State v. Najee S. Hudson

COURT OF APPEALS
DECISION NOTICE
DATED AND FILED This opinion is subject to further editing. If
published, the official version will appear in
the bound volume of the Official Reports.
March 21, 2024
A party may file with the Supreme Court a
Samuel A. Christensen petition to review an adverse decision by the
Clerk of Court of Appeals Court of Appeals. See WIS. STAT. § 808.10
and RULE 809.62.
Appeal No. 2023AP84-CR Cir. Ct. No. 2021CF56
STATE OF WISCONSIN IN COURT OF APPEALS
DISTRICT IV
STATE OF WISCONSIN,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT,
V.
NAJEE S. HUDSON,
DEFENDANT-RESPONDENT.
APPEAL from an order of the circuit court for La Crosse County:
RAMONA A. GONZALEZ, Judge. Affirmed.
Before Graham, Nashold, and Taylor, JJ.
Per curiam opinions may not be cited in any court of this state as precedent
or authority, except for the limited purposes specified in WIS. STAT. RULE 809.23(3).
¶1 PER CURIAM. Najee S. Hudson moved to exclude as evidence all
oral and written statements he made to law enforcement during a custodial
No. 2023AP84-CR
interrogation, asserting that he did not voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently
waive his Miranda rights and that his statements to the police were involuntary.1
The circuit court granted Hudson’s motion, reasoning, among other things, that his
waiver of his Miranda rights was involuntary and unknowing. The State appeals.
We affirm on the grounds that the State has not met its burden of showing by a
preponderance of the evidence that Hudson’s Miranda waiver was knowing and
intelligent.
BACKGROUND
¶2 Police obtained and executed a search warrant for Hudson’s
residence seeking evidence of an alleged sexual assault. The police transported
Hudson to the La Crosse Police Department, where he was questioned about the
alleged assault by then-Investigator Pataska. Pataska’s body camera recorded the
entirety of the custodial interrogation, which lasted just over one hour.
¶3 At the beginning of the interrogation, Hudson expressed confusion
about the basis for the search of his house and his detention, and Pataska informed
him that he had been arrested. Pataska initially declined to provide any additional
information to Hudson about the basis for his arrest until she read Hudson his
Miranda rights, and she presented Hudson with a form with lines for his signature.
The first section of the form, titled “Your Rights,” is a statement of the signatory’s
Miranda rights. The second section of the form, titled “Waiver of Rights,”
1
Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).
2
No. 2023AP84-CR
contains statements about the consequence of a waiver, including: “I am willing
to make a statement and answer questions. I do not want a lawyer at this time.”2
¶4 After presenting the form to Hudson, Pataska read aloud the “Your
Rights” section of the form. Hudson appeared confused and asked several
2
The contents of the form are as follows:
Your Rights
Before we ask you any questions, you must understand your
rights.
You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of
law.
You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask
you any questions and to have him/her with you during
questioning.
If you are unable to hire a lawyer, you can request and receive
appointment of a lawyer by the proper authority, without costs or
charge to you, to be present and advise you before and during
this statement.
If you decide to answer questions now without a lawyer present,
you will still have the right to stop answering at any time, you
also have the right to stop answering at any time until you talk to
a lawyer.
Signed ________________________
Waiver of Rights
I have read this statement of rights and I understand what my
rights are. I am willing to make a statement and answer
questions. I do not want a lawyer at this time. I understand and
know what I am doing, no promises or threats have been made to
me and no pressure or coercion of any kind have been used
against me.
Signed ________________________
3
No. 2023AP84-CR
questions to Pataska regarding the consequences of waiving his Miranda rights,
including about any delay that would be caused if he requested counsel during his
interrogation. When Pataska told him that he would be “sitting in the jail” waiting
for an attorney, Hudson expressed concerns about being delayed returning home,
where he was needed to assist his mother and wheelchair-confined uncle.
¶5 Pataska also responded to Hudson’s questions about the
consequences of waiving his rights by reading out loud the “Waiver of Rights”
section of the form and by twice telling Hudson that, “when you sign [the form],
you are saying you want to talk to me.” Pataska eventually told Hudson that she
was investigating a sexual assault, about which Hudson expressed a desire to talk.
He then signed both the “Your Rights” and “Waiver of Rights” sections of the
form and provided statements to Pataska that he subsequently moved to suppress.
The portion of the interrogation leading up to Hudson’s waiver is described in
more detail in the discussion below.
