DocketNumber: Case No. 2:09-cr-055 CW
Judges: Waddoups
Filed Date: 5/12/2011
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 11/7/2024
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER
INTRODUCTION
Defendant John William Pacheco (“Pacheco”) moves the court to suppress all evidence obtained from an interrogation following Pacheco’s arrest. Pacheco asserts he did not knowingly waive his rights because he did not receive a proper Miranda warning prior to making inculpatory statements. He further asserts that Detective Daniel Wendelboth (“Wendelboth”) made promises and threats that overbore his will. Consequently, Pacheco contends his confession was not voluntary and must be suppressed. The court concludes that the Miranda warning was sufficient to warn Pacheco of his rights. The court further concludes, however, that Detective Wendelboth’s interrogation sufficiently overbore Pacheco’s will that his confession to Detective Wendelboth was involuntary. The court therefore grants in part and denies in part the motion to suppress.
BACKGROUND
From September 2008 through January 2009, twelve armed robberies occurred that were similar in nature.
At about 3:00 a.m., the SWAT team ordered Zinda to exit the home.
During the search, police found a firearm buried in the ashes of a fireplace, along with a bank bag and wallets from the victim of the January 17th robbery.
At the start of the interview, the following exchange occurred:
Detective: I got to advise you of your rights, because you do have rights, you know that right? Okay. First and foremost you have the right to remain silent, okay? Anything you tell me, I am going to put in the police report. That police report can be used in a court of law at a later date and time if need be, you understand that, right?
Mr. Pacheco: Yeah.
Detective: You have the right to an attorney. If you can’t afford one, the state gives you one free of charge, you know that, right?
Mr. Pacheco: Yeah.
Detective: So having all that in mind, do you want to talk to us?
Mr. Pacheco: Yeah.15
When questioned about the robberies, Pacheco denied all involvement initially.
A little over an hour into the interview, the officers encouraged Pacheco to show remorse to help himself out. They stated we “can’t make you any promises, but the federal prosecutor usually listens to our recommendation.”
The officers continued interrogating Pacheco for another hour after this, during which time Pacheco did not confess to involvement in the bank robberies. The officers then concluded the interrogation, and Pacheco asked to use-the restroom.
Ten minutes later, without Pacheco having been taken to the restroom, Detective Wendelboth entered the interview room and started his interrogation of Pacheco. Detective Wendelboth introduced himself as being from the FBI and he told Pacheco that he had just “offered [ZindaJ his deal.”
[Tjhree life sentences. It’s 250 years, minimum mandatory. The judge cannot deviate from the charge, whatever we decide to indict. I can indict one, or I can indict ten. So that’s where I’m sitting right now. Where I fall some*1243 where in there is kind of up to you, and I’m leaving that up to you.27
About two minutes later, Detective Wendelboth further stated he needed
to kind of decide if I think you need to be locked away for basically the rest of your life, or if I think that there’s some chance that you have remorse because this is what the judges look for---There’s a point system in the federal system, and basically I’m the first point of judging that. And then I’m going to indict you basically based on that. I already have a U.S. attorney on board. We screened this case last week. It was ready to go. You guys kind of forced our hand with this pawn shop robbery last night. Not a big deal. Not necessarily a federal case because its (sic) not really — I can charge it under a Hobbs Act robbery and make it a federal case, but again I’m putting this on you. It’s really up to you. It’s where you want to go with it. Do you want to get out and see your kids grow up, or do you want them for the rest of their lives, basically, and your life, to come and visit you through glass. It’s kind of up to you.28
Detective Wendelboth then mentioned a few more details of the robberies and told Pacheco he did not want to hammer him. Pacheco tearfully replied that he had “let everybody down, even [his] own kids.”
I don’t want to hammer you. I gave Kenny a deal. I shook his hand on a couple things. I said I wouldn’t go after his wife. I won’t go after yours. I know a lot of money was used to pay bills basically, and by statute, anyone that receives proceeds from an illegal activity I can technically go after.... And you know if you’re ex wife, your kids, house you’re in benefitted from those proceeds technically I can go after them. I don’t want to. But it’s something I can play. And that’s something you can kind of protect your family from now, ... it’s something you can shelter from now so they don’t lose their cars and don’t lose the stuff that’s going to help them now.... I can go in and seize basically anything that I think that would have been a payment used to make on the cars, or the house and all that stuff.30
Detective Wendelboth then encouraged Pacheco to confess so he could “go to the AUSA and say I think he’s remorseful. We don’t need to charge him with every single one of these. Let’s charge him with one — you will get charged. Let’s charge him with one.”
