State Of Washington v. Raymond Kurt Edwards ( 2015 )


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  •     IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
    DIVISION ONE
    STATE OF WASHINGTON,                             No. 70965-8-1
    Respondent,                                               ro
    CD
    v.
    C3
    RAYMOND KURT EDWARDS,                            UNPUBLISHED OPINION
    en
    Appellant.                   FILED: January 20, 2015
    Verellen, A.C.J. — A jury convicted Raymond Edwards of one count of unlawful
    possession of a controlled substance and one count of bail jumping. Prior to trial,
    Edwards moved to suppress statements that he made to police both before and after
    his arrest. The trial court denied Edwards' CrR 3.5 motion to suppress and admitted
    statements that he had used meth earlier that morning and that a bag contained
    methamphetamine. Edwards challenges the trial court's admission of both his prearrest
    and postarrest statements at trial. He contends that his statements to police were not
    voluntary. He also contends that he did not knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently
    waive his Miranda1 right to remain silent. We affirm.
    FACTS
    Responding to an alleged assault, Officer Mike Catrain approached Edwards
    sitting in a parked vehicle. Edwards appeared "in an altered state," "unsteady," and was
    1 Miranda v. Arizona, 
    384 U.S. 436
    , 
    86 S. Ct. 1602
    , 
    16 L. Ed. 2d 694
    (1966).
    No. 70965-8-1/2
    shaking and rocking back and forth.2 Officer Catrain asked Edwards "what had
    happened [and] what was going on with him."3 Edwards responded that "he had used
    meth earlier that morning."4 Edwards understood and followed Officer Catrain's
    directives to exit the vehicle and sit on the curb. Additional officers arrived, including
    Officer Jason Torgeson. Officer Torgeson handcuffed Edwards and searched him
    incident to arrest, finding a bag of methamphetamine on Edwards' person. Officer
    Torgeson then read Edwards his Miranda rights. Officer Torgeson asked Edwards if he
    understood his Miranda rights and, making eye contact with Officer Torgeson, Edwards
    responded, "Yes."5 When Officer Torgeson asked Edwards if he wished to speak with
    him, Edwards "mumbled yes."6 Edwards complied with all of Officer Torgeson's
    directives, including to walk, sit down, stand up, and lean against the car.7
    Edwards admitted to Officer Torgeson that the bag contained "meth."8 Edwards
    again admitted that "he had [earlier] used methamphetamines."9 Edwards' demeanor
    2Report of Proceedings (RP) (Aug. 26, 2013) at 17, 18; jd at 17 ("[Edwards]
    didn't seem focused."); id at 20 ("[Edwards] wasn't completely with it.").
    3 Id, at 15.
    4ld
    5 Id at 28.
    6Id at 29 ("His response was he mumbled yes. Idon't recall if it was a 'yes' or a
    'ah-huh.'").
    7Id at 24 ("I told him to stand up, turn around, put his hands behind his back.
    He was able to put his hands behind his [b]ack. Iasked him to interlock his fingers for
    me. Iplaced handcuffs on him and every directive that Igave him as far as walk with
    me, sit down, stand there, lean against the car. He complied with every direction that I
    gave him.").
    8 jd at 30.
    9 
    Id. at 31.
    No. 70965-8-1/3
    reflected "anxiety," "twitching," and "decreased alertness."10 Edwards responded
    appropriately to Officer Torgeson's questions and did not seem to be confused. Officer
    Torgeson expected the jail would require a fit-for-jail determination prior to booking, so
    he contacted a medical unit. An aid car transported Edwards to the hospital.
    Before trial, Edwards moved to suppress his prearrest statement to Officer
    Catrain that "he had used meth earlier that morning"11 and his postarrest statements to
    Officer Torgeson that the bag contained meth and that "he had [earlier] used
    methamphetamines."12 The trial court denied Edwards' CrR 3.5 motion to suppress and
    admitted the statements,13 determining in pertinent part that:
    • Edwards was not in custody, and therefore Miranda did not apply when he
    responded to Office Catrain's question;
    • Edwards was in custody when Officer Torgeson questioned him;
    • Officer Torgeson advised Edwards of his Miranda rights;
    • Edwards understood and verbally acknowledged his Miranda rights;
    • Edwards made a voluntary, knowing, and intelligent waiver of his Miranda
    rights; and
    • Edwards statements were made voluntarily and were not the product of
    threat, coercion, or undue influence or promise.