¶6 Hudson was charged with several offenses related to sexual assault
and bail jumping. Hudson moved to exclude as evidence all statements made
during his custodial interrogation on two separate bases: (1) that he did not
knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waive his Miranda rights; and (2) that his
statements were involuntary and that their use at trial would violate the Fourteenth
Amendment’s due process protections.
¶7 The circuit court held a Miranda-Goodchild hearing and granted
Hudson’s motion to exclude the statements before the prosecution was able to
4
No. 2023AP84-CR
present all of its evidence.3 The court reasoned that, because Hudson did not have
information about how long it would take to obtain an attorney, his Miranda
waiver was not “knowing and voluntary.” When trial counsel asked to clarify its
ruling, the court responded that it was granting the motion on “[v]oluntariness
grounds” and explained, “I don’t believe that it was knowing and voluntarily made
when he was denied the opportunity to know how long that lawyer would take to
get there.”
¶8 The State appealed, and this court reversed the circuit court’s
decision. We concluded that, whether the circuit court suppressed Hudson’s
statements because his Miranda waiver was invalid, because his statements were
not voluntary, or both, the court applied an incorrect legal standard and failed to
consider the totality of circumstances which were not fully developed at the
truncated hearing. State v. Hudson, No. 2022AP191-CR, unpublished slip. op.
¶¶25-26, 34 (WI App Sep. 9, 2022). This court remanded for a “full and fair
Miranda-Goodchild hearing.” Id., ¶34. This court did not determine whether
Hudson’s Miranda waiver was valid or whether his statements were voluntary.
Id.
¶9 On remand, the circuit court held a second Miranda-Goodchild
hearing during which the prosecution played a portion of Pataska’s body camera
video of Hudson’s interrogation and presented testimony from Pataska. After
hearing arguments from both parties, the court again excluded Hudson’s
3
Named after Miranda, 384 U.S. 436, and State ex rel. Goodchild v. Burke, 27 Wis. 2d
244, 133 N.W.2d 753 (1965), such evidentiary hearings are designed to determine the adequacy
of Miranda warnings, whether the defendant validly waived their constitutional rights, and
whether the ensuing statements were voluntarily made. State v. Jiles, 2003 WI 66, ¶25, 262 Wis.
2d 457, 663 N.W.2d 798.
5
No. 2023AP84-CR
statements from the interrogation. The court explained that “[Hudson’s] waiver
was not voluntary and knowingly made” because Pataska “[led] him to believe”
that he would get to go home if he talked to her. The court further explained that
Hudson was “made to believe” that, if he invoked his right to counsel rather than
speak with Pataska without counsel, he would be taken to jail.4 The State appeals.
DISCUSSION
¶10 On appeal, the State argues that the circuit court erroneously
excluded Hudson’s statements because he voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently
waived his Miranda rights and because his statements were voluntary. For the
reasons set forth below, we conclude that the court properly suppressed Hudson’s
statements because the State did not meet its burden of showing by a
preponderance of the evidence that Hudson’s waiver was knowing and intelligent.
Accordingly, we do not address whether Hudson’s Miranda waiver or his
statements were voluntary. Barrows v. American Fam. Ins. Co., 2014 WI App
11, ¶9, 352 Wis. 2d 436, 842 N.W.2d 508 (2013) (“An appellate court need not
address every issue raised by the parties when one issue is dispositive.”).5
4
We note that the prosecution asked the circuit court to clarify whether its decision was
based on voluntariness, and the court responded, “I do believe that he was not voluntary.” The
court did not clearly explain whether its decision regarding voluntariness was based on the
voluntariness of Hudson’s Miranda waiver, his subsequent statements, or both. The court’s
written order—which stated that it granted Hudson’s motion “for the reasons stated on the
record”—also did not clarify this issue. In any event, we need not determine the precise grounds
for the court’s involuntariness decision because, as discussed below, we affirm the court’s
decision that Hudson’s Miranda waiver was not knowing and intelligent.
5
The parties do not dispute that Pataska’s questioning of Hudson was a “custodial
interrogation” as is necessary to trigger Miranda protections. See State v. Dobbs, 2020 WI 64,
¶52, 392 Wis. 2d 505, 945 N.W.2d 609. The parties also do not dispute that Hudson did not
invoke his right to a lawyer such that Pataska would have been required to cease questioning. See
State v. Jennings, 2002 WI 44, ¶26, 252 Wis. 2d 228, 647 N.W.2d 142 (“[T]he police must
(continued)
6
No. 2023AP84-CR
I. Legal Principles and Standard of Review.
¶11 We review motions to exclude evidence on constitutional grounds
using a two-part analysis. State v. Lemoine, 2013 WI 5, ¶15, 345 Wis. 2d 171,
827 N.W.2d 589. We review the circuit court’s findings of historical fact, which
we uphold unless they are clearly erroneous, and the application of constitutional
principles to those historical facts de novo. Id. (citation omitted).
