and the defendant led them into a wooded area, down a path, through an
opening cut in a fence, and to a shed. Pitts went in the shed, looked into a broken window on a
padlocked door, and saw the victim. She then called the victim’s name and, upon receiving no reply,
exited the building and informed Reed and the defendant of her discovery. She testified the
defendant stated, “Belinda, no, Belinda” and “just started jumping up and down.”
Pitts and Reed then made their way back to the vehicle, returned to their residence, phoned
the police, and then drove back to the park. Sometime later, the police responded to the scene, and
Pitts informed them of the victim’s location. The defendant had left the scene.
Reed, the victim’s grandmother, corroborated Pitts’ testimony. Additionally, she testified
the defendant came to her residence on Tuesday, May 14th, three times and asked if she had seen the
victim. One of those times the defendant stated, “I just want – I’m going to see can [sic] I find her.
I hope she’s not hurt. I hope she’s not dead.” On cross-examination, Reed stated that the defendant
never appeared upset or nervous.
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Lieutenant Edward Cash of the Memphis Police Department testified the defendant was
subsequently brought to the station in handcuffs for questioning. Cash testified the defendant denied
any involvement in the victim’s death throughout questioning that day. Cash stated that, later in the
day, the defendant was booked for “further investigation.” Cash attested he interviewed others on
Thursday, May 16th, and did not talk with the defendant again until Friday.
On Friday, May 17th, Cash testified the defendant was brought to the interview room
sometime in the morning, but the interview did not begin until later that afternoon. Cash further
attested that although the defendant was interviewed for “several hours,” several breaks were taken
which allowed the defendant to eat and take care of his personal needs. After continued questioning,
the defendant orally confessed his involvement in the homicide.
Afterwards, Cash and Lieutenant James Nichols took the defendant to the transcriptionist’s
office. The defendant gave a detailed confession which was transcribed and introduced at trial. The
defendant’s statement began at 6:36 p.m. and was signed by the defendant at 8:58 p.m. on Friday,
May 17th. In the statement, the defendant said he had sex with the victim, beat her with his fists and
a brick when she denied being unfaithful to him, and stabbed her in the throat with a knife.
Captain Frederick Sansom testified that no latent fingerprints were recovered from the crime
scene. The stipulated testimony of TBI forensic serologist Steve Wiechman was that he performed
one test on swab samples taken from the victim’s rectum and vagina, and no semen nor DNA was
recovered.
Chad Johnson, a TBI forensic scientist, testified that he tested a knife which the defendant
allegedly used as the murder weapon, the defendant’s clothing, and the defendant’s shoes for the
presence of blood. All items tested negative. Additionally, Johnson tested the victim’s panties and
dress for sperm and semen, and both items tested negative.
Dr. O’Brian Cleary Smith, Medical Examiner for Shelby County, opined the victim’s death
occurred between 3:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., on Monday, May 13, 1996. Additionally, Dr. Smith
found acid phosphatase, a chemical indicator of semen, in the victim’s vagina and rectum.
The defense proof consisted of testimony from Wallace Logan, Barry Flynn, Anderson Davis,
and the defendant.
Wallace Logan, the defendant’s work supervisor, testified he saw the defendant on Monday,
May 13th, between 5:00 a.m and 6:00 a.m., when he instructed the defendant to return to his work
area. Logan further stated he sent the defendant “to the time clock” at approximately 9:00 or 9:15
a.m.
Barry Flynn testified he was the defendant’s friend and co-worker. Flynn stated he and the
defendant left for work at approximately 4:40 a.m. on Monday, May 13th. He further stated that at
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approximately 6:00 a.m., Logan brought the defendant to him and instructed him to take the
defendant to another work area.
Anderson Davis, the defendant’s other work supervisor, testified he saw the defendant arrive
at work on Monday, May 13th, between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. He further testified he saw the
defendant leave work at approximately 9:15 a.m. Davis stated the defendant called on Tuesday and
said that he would not be at work that day due to a doctor’s appointment. Davis next saw the
defendant at work on Wednesday morning, May 15th, when the defendant informed him that his
fifteen or sixteen-year-old sister was missing. Davis, believing the defendant was under extreme
pressure because his sister was missing, transported him from the work site.