Following his confession, Pacheco was charged with eight counts for armed bank robbery, three counts for a Hobbs Act violation, including one for the January 17th armed robbery, and eleven counts for illegal possession of a firearm, for a total of twenty-two counts.
Given Mr. Pacheco’s personality makeup that includes marked fears of abandonment, marked fears of rejection, over sensitivity to criticism, and a self-esteem that depends heavily on the closeness and success of his close relationships, his personality make-up could have made him vulnerable to coercion and contributed to subsequent incriminating statements that he may have made.35
The government did not provide evidence to refute the report.
ANALYSIS
I. STANDARD OF REVIEW
The government “bears the burden of proving, at least by a preponderance of the evidence, the Miranda waiver.”
II. MIRANDA WARNING
A. Content of a Miranda Warning
In Miranda, the United States Supreme Court found that custodial interrogations have an inherent coerciveness that “heightens the risk that the privilege against self-incrimination will not be observed.”
He must be warned prior to any questioning that he has the right to remain silent, that anything he says can be used against him in a court of law, that he has the right to the presence of an attorney, and that if he cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed for him prior to any questioning if he so desires.40
Importantly, “no talismanic incantation is required to satisfy {Miranda’s] strictures.”
B. Waiver of Rights
Once a person has been notified of his rights, he may elect to waive them. To be valid, a waiver “must be given voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently.”
Here, Pacheco does not contend his waiver was involuntary. Instead, he contends that it was not knowing or intelligent because Detective Bolter did not tell him “anything you say can be used against you in court.” Moreover, Pacheco contends he was misinformed that a police report could be used in court. While it may be incorrect that the police report can be used at trial, the focus of a Miranda inquiry is on whether a defendant was substantively informed that if he gave up his right to remain silent, anything he said could be used against him in court. The Miranda warning was less than ideal in this case. Nevertheless, Detective Bolter’s incorrect statement does not void the substantive meaning of his warning. Hence, the court concludes Pacheco was sufficiently warned of his rights and the potential consequences of speaking.
III. VOLUNTARINESS OF CONFESSION
Pacheco contends that even if the Miranda warning was sufficient, his confession to Detective Wendelboth must be suppressed because it was involuntary. In a plurality decision, the Supreme Court stated “maintaining that a statement is involuntary even though given after warnings and voluntary waiver of rights requires unusual stamina.”
“The determination of voluntariness is based on the totality of the circumstances. Relevant circumstances embrace both the characteristics of the accused and the details of the interrogation.”
A. Promises of Leniency
“Under Supreme Court and Tenth Circuit precedent, a promise of leniency is relevant to determining whether a confession was involuntary....”
In Lopez, the defendant received and waived his Miranda rights. Two federal agents then questioned him about a murder. During the interrogation, one of the agents wrote “mistake” on a piece of paper and “murder” on another piece.
Here, Detective Wendelboth did not use pieces of paper during the interrogation. He did say, however, that he had made a deal with Zinda and they shook hands on it. He then implied that he had the power to make a deal with Pacheco if he confessed. Moreover, Detective Wendelboth made repeated improper use of the word “I” during the interrogation. He said I can charge you with one count or I can charge you with ten; I am the first point in judging in the federal system; I am going to indict you; I already have a U.S. attorney on board; and I can charge the January 17th robbery under the Hobbs Act. Besides these statements, Detective Wendelboth conveyed to Pacheco that he was leaving it up to him to decide whether to confess so he could avoid a life sentence and get out to see his children grow up. The import of these statements is that Pacheco would have reasonably understood that Detective Wendelboth had the authority to make a deal, that he would decide what counts to charge based on the level of Pacheco’s cooperation, and that if Pacheco confessed he would not receive a life sentence.
Although Detective Wendelboth did briefly mention that he would go to the AUSA, his comment was insufficient to clarify that he had no authority to make a deal with Pacheco and that he only would be making a recommendation to the AUSA. The court therefore concludes Detective Wendelboth’s statements were not mere “limited assurances,” but promises of leniency that could result in a coerced confession.
B. Threats
Besides promises of leniency, threats also can undermine the voluntariness of a confession. This is particularly so when the threat is against a defendant’s family.
Here, Detective Wendelboth testified during the suppression hearing that he had no evidence Pacheco’s ex-wife or children were involved in the robberies.