    10 id at 36; id at 36-37 ("[l]f we were having a conversation or talking with him,
    he would kind of gaze over and look to the other side, and I would have to redirect him
    and contact him.").
    11 id at 15.
    12]dat31.
    13 The trial court entered written findings of fact and conclusions of law on
    April 17, 2014, over one month after Edwards filed his opening brief. Edwards assigned
    error to the trial court's failure to enter written findings of fact and conclusions of law
    under CrR 3.5(c). But he does not contend in his reply brief that the delay prejudiced
    him, State v. Landsiedel, 
    165 Wash. App. 886
    , 893-94, 
    269 P.3d 347
    (2012), or that the
    late entry of CrR 3.5 findings and conclusions were tailored to address the issues raised
    on appeal. State v. Cannon, 
    130 Wash. 2d 313
    , 330, 
    922 P.2d 1293
    (1996).
    No. 70965-8-1/4
    A jury convicted Edwards of one count of unlawful possession of a controlled
    substance (methamphetamine) and bail jumping.14
    Edwards appeals.
    ANALYSIS
    A trial court's determination that a confession is voluntary will not be "disturbed
    on appeal ifthere is substantial evidence in the record from which the trial court could
    have found the confession was voluntary."15 "Substantial evidence is 'evidence
    sufficient to persuade a fair-minded, rational person of the truth of the finding.'"16
    "Unchallenged findings of fact are verities on appeal."17 "We review conclusions of law
    pertaining to suppression of evidence de novo."18
    Edwards challenges the trial court's admission of his prearrest statement at trial
    that "he had used meth earlier that morning."19 He contends that the statement was
    involuntary and was the product of police coercion. He also contends that his
    intoxication rendered the statement involuntary. We disagree.
    "The Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination requires police to inform a
    suspect of his or her Miranda rights before a custodial interrogation."20 But here, the
    14 The State initially charged Edwards with one count of unlawful possession of a
    controlled substance. But after Edwards failed to appear at a court hearing, the State
    amended the information to include a charge for one count of bail jumping.
    15 State v. Aten, 
    130 Wash. 2d 640
    , 664, 
    927 P.2d 210
    (1996).
    16 State v. Lew, 
    156 Wash. 2d 709
    , 733, 
    132 P.3d 1076
    (2006) (quoting State v.
    Mendez. 
    137 Wash. 2d 208
    , 214, 
    970 P.2d 722
    (1999)).
    17 id
    18 id
    19RP(Aug. 26, 2013) at 15.
    20 State v. Cunningham, 
    116 Wash. App. 219
    , 227, 
    65 P.3d 325
    (2003).
    No. 70965-8-1/5
    parties do not contend that Edwards' prearrest statement to Officer Catrain was the
    product of custodial interrogation, requiring Miranda warnings.21 Because Edwards'
    Miranda rights did not yet attach, we must address Edwards' argument that his
    statement to Officer Catrain was not voluntary for due process purposes.
    Due process requires that a confession be voluntary and free of police
    coercion.22 Police conduct cannot overbear the defendant's will to resist and force a
    confession not freely determined.23 "To be voluntary, a confession must be the product
    of a rational intellect and a free will."24 "[A] statement is voluntary if it is made
    21 See, e.g., Sessoms v. Grounds, 
    768 F.3d 882
    , 895 (9th Cir. 2014) ("Miranda
    warnings are required at the outset of custodial interrogation."); State v. Mclntvre, 
    39 Wash. App. 1
    , 6, 
    691 P.2d 587
    (1984) ("Miranda warnings need be given only when the
    suspect is subject to custodial interrogation or its functional equivalent."); 12 Royce A.
    Ferguson, Jr., Washington Practice: Criminal Procedure and Practice § 3310, at
    861 (3d ed. 2004) ("General on-the-scene questioning as to facts surrounding a crime
    or other questioning of citizens in the fact finding process is specifically exempted from
    the Miranda warning requirement.").
    Importantly, Edwards does not assign error to the trial court's entry of conclusion
    of law 1 that "[t]he defendant was not in custody when he made the admission regarding
    the use of methamphetamine to Officer Michael Catrain. The statement was not the
    product of custodial interrogation requiring Miranda warning advisement." CP at 60.
    22 State v. Reuben, 
    62 Wash. App. 620
    , 624, 
    814 P.2d 1177
    (1991); see also
    Colorado v. Connelly, 
    479 U.S. 157
    , 167, 
    107 S. Ct. 515
    , 
    93 L. Ed. 2d 473
    (1986)
    (holding that coercive police 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").