The defendant testified he met the victim in July of 1995, and the two immediately began a
sexual relationship. Furthermore, the defendant testified the victim called him almost every night
and would leave her residence at night to meet him in an alley to engage in sexual relations.
On Monday, May 13th, the defendant testified he left for work at 4:00 a.m. with Barry Flynn.
Although he was scheduled to work from 5:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., the defendant stated he was sent
home between 9:15 and 9:30 a.m. because he left his assigned work area. He denied seeing the
victim that day.
On Tuesday, May 14th, the defendant informed his employer that he was unable to attend
work due to a doctor’s appointment. The defendant, however, stated he was untruthful concerning
the existence of a medical appointment and concocted the story so he could meet the victim. He
testified he went to Stafford Street to meet her, but she did not arrive. Later, his grandmother
informed him that Pitts said the victim was missing and requested he come by her residence. The
defendant stated he went to Pitts’ residence between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., talked to Pitts
concerning the victim’s whereabouts, and left the residence in search of the victim.
The defendant further testified that on Wednesday, May 15th, he was scheduled to work from
5:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. He, however, felt nervous because the victim was missing and asked his
supervisor, Anderson Davis, to take him home. The defendant told Davis that his sister was missing
“because I did not want him to know I was talking to a fourteen-year-old. So I told him it was my
sister so it could be reasonable for me to get off work.” Anderson drove the defendant to the Pitts
residence at approximately 7:40 a.m.
The defendant testified that upon arrival at the Pitts residence, he told Pitts certain
information he learned concerning the victim, and Pitts requested he accompany her and Reed to
Bellevue Park. The defendant agreed, and they drove to the park. He stated Pitts led them through
a “cut gate;” Pitts walked up to the building; Pitts went inside of the building; and Pitts said she saw
the victim.
The defendant stated he left the scene and later received a phone call from his grandmother
informing him that the police were looking for him. He instructed his grandmother to tell the police
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his location. The defendant stated that when the police arrived, they handcuffed him, placed him in
the cruiser, and took him to the police station where he was led to an investigation room. He claimed
the handcuffs were clamped tightly on him; officers cursed, fussed and spit at him; officers informed
him that he could prove his innocence by providing samples for DNA testing; officers returned
within two hours and told him that the DNA proved he was guilty; and he was led to the lower level
of the jail, was not provided a bed, shower, toothbrush, or allowed to use the telephone.
The defendant stated that on Thursday, May 16th, he was taken to the investigation room at
noon; officers yelled and cursed at him; he was shown pictures of the victim’s body and was told
details concerning her death; and he was sent back to his jail cell.
The defendant testified that on Friday, May 17th, he was again taken to the investigation room
in the morning; officers placed a Bible on the table; officers promised to help him if he confessed;
officers asked him if he wished to pray and led him in the Lord’s Prayer; officers told him how the
victim was killed; and he gave a false confession to the transcriptionist while being coached by the
officers. He testified he gave the false confession because he “would rather go to a hospital innocent
than go to a prison innocent.”
Anne Langford, a transcriptionist with the Memphis Police Department, rebutted the
defendant’s testimony. She stated the defendant’s transcribed confession was not coached, and the
defendant never denied committing the crime.
SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
A. Standard of Review
When a defendant challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence, we must review the
evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution to determine whether "any rational trier of
fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt." Jackson v.
Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318, 99 S .Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560, 573 (1979). We do not reweigh
or reevaluate the evidence and are required to afford the state the strongest legitimate view of the
proof contained in the record as well as all reasonable and legitimate inferences which may be drawn
therefrom. State v. Cabbage, 571 S.W.2d 832, 835 (Tenn. 1978). It is the defendant's burden to
show this court why the evidence is insufficient to support the verdict returned by the trier of fact
in his or her case. State v. Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d 913, 914 (Tenn. 1982).
