CGH v. State

1978 OK CR 56, 580 P.2d 523
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma
DecidedJune 5, 1978
DocketJ-77-746
StatusPublished

This text of 1978 OK CR 56 (CGH v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
CGH v. State, 1978 OK CR 56, 580 P.2d 523 (Okla. Ct. App. 1978).

Opinion

580 P.2d 523 (1978)

C.G.H., Appellant,
v.
The STATE of Oklahoma, Appellee.

No. J-77-746.

Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma.

June 5, 1978.

John T. Elliott, Public Defender, Oklahoma County, Richard L. Weldon, Asst. Public Defender, Theresa L. Bowman, Legal Intern, for appellant.

Andrew M. Coats, Dist. Atty., Oklahoma County, Myrna Sisson, Asst. Dist. Atty., Oklahoma City, for appellee.

*524 OPINION

CORNISH, Judge:

The appellant, C.G.H., hereinafter referred to as defendant, was certified to stand trial as an adult for the offense of Murder in the First Degree, in violation of 21 O.S.Supp. 1977, § 701.7, in the Juvenile Division of the Oklahoma County District Court, Case No. JF-77-1441, the Honorable Charles Halley presiding.

At the hearing to determine prosecutive merit held on August 30, 1977, the following evidence was adduced. Floyd Wayne Rice and Mary Sue Ray testified that on the evening of July 26, 1977, they, the defendant, and Robert William Smith were drinking together in the Spark Plug Lounge in Oklahoma City. At closing time, they left and went to Mary Ray's home. Ms. Ray went to bed while the three men continued drinking. Subsequently, at about 2:00 a.m., the defendant and Robert Smith left in Smith's car, ostensibly to get more beer. However, according to Rice, they never returned. Both Rice and Ray testified that on that evening the defendant displayed to them a .22 caliber derringer which he carried. The following morning Robert *525 Smith was found dead in a bar ditch, the victim of a gunshot wound to the chest. His body contained no wallet or identification. However, police later made identification through fingerprints. After conducting their investigation, which included interviews with Ms. Ray, Rice and Billie Jean Hood, the defendant's sister, the defendant was located and arrested. In the home where the defendant was found was also found a .22 caliber derringer, which Ms. Ray and Rice testified resembled the one which the defendant had shown them.

While en route to the police station, the officers learned that the defendant was a minor. His mother, Mrs. Baysinger, was contacted. On the afternoon of the 28th after being read his Miranda rights, the defendant made statements indicating that he had shot Robert Smith in "self-defense," in order to repel sexual advances. The defendant stated that after shooting Smith he took the victim's car and burned it. In the statement, the defendant denied knowledge of the whereabouts of the victim's wallet. The following day, July 29, the defendant signed a transcription of his statement.

Additionally, the defendant's sister, Billie Jean Hood, testified that she spoke with the defendant early on the morning of July 28th, before his arrest, and that the defendant stated to her that he had shot and killed someone.

The defendant's first assignment of error is that the trial court erred in permitting the defendant's "confession" to be introduced into evidence over his objection. Two propositions are asserted. The first is that the State failed to demonstrate that the defendant made a knowing and intelligent waiver of his right to counsel and of his right to remain silent. Second, the defendant asserts that the terms of 10 O.S. 1971, § 1109, were not complied with. That section states in pertinent part:

"(a) No information gained by questioning a child shall be admissible into evidence against the child unless the questioning about any alleged offense by law enforcement officer or investigative agency, or employee of the court, or the Department is done in the presence of said child's parents, guardian, attorney, or the legal custodian of the child, and not until the child and his parents, or guardian, or other legal custodian shall be fully advised of their constitutional and legal rights, including the right to be represented by counsel at every stage of the proceedings, and the right to have counsel appointed by the court and paid out of the court fund if the parties are without sufficient financial means; . .. ."

It is apparent that the defendant's two propositions are intertwined. As we stated in J.T.P. v. State, 544 P.2d 1270 (1975), Section 1109 is an "automatic and mandatory" rule, which cannot be waived by the juvenile or anyone else. The statute states in no uncertain terms that unless the juvenile's attorney or guardian is present and unless both are advised of their rights the statements are inadmissible. On the other hand, while an adult criminal suspect has the constitutional right to remain silent and to have an attorney present during questioning, he may waive these rights. Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966).

The facts herein demonstrate that the literal terms of Section 1109 were complied with. Officer Cook stated that the defendant and his mother were advised of their rights and that the defendant thereafter gave a statement in the presence of his mother. This much is undisputed.

The question is two-fold. First, is mere literal compliance with Section 1109 enough? And second, if so, did the defendant knowingly and intelligently waive his right to counsel and his right to remain silent before giving his statement?

The defendant cites two cases from within this jurisdiction and two cases from without, which seemingly indicate that the mere presence of a parent or guardian does not by itself render the juvenile's statements admissible. In Ezell v. State, Okl.Cr., 489 P.2d 781 (1971), this Court, in reversing the conviction, placed emphasis on the fact *526 that, "There was no evidence as to the ability of the minor to comprehend the effect of his waiver. Nor, any evidence showing the ability of his mother or legal custodian to properly advise him." Similarly, in Layton v. State, Okl.Cr., 551 P.2d 270 (1976), this Court reversed a conviction because of an accumulation of errors, one of which was that, "The record does not reflect that defendant was given the opportunity for private discussion with her mother concerning the ramifications of executing the rights waiver." See also, People in Interest of L.B., 33 Colo. App. 1, 513 P.2d 1069 (1973), quoted by this Court in J.T.P. v. State, supra. See also, Commonwealth v. Smith, 472 Pa. 492, 372 A.2d 797 (1977).

Herein, the record fails to reflect that the defendant had the ability to comprehend the nature of the rights waiver and, further, it fails to reflect whether the defendant was given an opportunity to confer privately with his mother, or that he had the ability to understand the consequences of a waiver. All that is shown by the State is that the rights were read to the defendant and his mother, and that the defendant and his mother were asked if they understood, to which they nodded their heads and Mrs. Baysinger said "yes." Thereafter, the questioning of the defendant began, and by a question and answer process the defendant's statement was obtained.

At the hearing on prosecutive merit, neither the defendant nor his mother testified.

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Bluebook (online)
1978 OK CR 56, 580 P.2d 523, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cgh-v-state-oklacrimapp-1978.