The timing of Pacheco’s confession supports the impact the promises of leniency and threats had upon Pacheco. For two- and-a-half hours, Pacheco denied involvement in all robberies except the one on January 17th. Yet, within about ten minutes from the time Detective Wendelboth began questioning Pacheco, he confessed. Thus, the timing of the confession supports that it was coerced.
C. Personal Characteristics and Other Factors
Because the court has found coercive police conduct, it must now look at Pacheco’s personal characteristics and other relevant factors. Pacheco was thirty-one at the time of his confession. He has previously earned $60,000 a year due to a vocational skill and intended to go back to school. Pacheco also has had prior “experience with the criminal justice system” and had knowledge of his Miranda rights.
Pacheco was detained and interrogated, however, for a relatively long period of time. The SWAT team began calling people out of Pacheco’s home at about 3:00 a.m. and Pacheco was taken into custody at about 3:22 a.m. The interrogation at the police station started at 7:45 a.m. and it lasted until approximately 11:15 a.m. Moreover, Pacheco was deprived of the restroom for about an hour, although it is unclear from the record that this was intentional rather than just an oversight. Finally, Pacheco has submitted evidence to show that his personality makes him more susceptible to coercion when threats are made against his family. These factors weigh in favor of Pacheco’s confession being involuntary.
Looking at each of these factors, combined with the promises of leniency and threats, the court concludes that Pacheco’s confession to Detective Wendelboth was involuntary. The court therefore suppresses that specific evidence.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, the court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Pacheco’s motion to suppress.
. Hearing Tr., 10:3-12 (Dec. 15, 2010) (Dkt. No. 121).
. Id. at 10:12-13.
. Id. at 11:8-25, 12:21-22.
. Id. at 11:22-23.
. Id. at 11:25-12:4.
. Id. at 13:21-22. The SWAT team from the Salt Lake City Police Department elected to call individuals out of the house rather than entering it because the perceived risk of entering the house was high. Id. at 13:21-14:5.
. Id. at 14:25-15:2.
. Id. at 18:13-16.
. Id. at 19:10-13.
. Id. at 7:5-7, 19:18-20:6.
. Id. at 20:22-21:2, 21:22-24.
. Id. at 22:11-20.
. Id. at 22:20-23:1.
. Id. at 23:21-24:4.
. Interview of John Pacheco, 4:6-25 (Jan. 18, 2009) (Pi's Ex. 1A) (emphasis added) (hereinafter “Pacheco Interview Tr.”).
. See id. at 20:3-9.
. Id. at 26:20-22.
. Video Recording of Interview of John Pacheco, 1:01:00 (Pi’s Ex. 1) (hereinafter "Pacheco Recording”). The interrogation was videotaped. The "1:01:00” refers to the time count on the tape. During the first eighteen minutes of the tape, Pacheco is alone and sleeping in the room. Those minutes have been excluded from the court’s calculation of time in the above text.
. Pacheco Interview Tr., 35:24-36:6.
. Id. at 48:25-49:1.
. Id. at 49:4-7.
. Id. at 50:1-13.
. Pacheco Recording, 1:36:40 (Pi’s Ex. 1).
. Id. at 1:44:35.
. Id. at 2:48:46; Pacheco Interview Tr., 92:16-23 (Pi's Ex. 1A). Although the interview transcript does not reflect that Pacheco asked to use the bathroom, the video recording shows this request was made.
. Pacheco Interview Tr., 93:16-18 (emphasis added). Detective Wendelboth is employed by the Salt Lake City Police Department, but is "cross-deputized” to work on an FBI task force. Hearing Tr., 70:19-71:4.
.Pacheco Interview Tr., 95:6-11 (emphasis added); Pacheco Recording, 3:01:00 (Pi’s Ex. 1). Throughout the interview transcript, “indict” is spelled "indite.” The quotes in this decision incorporate a corrected spelling. Additionally, the last line of this particular quote is taken from the video recording rather than from the transcript. Besides noting the language used during the interrogation, it bears mentioning that Detective Wendelboth also used hand gestures to visually show the difference between one count versus ten counts and the intervals that exist between the two. See Pacheco Recording, 3:01:20.
. Pacheco Interview Tr., 96:19-97:11 (emphasis added).
. Id. at 99:4-5; Pacheco Recording, 3:07.00.
. Pacheco Interview Tr., 99:23-100:15 (emphasis added).
. Id. at 100:18-21.