B. Analysis
The testimony of the medical examiner revealed the victim’s death occurred on Monday, May
13th, between 3:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The defendant was seen at work at approximately 5:30 a.m.
that morning, and he left work at approximately 9:15 a.m. Reed testified that on Tuesday, May 14th,
the defendant came by her residence and stated, “I hope she’s not hurt. I hope she’s not dead.” Pitts
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and Reed both testified the defendant led them directly to the building at Bellevue Park where the
victim was found. However, the most damning evidence was the defendant’s confession.
The confession and corroborating circumstantial evidence are sufficient to sustain the
conviction for second degree murder. This issue is without merit.
II. SUPPRESSION OF EVIDENCE
The defendant contends his confession was the result of his illegal seizure and illegal
detention and should have been suppressed. We are constrained to agree.
A. Testimony at Suppression Hearing
At the suppression hearing, Officer John Troup testified that on Wednesday, May 15, 1996,
he and another officer were ordered to bring the defendant to the police department for questioning.
Officer Troup stated he and another officer arrived at the residence at approximately 1:30 p.m., and
the defendant was standing on the sidewalk waiting for them. Officer Troup informed the defendant
that “we’ll have to transport [you] downtown,” patted him down, and handcuffed him. Officer Troup
then took the defendant to the police department.
James Fitzpatrick, an investigator with the Memphis Police Department, testified that at
approximately 2:10 p.m., he observed the defendant handcuffed to a chair in the interview room.
Fitzpatrick escorted the defendant to the restroom with his hands cuffed in front, and he re-cuffed
the defendant to the chair after returning to the interview room.
Sergeant A. J. Christian testified the defendant was informed of his Miranda rights and
executed a signed written waiver at 3:10 p.m., and the defendant executed a signed written waiver
of his telephone privilege at 3:12 p.m. Sgt. Christian stated the defendant denied involvement in the
murder. Sgt. Christian further testified he considered the defendant a “suspect” when the
interrogation began.
Lieutenant James Nichols was a homicide detective with the Memphis Police Department.
Nichols testified that on Wednesday, May 15th, the defendant executed a written consent to search
his residence and a written consent for the taking of bodily fluids. The defendant denied any
involvement in the homicide. Nichols then advised the defendant that he would be “detain[ed] . .
. while [they] checked out some of the things he told [them].” The defendant was then taken to jail
that night. According to Nichols, the defendant was at that time “a prime suspect, [but] I had yet not
developed enough probable cause to charge him.” Nichols further explained that the defendant had
been “brought in” for questioning because he left the scene after the discovery of the body. Nichols
stated he only had “mere suspicions” when the defendant was jailed the first night, and the defendant
was jailed so Nichols could “check out his alibis to develop probable cause to charge him.”
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On Thursday, May 16th, and Friday, May 17th, Lieutenant Nichols stated that he was “mostly
. . . out in the field and . . .[he] tried to verify such things.” On Friday, May 17th, at approximately
2:15 p.m. the defendant again executed a written waiver of his Miranda rights, a written waiver of
his telephone privileges, and a written consent to search his other residence. He was again
questioned and denied involvement in the homicide. After being shown a picture of the deceased
victim, the defendant became emotional and eventually stated his involvement in the homicide. At
6:36 p.m. the defendant began giving his formal statement to a transcriptionist. The written
statement was signed by the defendant at 8:54 p.m.
B. Issue of Waiver
The defendant’s motion to suppress alleged violations of the “Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth
Amendments to the United States Constitution, and Article 1, §§ Seven, Eight and Nine of the
Constitution of Tennessee.” More specifically, the motion alleged the statements were “involuntary
and not the product of a free and deliberate choice.” We have further examined the memorandum
in support of the motion as well as the argument made at the motion to suppress. The only issue
discussed related to whether the defendant’s statements were voluntary. There was no argument or
contention that the statements were the result of an illegal seizure or illegal detention. Likewise, the
trial court issued extensive findings relating almost exclusively to the voluntariness issue. However,
the trial court did address the detention issue in one paragraph of the findings and concluded (1)
there was no Fourth Amendment violation; (2) “defendant was willfully brought to the station for
questioning;” (3) “after questioning, the officers had probable cause to arrest defendant;” (4)
“defendant soon after confessed;” and (5) the “seizure was not unreasonable.” The motion to
suppress was, therefore, denied.