¶12 The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as well as
Article I, Section 8 of the Wisconsin Constitution, set forth a privilege to remain
silent in the face of government accusation, which is often referred to as the
privilege against self-incrimination. State v. Rejholec, 2021 WI App 45, ¶18, 398
Wis. 2d 729, 963 N.W.2d 121. This privilege is applicable during the entire
period of a custodial interrogation. Id.¶13 In Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966), the United States
Supreme Court formulated procedures to secure the privilege against self-
incrimination. Colorado v. Spring, 479 U.S. 564, 572 (1987). Under Miranda,
the State “may not use statements, whether exculpatory or inculpatory, stemming
from custodial interrogation of the defendant unless it demonstrates the use of
procedural safeguards effective to secure the privilege against self-incrimination.”
State v. Dobbs, 2020 WI 64, ¶52, 392 Wis. 2d 505, 945 N.W.2d 609 (quoting
Miranda, 384 U.S. at 444). One of these procedural safeguards is that the
defendant must be “warned that he has a right to remain silent, that any statement
he does make may be used as evidence against him, and that he has a right to the
immediately cease questioning a suspect who clearly invokes the Miranda right to counsel at any
point during custodial interrogation.”).
7
No. 2023AP84-CR
presence of an attorney, either retained or appointed.” Id. (quoting Miranda, 384
U.S. at 444). These rights are often referred to as a suspect’s “Miranda rights.”
Rejholec, 398 Wis. 2d 729, ¶19.
¶14 In order to admit a defendant’s custodial statements into evidence,
the State must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant was
adequately informed of and validly waived their Miranda rights. Id., ¶19 & n.7.
A defendant’s waiver of their Miranda rights is valid if their waiver was
voluntary, knowing, and intelligent. Id.6
¶15 We employ a multi-step process in our analysis of whether a
defendant knowingly and intelligently waived their Miranda rights. State v.
Mitchell, 167 Wis. 2d 672, 696, 482 N.W.2d 364 (1992). First, we determine
whether the State has met its prima facie burden under Miranda. Id. “[T]he
general rule is that a prima facie case will be established ‘when the state has
established that defendant has been told or has read all the rights and admonitions
required in Miranda, and the defendant indicates he [or she] understands them and
is willing to make a statement.’” Id. at 697 (citation omitted). We evaluate
whether the State has made a prima facie showing by the preponderance of the
evidence. State v. Cole, 2008 WI App 178, ¶35, 315 Wis. 2d 75, 762 N.W.2d 7116
We observe that, under the “impeachment exception,” “[a] finding that statements were
obtained in violation of Miranda does not inexorably lead to a finding of involuntariness with the
attendant prohibition against impeachment use of the statements.” State v. Rejholec, 2021 WI
App 45, ¶27 n.10, 398 Wis. 2d 729, 963 N.W.2d 121 (quoting State v. Mendoza, 96 Wis. 2d 106,
118, 291 N.W.2d 478 (1980)). “A statement of the defendant made without the appropriate
Miranda warnings, although inadmissible in the prosecution’s case-in-chief, may be used to
impeach the defendant’s credibility if the defendant testifies to matters contrary to what is in the
excluded statement.” Id. (quoting Mendoza, 96 Wis. 2d at 118). “It is only if the statements are
also found to be involuntary that their use for impeachment purposes is precluded.” Id. (quoting
Mendoza, 96 Wis. 2d at 118-19).
8
No. 2023AP84-CR
(“[I]t is the State’s burden to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the
defendant validly waived his Miranda rights …. The State accomplishes this by,
first, producing evidence to establish a prima facie case.” (citations omitted)).
¶16 Second, if the State has made a prima facie showing of a knowing
and intelligent Miranda waiver, the burden shifts to the defendant to provide
“countervailing evidence” that their Miranda waiver was not knowing and
intelligent. State v. Lee, 175 Wis. 2d 348, 361, 499 N.W.2d 250 (Ct. App. 1993).
Considering the totality of circumstances, the court must then determine whether
the state has met its burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence that the
defendant’s waiver was knowing and intelligent. Id. at 361, 364. In doing so, the
court employs an “objective” standard where it inspects “the particular
circumstances involved, including the education, experience and conduct of the
accused as well as the credibility of the police officers’ testimony.” Id. at 364.
