Heafner v. United States

267 F. Supp. 697, 1967 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8344
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. North Carolina
DecidedMarch 4, 1967
DocketCiv. No. 705
StatusPublished

This text of 267 F. Supp. 697 (Heafner v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Heafner v. United States, 267 F. Supp. 697, 1967 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8344 (E.D.N.C. 1967).

Opinion

Opinion and Order

LARKINS, District Judge.

SUMMARY

This cause comes before the Court upon a motion to vacate and set aside sentence, filed in forma pauperis, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S. C.A., Section 2255. Petitioner seeks to set aside the judgment and the imposition of sentence. Issues were joined by respondent filing answer and motion to dismiss.

Petitioner alleges that his rights as guaranteed by the laws and constitution of the United States have been violated in the following particulars:

(1) that a confession was used against him at his trial which confession was the result of constant questioning, in relay method, by both State and Federal authorities,
(2) that promises of leniency by Sheriff Whorton constituted a “deprivation of due process in violation of the 14th amendment and in violation of the 5th amend.........menUof the United States Constitution.”
(3) Petitioner also attacks the sufficiency of the evidence and
(4) the fact that he was without counsel during the period of his interrogation.

Petitioner was found by the jury to be guilty of violating the provisions of Title 18, U.S.C.A. Section 2113(a) and is presently incarcerated in the United States Penitentiary at Marion, Illinois serving the sentence imposed upon him by this Court.

FINDINGS OF FACT

The defendant-petitioner was stopped on North Carolina Highway 70 in Carteret County, North Carolina on June 3, 1963 by a North Carolina State Highway Patrolman for speeding. He was arrested at 12:50 P.M. approximately twenty-seven miles from the scene of the bank robbery for which he has been convicted. Petitioner was then taken to New Bern, North 'Carolina and placed in custody pending his trial on the speeding charge the following day.

Approximately two hours after the petitioner was arrested he was questioned by officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sheriff of Pamlico County. Petitioner was then transferred to the Pamlico County jail, by Sheriff Whorton, Pamlico County being the scene of the robbery.

Petitioner alleges that he was not taken before a United States Commissioner or County Magistrate and he was not charged with any crime except the [699]*699speeding violation for which he had originally been arrested.

Petitioner alleges that he was questioned from approximately 7:00 P.M. until 4:00 A.M. the morning of June 4, 1963. The record is clear that petitioner was questioned after his arrival at the Pamlico County jail, but the record does not support the contention that petitioner was questioned for the nine hour period.

On the morning of June 4, 1963 petitioner was taken to the Craven-County Courthouse to stand trial for the traffic violation for which he had been arrested. As a result of his conviction he was sentenced to serve thirty (30) days in the Craven County jail as he could not pay the fine imposed upon him.

Petitioner was then transferred back to the Pamlico County jail. Petitioner was not taken before a United States Commissioner or any other magistrate, but this was not necessary as the petitioner had not been arrested for any violations other than the speeding charge and the federal authorities had not placed any charges against this petitioner.

Petitioner alleges that he was questioned the night of June 4, 1963 from around 7:00 P.M. until about 2:00 A.M. Wednesday, June 5, 1963. Petitioner also contends that F.B.I. Agent John Worsham threatened that he was going to involve the petitioner’s family if he did not confess.

On Wednesday afternoon June 5, 1963, petitioner alleged that Sheriff Robert Whorton of Pamlico County gave him a drink of whiskey and this was admitted by the sheriff. The amount given petitioner according to the testimony introduced was about one or two ounces or about two fingers in amount from a fifth bottle of whiskey. Petitioner further contends that the sheriff made certain promises to him and said that he would help him in every way possible if petitioner would confess. Petitioner alleges that the Sheriff said that he would help arrange for petitioner’s wife to pay for some hospital bills as she was seven and one half months pregnant at the time of petitioner’s arrest. The Sheriff testified that he did speak to the Welfare people about this matter and they agreed that they would help. The Sheriff admitted that he had told the petitioner that he would help him and that he thought they were getting to be good friends. He said that he tried to be as nice toward petitioner as he knew how.

On Thursday June 6, 1963 petitioner’s wife arrived and she was allowed to see the petitioner. Later that night the petitioner told the officers that he wanted to make a statement. The officers furnished him with a pencil and some paper and the petitioner alone in his cell made a signed statement of his involvement in the crime for which he was charged, and the said statement was introduced into evidence at petitioner’s trial.

On June 8, 1963 petitioner told one of the F.B.I. Agents that the statement that he had made was true, and told him of the events leading up to his arrival in the area where the bank was robbed. The agent later testified as to this statement at petitioner’s trial.

Petitioner further alleges that the Sheriff of Pamlico County told him that he knew the Judge who would try him and they had been good friends and if petitioner would make a statement he would speak to the Judge in petitioner’s behalf. Petitioner was also told that if he would admit his guilt that it would help him.

Petitioner was told by the Sheriff that the Sheriff wanted and needed a man to work on his farm and that if the petitioner was available he could get the job.

It appears from the testimony of the F.B.I. Agents that petitioner was warned of his constitutional rights and was told that he could have a lawyer to represent him if he so desired and that the Court would appoint him a lawyer. The agents, however, testified that the petitioner never gave any intimation that he desired an attorney to represent him. He was also informed that he had the right to remain silent and that any statement he made could be used against him. Agent Worsham testified that he told [700]*700defendant that he would not make any threats or promises of reward in order to obtain a statement from him.

Petitioner was taken before the United States Commissioner on June 10, 1963.

During the trial of the case Heafner was represented by an able and respected member of the Craven County Bar of his own choice and privately retained. When the government offered evidence relating to the statements made by the petitioner, defendant’s counsel objected and moved to suppress the evidence and for a voir dire examination.

A voir dire examination was held in the Judge’s Chambers out of the presence of the jury where the defendant testified that no threats had been made to get him to confess and that there were no promises made to him although he said that he was led to believe it would help him if he made a statement. F.B.I. Agent Akers and Sheriff Whorton also testified at the voir dire examination. At the conclusion of the hearing the Court overruled the motion to suppress and allowed the testimony to be admitted into evidence.

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Bluebook (online)
267 F. Supp. 697, 1967 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8344, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/heafner-v-united-states-nced-1967.