The defendant in this appeal does not challenge the voluntariness of the statements, but rather
alleges the statements were “fruit of the poisonous tree” arising from his illegal detention.
Ordinarily, an appellant cannot change theories from the trial court to the appellate court. State v.
Dooley, 29 S.W.3d 542, 549 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000). However, in this case the state does not
allege the issue is waived and has addressed the issue on its merits. In view of this fact, the trial
court’s conclusion that the defendant was not illegally detained, and an adequate record to review
this issue, we also will address the issue on the merits.
C. Standard of Review
The trial court found the seizure of the defendant was not unlawful, and the officers had
probable cause to arrest the defendant “after questioning.” The findings of fact made by the trial
court at the hearing on a motion to suppress are binding upon this court unless the evidence
contained in the record preponderates against them. State v. England, 19 S.W.3d 762, 766 (Tenn.
2000). However, this court is not bound by the trial court’s conclusions of law. State v. Simpson,
968 S.W.2d 776, 779 (Tenn. 1998). The application of the law to the facts found by the trial court
are questions of law that this court reviews de novo. State v. Daniel, 12 S.W.3d 420, 423 (Tenn.
2000).
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The facts material to the suppression issue are mostly undisputed. Thus, the crucial inquiry
is the conclusion of law reached by the trial court. The trial court’s conclusion that the defendant’s
seizure and detention were not improper is a conclusion of law that we address de novo. Daniel, 12
S.W.3d at 423.
D. Initial Seizure
The trial court found the seizure of the defendant was not in violation of the Fourth
Amendment. We respectfully disagree with this conclusion of law.
(1) Seizure v. Arrest
The officers apparently, and mistakenly, believed it was permissible to take a person into
custody without probable cause for questioning since there is no “arrest.” However, for Fourth
Amendment purposes we must determine whether the defendant was “seized.” State v. Johnson, 980
S.W.2d 414, 422 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998). Whenever an officer restrains the freedom of an
individual to walk away, the officer has "seized" that person for Fourth Amendment purposes. State
v. Downey, 945 S.W.2d 102, 106 (Tenn. 1997). It is clear that handcuffing the defendant and
transporting him to the police department constituted a custodial seizure. Furthermore, the defendant
continued to be detained the entire time as he was not free to leave.
(2) Investigatory Detention
In addition, this was not an investigatory stop or detention which, although may be justified
upon reasonable suspicion supported by specific and articuable facts, must be temporary and for a
limited purpose. Florida v. Royer, 460 U.S. 491, 498, 103 S. Ct. 1319, 75 L. Ed. 2d 229 (1983).
"[D]etention for custodial interrogation–regardless of its label–intrudes so severely on interests
protected by the Fourth Amendment as necessarily to trigger the traditional safeguards against illegal
arrest." Dunaway v. New York, 442 U.S. 200, 216, 99 S. Ct. 2248, 2258, 60 L. Ed. 2d 824 (1979);
Johnson, 980 S.W.2d at 422. In summary, “reasonable suspicion of crime is insufficient to justify
custodial interrogation even though the interrogation is investigative.” Royer, 460 U.S. at 499. The
defendant in this case was admittedly detained for custodial interrogation; therefore, the officers had
to have probable cause in order to seize and detain him. See State v. Melson, 638 S.W.2d 342, 350
(Tenn. 1982).
(3) Probable Cause
An officer in Tennessee may effect a warrantless arrest "[w]hen a felony has in fact been
committed, and the officer has reasonable cause for believing the person arrested to have committed
it." Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-7-103(a)(3). It is uncontested that a homicide occurred, and homicide,
regardless of its degree, is a felony offense. See Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-13-201 et. seq.