II. Knowing and Intelligent Waiver.
¶17 A defendant understands their Miranda rights and knowingly and
intelligently waives those rights if the defendant has “a full awareness of both the
nature of the right being abandoned and the consequences of the decision to
abandon it.” State v. Santiago, 206 Wis. 2d 3, 18-19, 556 N.W.2d 687 (1996)
(quoting Moran v. Burbine, 475 U.S. 412, 421 (1986)). This requires the
defendant to understand that they “may choose not to talk to law enforcement
officers, to talk only with counsel present, or to discontinue talking at any time.”
Spring, 479 U.S. at 574. Separately, it also requires the defendant to understand
“the critical advice that whatever [the defendant] chooses to say may be used as
evidence against [them].” Id. In other words, the State must show that the
defendant “knew [they] could stand mute and request a lawyer, and that [they
9
No. 2023AP84-CR
were] aware of the State’s intention to use [their] statements to secure a
conviction[.]” Burbine, 475 U.S. at 422. A knowing and intelligent waiver does
not require the defendant to be aware of every possible consequence of waiving
their Miranda rights, nor must the defendant be aware of “all information that
might be ‘useful’” or “that might ‘affect [their] decision to confess.’” Lee, 175
Wis. 2d at 364-65 (citation omitted).
¶18 In determining whether a defendant’s waiver was knowing and
intelligent, our focus is on the defendant’s state of mind, not the state of mind of
the police. Burbine, 475 U.S. at 423 (“[T]he state of mind of the police is
irrelevant to the question of the intelligence … of [the defendant’s] election to
abandon [their] rights.”). As a result, the withholding of information by the
police, even if “objectionable as a matter of ethics,” will not render the
defendant’s waiver constitutionally invalid unless it “deprives [the] defendant of
knowledge essential to [their] ability to understand the nature of [their] rights and
the consequences of abandoning them.” Id. at 423-24.
¶19 In the present case, there is no dispute that Pataska properly read the
Miranda warnings at the start of the interrogation and that Hudson ultimately
signed an acknowledgment of his rights and a waiver. Even so, both parties
expressly agree that “just because [Hudson] was read the [Miranda] rights, does
not mean he understood them.” Accordingly, in determining whether the State has
met its prima facie burden to establish a knowing and intelligent waiver, we must
determine whether the State has established that the waiver was “made with a full
awareness of both the nature of the right being abandoned and the consequences of
the decision to abandon it.” Santiago, 206 Wis. 2d at 18-19.
10
No. 2023AP84-CR
¶20 The State argues that Pataska’s testimony, the video evidence, and
Hudson’s prior experience with police all support its position that Hudson was
aware of what he was doing and knowingly waived his rights. Hudson argues that
he did not understand that, by waiving his rights and speaking to Pataska, the State
could use his statements against him to secure a criminal conviction.
¶21 For the following reasons, we conclude that the State did not
establish by a preponderance of the evidence a prima facie case that Hudson
understood this consequence of waiving his rights.7 Although the discussion
began with Pataska properly reading Hudson his Miranda rights and concluded
with Hudson signing both sections of the form, the balance of the discussion
consisted of Hudson’s expressions of confusion about the consequences of waiver
and Pataska’s explanations that omitted “the critical advice that whatever
[Hudson] chooses to say may be used as evidence against him.” See Spring, 479
U.S. at 574.
¶22 As detailed in the transcript of the interview, Pataska began her
questioning of Hudson by reading the required Miranda warnings, including the
warning that “[a]nything you say can and will be used against you in a Court of
Law.” After a discussion of whether Hudson would be able to go home after his
interrogation, the following exchange between Pataska and Hudson occurred:
7
Because the State failed to establish a prima facie case that Hudson knowingly and
intelligently waived his Miranda rights, our analysis stops there and we need not consider
whether Hudson has shown by “countervailing evidence” that he did not knowingly and
intelligently waive his Miranda rights. State v. Lee, 175 Wis. 2d 348, 360-61, 499 N.W.2d 250(Ct. App. 1993) (when the State has made a prima facie showing that a defendant’s Miranda
waiver was knowing and intelligent, the defendant’s statements should be admitted unless
“countervailing evidence” shows that the defendant did not knowingly and intelligently waive
their Miranda rights).