    23 
    Reuben, 62 Wash. App. at 624
    ; see also State v. Cushing, 
    68 Wash. App. 388
    ,
    392, 
    842 P.2d 1035
    (1993) ("'Whether a confession is free and voluntary ... [is
    determined by] whether it was extracted by any sort of threats, violence, or direct or
    implied promises, however slight. A confession that is the product of coercion, physical
    or psychological, is involuntary and not admissible.'" (quoting State v. Riley, 17 Wn.
    App. 732, 735, 
    565 P.2d 105
    (1977))).
    24 State v. Rupe, 
    101 Wash. 2d 664
    , 679, 
    683 P.2d 571
    (1984): see also United
    States v. Kellev, 
    953 F.2d 562
    , 565 (9th Cir. 1992) ("A statement may not be admitted if
    because of mental illness, drugs, or intoxication, the statement was not the product of a
    rational intellect and a free will.").
    No. 70965-8-1/6
    spontaneously, is not solicited, and not the product of custodial interrogation."25
    Here, the trial court determined that Edwards' statement was "voluntarily made
    and not the product of threat, coercion, or undue influence or promise."26 Officer
    Catrain approached a parked car occupied by Edwards and asked him "what had
    happened [and] what was going on with him."27 Edwards responded that "he had used
    meth earlier that morning."28 Edwards' statement, while not entirely responsive to
    Officer's Catrain's general question, was clearly spontaneous. Officer Catrain did not
    solicit Edwards' statement.29 The record is devoid of any evidence that Officer Catrain
    applied pressure or other coercive techniques.
    Moreover, the record does not support Edwards' contention that his intoxication
    overcame his free will and ability to think rationally. We look to "the totality of the
    circumstances" to determine whether a confession is voluntary.30 Factors we may
    consider include "the defendant's physical condition, age, experience, mental abilities,
    25 State v. Ortiz, 
    104 Wash. 2d 479
    , 484, 
    706 P.2d 1069
    (1985); State v. Cloud. 7
    Wn. App. 211,213, 
    498 P.2d 907
    (1972) ("[l]f questioning is noncoercive and does not
    contain the potentiality of compulsion inherent in in-custody interrogations but is
    conducted during a routine investigation without pressure being exerted by the
    examiner, it is permissible.").
    26 CP at 61.
    27RP(Aug. 26, 2013) at 15.
    28 id
    29 
    Miranda, 384 U.S. at 478
    ("Any statement given freely and voluntarily without
    any compelling influences is, of course, admissible in evidence."). Edwards' statement
    is the kind of "unforeseeable result" that "the police surely [should not] be held
    accountable for" because Officer Catrain could not have known that his question would
    elicit an admission from Edwards. Rhode Island v. Innis, 
    446 U.S. 291
    , 301-02, 100 S.
    Ct. 1682, 
    64 L. Ed. 2d 297
    (1980).
    30 Ortiz, 104Wn.2dat484.
    No. 70965-8-1/7
    and the conduct of the police."31 Evidence of intoxication is but one factor in
    determining voluntariness of a confession.32
    Here, while Edwards appeared "in an altered state," "unsteady," and was shaking
    and rocking back and forth, he followed Officer Catrain's directives and responded
    appropriately to his questions.33 That a witness told dispatch that Edwards was "acting
    very irrationally]" does not undermine Officer Catrain's own observations about
    Edwards' behavior.34 Edwards' speech "wasn't real clear," but Officer Catrain testified
    that Edwards did not appear intoxicated.35 Although Edwards lacked focus at times
    during the encounter, the record reflects that Edwards' ability to think rationally was not
    impaired by his intoxication. Because substantial evidence in the record supports the
    trial court's determination that Edwards' prearrest statement to Officer Catrain was
    voluntary, the trial court properly admitted his prearrest statement at trial.
    Edwards challenges the trial court's admission of his postarrest statements to
    Officer Torgeson that the bag contained "meth" and "he had [earlier] used
    methamphetamines."36 He contends that his postarrest statements were not voluntary
    for Miranda purposes. He also contends that he neither understood his Miranda rights
    nor knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived them. We disagree.
    31 
    Cushing, 68 Wash. App. at 392
    .
    32 State v. Cuzzetto, 
    76 Wash. 2d 378
    , 383, 386, 
    457 P.2d 204
    (1969); State v.
    Gardner, 
    28 Wash. App. 721
    , 723, 
    626 P.2d 56
    (1981).