. Pacheco Recording, 3:11:13.
. Id. at 3:46:00.
. See Indictment (Dkt. No. 10).
. Beverly O'Connor, Ph.D., Neuropsychological Evaluation, 16 (Sept. 10, 2010) (Defs Ex. A). Ms. O’Connor is a licensed psychologist and a clinical and forensic neuropsychologist.
. Missouri v. Seibert, 542 U.S. 600, 608 n. 1, 124 S.Ct. 2601, 159 L.Ed.2d 643 (2004) (citation omitted).
. United States v. Lopez, 437 F.3d 1059, 1063 (10th Cir.2006) (citing Seibert, 542 U.S. at 608 n. 1, 124 S.Ct. 2601).
. Seibert, 542 U.S. at 608, 124 S.Ct. 2601 (quotations and citation omitted).
. Id. (quotations and citation omitted).
. Berghuis v. Thompkins, -U.S. --, 130 S.Ct. 2250, 2259, 176 L.Ed.2d 1098 (2010) (quotations and citation omitted) (emphasis added).
. Duckworth v. Eagan, 492 U.S. 195, 203, 109 S.Ct. 2875, 106 L.Ed.2d 166 (1989) (quotations, citation, and alteration omitted).
.Id.
. Id. (quotations, citation, and alteration omitted).
. United States v. Brown, 100 Fed.Appx. 769, 773 (10th Cir.2004) (quotations and citation omitted).
. United States v. Minard, 208 Fed.Appx. 657, 660 (10th Cir.2006) (citing Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 444, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966)).
. Id. (quoting Moran v. Burbine, 475 U.S. 412, 421, 106 S.Ct. 1135, 89 L.Ed.2d 410 (1986)).
. Id. (citing Colorado v. Spring, 479 U.S. 564, 574, 107 S.Ct. 851, 93 L.Ed.2d 954 (1987)).
. Id.
. Seibert, 542 U.S. at 609, 124 S.Ct. 2601.
. Berkemer v. McCarty, 468 U.S. 420, 433 n. 20, 104 S.Ct. 3138, 82 L.Ed.2d 317 (1984).
. Lopez, 437 F.3d at 1063 (quotations and citations omitted).
. Minard, 208 Fed.Appx. at 660 (citing Colorado v. Connelly, 479 U.S. 157, 167, 107 S.Ct. 515, 93 L.Ed.2d 473 (1986) (stating "coercive police activity is a necessary predicate to the finding that a confession is not 'voluntary' within the meaning of the Due Process Clause”)).
. United States v. Carrizales-Toledo, 454 F.3d 1142, 1153 (10th Cir.2006) (quoting United States v. Rith, 164 F.3d 1323, 1333 (10th Cir.1999)) (quotations omitted).
. Lopez, 437 F.3d at 1064 (quotations and citation omitted).
. Id. (quotations and citation omitted).
. Brady v. United States, 397 U.S. 742, 754, 90 S.Ct. 1463, 25 L.Ed.2d 747 (1970).
. See e.g., United States v. Wiley, 132 Fed.Appx. 635, 640 (6th Cir.2005) (citing United States v. Guerrero, 847 F.2d 1363, 1366 (9th Cir.1988); United States v. Westbrook, 125 F.3d 996, 1005-06 (7th Cir.1997)).
. Id. (quotations and citations omitted).
. See Lopez, 437 F.3d at 1065 (citation omitted).
. Id. (citation omitted).
. Id. at 1061.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id. (emphasis added).
. Id. at 1065 (citations omitted).
. The Tenth Circuit noted, "[i]t is well-settled that a confession is not considered coerced merely because the police misrepresented to a suspect the strength of the evidence against him.” Id. (quotations and citation omitted). Instead, it is just one factor to consider in the analysis.
. United States v. Ivy, 165 F.3d 397, 403-04 (6th Cir.1998) (citations omitted).
. Id. (emphasis in original).
. Hearing Tr„ 100:6-24 (Dkt. No. 121).
. Id. at 100:25-101:5.
. Pacheco Interview Tr., 100:2-3 (Pi's Ex. 1A).
. See Lopez, 437 F.3d at 1065 (citations omitted) (listing experience and knowledge of the law as relevant factors).
. Docket No. 95. The court also grants Pacheco’s Motion for Leave to File Out of Time Motion to Suppress. (Docket No. 92.) The court denies as moot Pacheco’s first Motion to Suppress. (Docket No. 93.)