11
No. 2023AP84-CR
NAJEE HUDSON: I just want -- I want someone to know
what’s going on right now. I mean I also would like,
seriously like to understand more of what this is all about.
OFFICER: Sure. And I’d like to get into that. But if you
understand your rights and you still wish to talk to me,
then --
NAJEE HUDSON: I just don’t.
OFFICER: -- I need you to sign.
NAJEE HUDSON: I don’t want to sign my rights over.
OFFICER: Okay.
NAJEE HUDSON: But then like --
OFFICER: Well, then I can’t talk to you. That’s the law.
NAJEE HUDSON: That’s what my question was.
OFFICER: Okay.
NAJEE HUDSON: If I sign, is that me signing my rights
over?
OFFICER: Well, what this is saying, is that you want to
talk to me. So when you sign this, you are saying you want
to talk to me.
Obviously you can read it again if you wish. And then
from there, obviously I read down to the second part too,
which you can --
NAJEE HUDSON: That’s the part, it’s a Waiver of Rights.
OFFICER: Correct, yup.
NAJEE HUDSON: If I’m waiving my rights, is that
meaning me not being able to use them, or like what is that
saying?
OFFICER: The Waiver of Rights is just saying -- well,
okay. So I know you didn’t sign the [acknowledgment of
rights]. I will read the second part, and then you can, I
guess decide from there maybe. So I will just read this out
loud as well.
“I’ve read this Statement of Rights, and I understand what
my rights are. I am willing to make a statement and answer
12
No. 2023AP84-CR
questions. I do not want a lawyer at this time, and I
understand and know what I am doing. No promises or
threats have been made to me and no pressure or coercion
of any kind has been used against me.”
So you’re right, these are your rights portion that you
would be signing, saying you understand your rights. And
then this is the Waiver of Rights.
By signing, you’re saying, yup, I am willing to talk to you
and answer questions or talk about this.
So that’s what these are about.
NAJEE HUDSON: Well, we have to talk. Because if we
don’t talk, then that makes, you know what I’m saying,
(inaudible) why I was even brought here.
OFFICER: Okay.
NAJEE HUDSON: So.
OFFICER: And you can stop talking at any time, that’s
obviously part of the rights.
[Hudson moves form over and looks at it].
NAJEE HUDSON: I understand that. But you also just
mentioned a part of the same sentence, that if I don’t talk or
say anything right now, I want my lawyer present, that I am
going to go to jail.
OFFICER: Well --
NAJEE HUDSON: I can’t, I’m not trying to go to jail.
OFFICER: I understand that.
NAJEE HUDSON: I want to finish this right here, this
questioning. You take whatever statements you need and
like I need to be home --
OFFICER: Sure.
NAJEE HUDSON: -- today.
OFFICER: I hear you.
….
13
No. 2023AP84-CR
NAJEE HUDSON: I should be leaving. I know you leave
at 4:00, I should be already home or I’m --
OFFICER: And that’s why I want to figure out what
happened. I want to figure out what’s going on. That’s my
job.
[Hudson picks up pen while looking at form]
NAJEE HUDSON: I want to talk, I want to talk about this.
I do have a lawyer. But like he will be contacted I
understand.
[Hudson, with pen in hand, starts to sign the form and
hesitates.]
NAJEE HUDSON: This is -- I really feel like this means
something else right now that this is [inaudible] like me
signing my fucking rights over.[8]
OFFICER: All right. Well, I told you that what I want to
talk to you about is a sexual assault.
NAJEE HUDSON: Okay.
OFFICER: That happened in August, 2020, so just this
past August. So that’s what I’m investigating and looking
into.
NAJEE HUDSON: (Inaudible.)
8
The transcript of the interrogation states that Hudson said, “I really feel like this means
something else right now. Like this is not necessarily in my [inaudible].” In the previous appeal
in this matter, we noted that we heard Hudson say something slightly different in the video
recording: “I really feel like this means something else right now that this is [inaudible] like me
signing my fucking rights over.” State v. Hudson, No. 2022AP191-CR, unpublished slip. op, ¶8
n.3 (WI App Sep. 9, 2022). Nonetheless, we declined to resolve the precise wording and
explained that, under either version, “Hudson was expressing confusion over the meaning of the
waiver of rights form.” Id.On appeal, the State does not dispute our interpretation of Hudson’s statement in the
previous appeal. However, Hudson argues on appeal that he was actually saying: “I really feel
like this means something else right now. This, like, this is not me signing my motherfucking
rights or whatever.” Given that there is nothing in the record to contradict this court’s
interpretation from the prior appeal, we see no reason to depart from that interpretation now. We
also reiterate that, regardless of Hudson’s exact words, “Hudson was expressing confusion over
the meaning of the waiver of rights form.” Id.14
No. 2023AP84-CR
OFFICER: So that’s the case, that’s what it’s all about.