    33RP(Aug. 26, 2013) at 17, 18.
    34 id at 13.
    35idat18.
    36 
    Id. at30, 31.
    No. 70965-8-1/8
    Under both the federal and state constitutions, a defendant possesses rights
    against self-incrimination.37 Miranda warnings protect these rights in custodial
    interrogation situations. Here, it is uncontroverted that Edwards was in custody and
    subject to interrogation when Officer Torgeson advised Edwards of his Miranda rights
    and asked him questions.
    A defendant's custodial statements to police are voluntary for Miranda purposes
    if a defendant understood those rights and knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently
    waived them.38 "The State bears the burden of showing a knowing, voluntary, and
    intelligent waiver of Miranda rights."39 "We will not disturb a trial court's conclusion that
    a waiver was voluntarily made if the trial court found .. . that the statements were
    voluntary and substantial evidence in the record supports the finding."40
    "The voluntariness of a confession is determined by examining the totality of the
    circumstances in which the confession was made."41 Intoxication does not render a
    statement involuntary unless the record reflects that the defendant was unable to
    comprehend his words or actions.42 Intoxication is only "a factor in deciding whether the
    37 U.S. Const, amend. V; Wash. Const, art. I, § 9.
    38 Miranda, 
    384 U.S. 444
    ; see also State v. Hobart, 
    34 Wash. App. 187
    , 190, 
    659 P.2d 557
    (1983) ("the test is whether defendant knew that he had the right to remain
    silent, not whether he understood the precise nature of the risks of talking").
    39 State v. Athan, 
    160 Wash. 2d 354
    , 380, 
    158 P.3d 27
    (2007); State v. Ludvik, 
    40 Wash. App. 257
    , 265, 
    698 P.2d 1064
    (1985).
    40 
    Athan, 160 Wash. 2d at 380
    .
    41 
    Cushing, 68 Wash. App. at 392
    .
    42 
    Cuzzetto, 76 Wash. 2d at 383
    , 386.
    8
    No. 70965-8-1/9
    defendant understood his rights and made a conscious decision" to forgo them.43
    Here, the totality of the circumstances supports the trial court's determination that
    Edwards understood his Miranda rights and knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently
    waived them. First, immediately after reading Edwards his Miranda rights, Officer
    Torgeson asked Edwards if he understood those rights. Edwards made eye contact
    and responded, "Yes."44 The record does not support Edwards' contention that he was
    incapable of understanding his rights. Although Edwards may have shown signs of
    intoxication, the record supports that he understood the officers' directives and
    responded appropriately to their questions. No evidence suggests that Edwards did not
    know "he had the right to remain silent."45 Therefore, substantial evidence supports the
    trial court's finding that Edwards was sufficiently coherent and could understand his
    Miranda rights.
    Second, substantial evidence supports the trial court's determination that
    Edwards knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived his Miranda rights. Here, after
    OfficerTorgeson advised Edwards of his Miranda rights, he asked Edwards if he wished
    to speak with him. Edwards responded, "Yes."46 Edwards properly followed Officer
    Torgeson's instructions and cooperated with him during the encounter. While some
    evidence suggests that Edwards was affected by some substance, the totality of the
    43 
    Gardner, 28 Wash. App. at 723
    ; see also 
    Reuben, 62 Wash. App. at 625
    ("In
    deciding whether [a defendant] waived his right to remain silent, evidence of intoxication
    is a factor to be considered.").
    44RP(Aug. 26, 2013) at 28.
    45 
    Hobart, 34 Wash. App. at 190
    .
    46RP(Aug. 26, 2013) at 28.
    No. 70965-8-1/10
    circumstances supports the trial court's determination that Edwards knowingly,
    voluntarily, and intelligently waived his Miranda rights.
    Finally, the officers' decision to summon an aid car does not render Edwards'
    postarrest statements involuntary. The officers believed that the jail would require a fit-
    for-jail determination, and the record reflects that it was a precautionary decision to
    summon an aid car due to the potential increasing effects of the methamphetamine on
    Edwards.
    Therefore, we conclude that substantial evidence supports the trial court's
    determination that Edwards spontaneously and voluntarily made his prearrest statement
    to Officer Catrain, that Edwards understood his Miranda rights, that he knowingly,
    voluntarily, and intelligently waived those rights, and that he voluntarily made his
    postarrest statements to Officer Torgeson. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's
    decision to admit Edwards' prearrest and postarrest statements at trial and affirm his
    convictions.
    WE CONCUR:
    10