Accordingly, the dispositive issue is whether the officer at the time of defendant’s initial seizure had
reasonable cause for believing the defendant was the person who committed the felony.
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Whether probable cause exists depends upon whether the facts and circumstances and
reliable information known to the police officer at the time of the arrest "were sufficient to warrant
a prudent [person] in believing that the [individual] had committed or was committing an offense."
Beck v. Ohio, 379 U.S. 89, 91, 85 S. Ct. 223, 225, 13 L. Ed. 2d 142 (1964); State v. Marshall, 870
S.W.2d 532, 538 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1993). Probable cause must be more than mere suspicion.
Melson, 638 S.W.2d at 350. Generally, the subjective motivations and characterizations by the
police officers are not determinative as to the legitimacy of an arrest, search or seizure. Whren v.
United States, 517 U.S. 806, 813, 116 S. Ct. 1769, 135 L. Ed. 2d 89 (1996); State v. Vineyard, 958
S.W.2d 730, 736 (Tenn. 1997).
(4) Analysis
Nichols testified at the motion to suppress that the defendant was originally seized because
Nichols found it “suspicious” the defendant did not remain at the scene until the police arrived. “So
. . . [that was] the only suspicion we had at that point that he might be involved, and yet that could
be explained away by emotion.” We agree with Nichols that probable cause to arrest defendant did
not exist merely because he left the crime scene and the officer was “suspicious;” thus, the seizure
of the defendant for custodial interrogation was illegal. We further agree with Nichols’ testimony
that he had “not developed enough probable cause to charge [the defendant]” when he was jailed the
night of his seizure.
Because we have determined the defendant was illegally seized without probable cause, our
next inquiry becomes whether the defendant's statement was illegally obtained as a result of the
illegal seizure. The analysis used to determine admissibility of such a statement is the "fruit of the
poisonous tree" analysis, as opposed to a voluntariness test. Brown v. Illinois, 422 U.S. 590, 601,
95 S. Ct. 2254, 45 L. Ed. 2d 416 (1975); State v. Huddleston, 924 S.W.2d 666, 674 (Tenn. 1996).
In order to ascertain whether a statement obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment should be
suppressed, the primary inquiry is "whether [the statement] 'was sufficiently an act of free will to
purge the primary taint of the unlawful invasion.' " Brown v. Illinois, 422 U.S. at 599 (quoting
Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471, 486, 83 S. Ct. 407, 9 L. Ed. 2d 441 (1963)); see also
Huddleston, 924 S.W.2d at 674.
Although this determination is made on a case by case basis, the following four
considerations are important in making this determination:
(1) the presence or absence of Miranda warnings;
(2) the temporal proximity of the arrest and the confession;
(3) the presence of intervening circumstances; and finally, of
particular significance,
(4) the purpose and flagrancy of the official misconduct.
Huddleston, 924 S.W.2d at 674-75. The burden of proving admissibility by a preponderance of the
evidence rests upon the state. Id. at 675.
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E. McLaughlin Violation
Although we conclude that the defendant was illegally seized, we will also address the
defendant’s contention that the defendant’s statements must be suppressed due to the lack of a
judicial determination of probable cause.
The Fourth Amendment requires that a judicial determination of probable cause be issued
promptly following a warrantless arrest. Gerstein v. Pugh, 420 U.S. 103, 125, 95 S. Ct. 854, 43 L.
Ed. 2d 54 (Tenn. 1975). A judicial determination of probable cause within 48 hours of arrest will
ordinarily comply with the Gerstein promptness requirement. County of Riverside v. McLaughlin,
500 U.S. 44, 56, 111 S. Ct. 1661, 114 L. Ed. 2d 49 (1991). If no determination is made within 48
hours, the burden shifts to the government to show a bona fide emergency or other extraordinary
circumstance. Id. at 57; see also Huddleston 924 S.W.2d at 672. After the court has determined a
McLaughlin violation has occurred, it must look at the same four previously discussed factors to
determine whether the confession should be suppressed. Huddleston, 924 S.W.2d at 674-75. It is
clear in the case at bar that there was a McLaughlin violation.2 Thus, we will analyze these four
factors in light of both the illegal seizure and the 53-hour detention without a judicial determination
of probable cause.