NAJEE HUDSON: I’ve had multiple girlfriends, and I’ve
never done anything like that. And we can continue as time
continues on, a hundred percent. I would love to clear the
air on all of this.
OFFICER: Okay.
[Hudson signs the form in two places.]
(Emphasis and bracketed annotations added.)
¶23 Although Hudson’s statements in the excerpted portion above
indicate that he understood that he had the right to have a lawyer with him during
his interrogation and that his signing of the waiver section of the form allowed him
to speak with Pataska (which Pataska twice stated), there are no similar statements
by Hudson that indicate he understood that his statements could be used against
him to secure a criminal conviction. See Burbine, 475 U.S. at 422 (a knowing and
intelligent waiver requires the defendant to be “aware of the State’s intention to
use his statements to secure a conviction”).
¶24 As the transcript shows, after Pataska read the required Miranda
warnings, Hudson asked: “If I sign, is that me signing my rights over?” We
interpret this statement as Hudson expressing that he did not understand the
consequences of signing the waiver section of the form. In response, Pataska told
Hudson that signing the waiver section of the form meant that he was willing to
talk to her: “Well, what this is saying, is that you want to talk to me. So when
you sign this, you are saying you want to talk to me.” This response by Pataska
was accurate to the extent that it explained that Hudson, by signing the waiver
section of the form, would be agreeing to talk with her. However, this response
was incomplete because it did not convey that another consequence of signing the
form and agreeing to talk was that the State could use Hudson’s statements against
15
No. 2023AP84-CR
him to secure a conviction. As a result, we are not satisfied that Pataska’s initial
response to Hudson’s question sufficiently rectified his expressed lack of
understanding about the consequences of his Miranda waiver.
¶25 After Pataska’s response, Hudson again asked about the
consequences of waiver: “If I’m waiving my rights, is that meaning me not being
able to use them, or like what is that saying?” In response, Pataska read aloud the
section of the form titled “Waiver of Rights.” This section of the form described
some of the consequences of a waiver, including the following: “I am willing to
make a statement and answer questions. I do not want a lawyer at this time[.]”
This section also included an acknowledgement that the signatory understands the
rights: “I have read this Statement of Rights and I understand what my rights
are.… I understand and know what I am doing.” However, this section of the
form did not include the consequence that Hudson’s statements could be used
against him to secure a conviction. After reading the “Waiver of Rights” section
of the form, Pataska then summarized that signing the waiver section of the form
is “saying that you understand your rights” and “saying, yup, I am willing to talk
to you and answer questions or talk about this.”
¶26 Like Pataska’s response to Hudson’s initial question, Pataska’s
response to Hudson’s second question was accurate, but incomplete. To be sure,
the “Waiver of Rights” section of the form that Pataska read aloud accurately
conveyed that, by signing the waiver section, Hudson would be agreeing to talk to
Pataska without his lawyer. Hudson’s statements throughout this portion of his
interrogation indicate that he understood that consequence of his “Waiver of
Rights.” And Pataska’s summary of the “Your Rights” section of the form
accurately conveyed that Hudson would be agreeing that he understands all of the
rights listed in that section. But Pataska’s explanation of the consequences of
16
No. 2023AP84-CR
waiving these rights, which she explained as Hudson being willing to talk to her
and answer questions, does not satisfy us that Hudson comprehended that his
statements could be used against him to secure a conviction. Hudson expressly
told Pataska that he did not understand the meaning of signing the waiver section
of the form, yet Pataska’s response—whether intentionally or not—minimized the
consequences by omitting the “critical” information that one consequence of
signing the waiver section of the form and talking to Pataska was that his
statements could be used against him to criminally convict him. See Spring, 479
U.S. at 574. The combination of Hudson’s express statements that he did not
understand the meaning of signing the waiver section of the form and Pataska’s
incomplete responses do not establish that Hudson was “aware of the State’s
intention to use his statements to secure a conviction.” See Burbine, 475 U.S. at
422.
¶27 At this point, Hudson again expressed that he did not understand the
meaning of signing the waiver section of the form: “I really feel like this means
something else right now that this is [inaudible] like me signing my fucking rights
over.” This time, however, Pataska did not attempt to explain the meaning of the
waiver form to Hudson. Instead, Pataska responded that she was investigating a
sexual assault from August 2020, to which Hudson replied, “I would love to clear
the air on all of this” and signed both sections of the form.