(1) Miranda Warnings
The defendant executed three separate written Miranda rights waivers prior to his transcribed
confession. This factor favors admission of the defendant’s confession; however, Miranda warnings
alone do not per se authorize admission of the confession. Brown, 422 U.S. at 603.
(2) Temporal Proximity
Ordinarily, the longer the time between the illegal seizure and the confession the more likely
the taint of the illegal arrest will have been purged. 5 Lafave, Search and Seizure § 11.4(b), p. 258
(3d ed. 1996). However, when the detention becomes unlawful under McLaughlin, the passage of
time actually makes the violation worse. Huddleston, 924 S.W.2d at 675. Once the detention
becomes unlawful, the pressure to confess “increases with each moment of continuing illegal
detention.” Id. Here, the defendant was illegally seized and illegally detained prior to his confession
well over 48 hours after his illegal seizure. This factor weighs heavily in favor of suppression.
(3) Intervening Circumstances
Next, we consider whether there were any intervening circumstances that would purge the
taint of the illegal arrest and detention. An example would be a defendant’s consultation with an
attorney, relative, or friend prior to the time the statements were given. Id. Although an officer
2
The state in its brief, at least implicitly, recognizes the McLa ughlin violation since its brief is devoted to a
discussion o f the four factors a uthorizing ad mission even though there is a violation.
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originally testified, and the trial court found, that the defendant called his mother on the night of May
15th, the officer finally stated that the call to which he referred was actually made on May 17th at 8:58
p.m. immediately following the written confession. Thus, there is no indication that the defendant
had any intervening conversations with family prior to his confession. Although the state argues that
the defendant’s waiver of opportunities to make phone calls is an intervening circumstance, we do
not find this to be an intervening circumstance that would favor admission. This factor weighs
heavily in favor of suppression.
(4) Flagrancy of Official Misconduct
Lieutenant Nichols best summarized the defendant’s detention from the time of his seizure
at 1:30 p.m. on May 15th, until the time of his confession on the late afternoon of May 17th, as
follows: “I began to suspect him, but all I had was [sic] mere suspicions, and so I held him while we
begin [sic] to check out his alibis to develop probable cause to charge him.”
The United States Supreme Court has characterized as unreasonable and improper any delay
“for the purpose of gathering additional evidence to justify the arrest.” McLaughlin, 500 U.S. at 56.
Here, that is precisely, and admittedly, what occurred. The defendant was illegally seized without
probable cause and illegally detained in order for the authorities to endeavor to establish probable
cause for an arrest. Although it appears the authorities subjectively believed there was no
impropriety in the seizure and continued detention, this hardly mitigates the flagrancy of these
violations. The initial illegal seizure was compounded by the continued illegal detention for well
over 48 hours. See Huddleston, 924 S.W.2d at 676. The flagrancy of the official misconduct weighs
heavily in favor of suppression.
After a careful consideration of the relevant factors, we must conclude that the admission of
the defendant’s confession was error since it was a product of his illegal arrest and prolonged illegal
detention without a judicial determination of probable cause. We further conclude the admission
of the confession was not harmless error. Without the confession, the evidence of guilt was
circumstantial and certainly not overwhelming. Thus, the matter must be remanded for a new trial.3
CONCLUSION
Based upon the foregoing, we conclude the defendant was illegally seized without probable
cause and illegally detained beyond 48 hours without a judicial determination of probable cause.
Accordingly, the confession should have been suppressed. The judgment of the trial court is
reversed, and the case is remanded for a new trial.
3
In view of our conclusion that the defendant is entitled to relief based upon the Brown and McLa ughlin
violations, we choose not to ad dress the alleged Tenn. R. Crim. P. 5(a) violation. See Huddleston, 924 S.W.2d at 670-71
(applying vo luntariness test in de termining whe ther 5(a) vio lation should result in suppre ssion).
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___________________________________
JOE G. RILEY, JUDGE
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