¶28 This final portion of the exchange shows that Pataska’s earlier
responses had not eliminated Hudson’s confusion about the consequences of
waiving his rights and that he was still unsure about the rights that he was “signing
… over.” This is also evident from the body camera video, which shows Hudson
picking up the pen, putting the pen on a signature line, sighing deeply, and saying,
while gesturing to the form, “I really feel like this means something else right now
17
No. 2023AP84-CR
that this is [inaudible] like me signing my fucking rights over.” We are not
confident that Hudson signed the waiver section of the form with the awareness
that his statements could be used against him to secure a conviction.
¶29 We acknowledge that, under our case law, a defendant’s “express
written or oral statement of waiver” is “usually strong proof of the validity of that
waiver.” State v. Ward, 2009 WI 60, ¶30, 318 Wis. 2d 301, 767 N.W.2d 236(quoting North Carolina v. Butler, 441 U.S. 369, 373 (1979)). However, an
express written or oral statement of waiver is neither “necessary nor sufficient to
establish waiver.” Butler, 441 U.S. at 373. Under the specific circumstances in
this case, we do not agree that Hudson signing the form is “strong proof” that
Hudson’s waiver was knowing and intelligent. As discussed above, Hudson had
repeatedly expressed that he did not understand the consequences of waiving his
rights, including while he was holding the pen and appearing to contemplate
whether to sign the form. Pataska’s answers to Hudson’s questions, although not
inaccurate, omitted the important information that Hudson’s statements could be
used against him. As a result, we do not agree that Hudson’s ultimate act of
signing the waiver section of the form is stronger proof of his understanding than
his nearly simultaneous verbal statement that he continued to not understand the
consequences of waiver.
¶30 The circumstances of this case are distinguishable from other cases
where the State has satisfied by a preponderance of evidence its prima facie
burden of showing a valid Miranda waiver. In none of those cases did the
defendant express that they lacked an understanding of the Miranda warnings or
the consequences of waiver. See, e.g., Ward, 318 Wis. 2d 301, ¶31 (Ward was
given the Miranda warnings, acknowledged that she understood each of those
warnings, and recited those warnings back to the officer unprompted); Mitchell,
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No. 2023AP84-CR
167 Wis. 2d at 679-80, 697 (Mitchell was twice warned of his Miranda rights and
he indicated both verbally and in writing that he understood those rights);
Schilling v. State, 86 Wis. 2d 69, 77, 87, 271 N.W.2d 631 (1978) (“[Schilling]
was repeatedly advised of his right to counsel, his right to counsel during
questioning, his right to remain silent, and that what he said could be used against
him in court” and “at all times … stated he understood his rights”); State v.
Reynolds, 2010 WI App 56, ¶51, 324 Wis. 2d 385, 781 N.W.2d 739 (Reynolds
was given Miranda warnings before interrogation, had been given those warnings
five other times in the preceding week, and indicated that he understood his
rights); State v. Young, 2009 WI App 22, ¶¶7-10, 21, 316 Wis. 2d 114, 762
N.W.2d 736 (2008) (Young was given Miranda warnings on three occasions,
acknowledged that he understood those warnings, and later testified that he
understood his rights); State v. Beaver, 181 Wis. 2d 959, 967, 512 N.W.2d 254(Ct. App. 1994) (Beaver was given the Miranda warnings, indicated an
understanding of the rights, repeated those rights “nearly verbatim,” and nothing
in the record indicated that Beaver was disoriented or did not understand the
officer’s questioning); Lee, 175 Wis. 2d at 360 (“The police read Lee his Miranda
rights. Lee indicated that he understood them and was willing to make a
statement.”); Shawn B.N. v. State, 173 Wis. 2d 343, 364 497 N.W.2d 141 (Ct.
App. 1992) (juvenile was given the Miranda warnings and stated that he
understood them, then was read the “waiver provisions” and signed the card
without any verbal reply). Unlike the defendants in those cases, Hudson verbally
expressed at multiple points during the interrogation that he did not understand the
consequence of waiving his Miranda rights, including while he was holding the
pen and considering whether to sign the form. Even though Hudson eventually
signed both sections of the form, his repeated verbal expressions of confusion
distinguish this case from other cases where the State met its burden of showing a
19
No. 2023AP84-CR
knowing and intelligent waiver. See DAVID M. NISSMAN & ED HAGEN, LAW OF
CONFESSIONS § 7.5 (2023) (“[T]he government will have a difficult job of proving
that waivers are intelligent if it can’t show that the suspects admitted that they
understood their rights.”).
¶31 Instead, we conclude that the circumstances of this case are more
analogous to the circumstances in T.C. v. State, 2010 Ark. 240, 364 S.W.3d 53(2010), a decision by the Arkansas Supreme Court which provides instructive
analysis. In that case, a juvenile defendant signed two Miranda waiver forms
during his interactions with the police. Id. at 62. The first time he signed a waiver
form, he had been presented with the form with no explanation and had been
directed to read it himself. Id. The second time he was asked to sign the waiver
form, he said that he did not understand what the word “waiver” meant. Id.
Instead of explaining what “waiver” meant, the police gave the defendant the
definition of voluntariness, stating:
what you are saying, you are doing of your own free will
… [w]e haven’t made any promises. We haven’t
threatened you in any way. You are doing this because you
want to do this. And again, it is by your own free will that
you do this, that you make this statement.
Id. The Arkansas Supreme Court observed that the officer’s explanation of the
meaning of “waiver” “did not make clear that [the defendant] was giving up his
rights to remain silent and to the assistance of counsel.” Id. For this reason, the
court concluded that “[i]t necessarily follows … that [the defendant’s] waiver was
not made with ‘a full awareness of both the nature of the right being abandoned
and the consequences of the decision to abandon it.’” Id. (citation omitted).
¶32 We recognize that the T.C. case is not perfectly on point because it
involves a twelve-year-old child, not an adult. Further, the officer’s explanation of
20
No. 2023AP84-CR
a Miranda waiver in that case was incorrect, whereas Pataska’s explanation was
minimizing and incomplete. But, like the defendant in T.C., Hudson expressed
confusion about the consequences of his waiver, and his apparent
misunderstanding was not addressed by Pataska’s incomplete explanations.
Consequently, the T.C. case is instructive in demonstrating that, although a
defendant signs a Miranda waiver, their expressed confusion, coupled with law
enforcement’s incorrect or incomplete responses, may weigh against a
determination that the waiver was knowingly and intelligently made.
¶33 The State argues that Hudson understood the consequences of
waiving his Miranda rights because he had experience waiving his Miranda rights
in a prior encounter with the police, he was an adult, and there was no indication
that he was of below average intelligence. We are not persuaded. Although these
personal characteristics, coupled with Hudson’s signing of the form, weigh in
favor of a valid waiver, see Lee, 175 Wis. 2d at 364-65, we do not think these
factors overcome Hudson’s expressed confusion about the consequences of a
Miranda waiver, especially when we consider that Pataska’s responses to
Hudson’s questions omitted the critical information that Hudson’s statements
could be used against him to secure a conviction. We therefore conclude that the
State has not met its prima facie burden by a preponderance of the evidence that
Hudson’s waiver was knowing and intelligent.
¶34 We emphasize that we are not concluding that Pataska had a duty to
provide information beyond that which is required under Miranda or to provide
legal advice as to whether Hudson should waive his rights. See Schilling, 86 Wis.
2d at 86-87 (“When the police have fully and fairly given a suspect the Miranda
warnings their duty is discharged, and we hold that they are under no further and
additional duty whether or not the suspect acts wisely or foolishly or
21
No. 2023AP84-CR
misapprehends either the facts or the law.” (citation omitted)). We are also not
concluding that the police are required to repeat the Miranda warnings throughout
an interrogation. See Berghuis v. Thompkins, 560 U.S. 370, 386 (2010) (“Police
are not required to rewarn suspects from time to time.”). Instead, we conclude,
based on the specific facts of this case, that the State has not made a prima facie
showing by a preponderance of evidence that Hudson’s waiver was knowing and
intelligent because of Hudson’s obvious confusion and repeated questions about
the consequence of his Miranda waiver, because he never verbally indicated that
he understood that his statements could be used against him, and because
Pataska’s responses to Hudson’s questions minimized the consequence of his
waiver by omitting information that Hudson’s statements could be used against
him to secure a conviction.
¶35 For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the State has not made a
prima facie showing by a preponderance of the evidence that Hudson possessed
the requisite knowledge essential to understand the consequences of his Miranda
waiver.
CONCLUSION
¶36 For the foregoing reasons, the order of the circuit court is affirmed.
By the Court.—Order affirmed.
This opinion will not be published. See WIS. STAT.
RULE 809.23(1)(b)5.
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