Inman v. State

671 S.E.2d 921, 295 Ga. App. 461, 2009 Fulton County D. Rep. 187, 2009 Ga. App. LEXIS 13
CourtCourt of Appeals of Georgia
DecidedJanuary 7, 2009
DocketA08A2150
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 671 S.E.2d 921 (Inman v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Inman v. State, 671 S.E.2d 921, 295 Ga. App. 461, 2009 Fulton County D. Rep. 187, 2009 Ga. App. LEXIS 13 (Ga. Ct. App. 2009).

Opinion

Ellington, Judge.

A Whitfield County jury found Lonnie Inman guilty of aggravated sexual battery, OCGA § 16-6-22.2 (b), and three counts of child molestation, OCGA § 16-6-4 (a). Inman appeals from the order denying his motion for new trial, contending that the trial court erred in admitting into evidence his custodial statements and that the evidence adduced was insufficient to support his convictions. Finding no error, we affirm.

1. Inman contends the trial court erred in admitting his custodial statement, arguing that he did not understand his rights and *462 that he was induced into making a statement by the hope of a benefit. For Inman’s “statements to be admissible, they must be voluntary.” (Citation omitted.) Vergara v. State, 283 Ga. 175, 178 (1) (657 SE2d 863) (2008). Under the provisions of OCGA § 24-3-50, “[t]o make a confession admissible, it must have been made voluntarily, without being induced by another by the slightest hope of benefit or remotest fear of injury.” We note that Inman’s reliance on the nine-factor analysis for determining the voluntariness of his statement as set forth in Reinhardt v. State, 263 Ga. 113, 115 (3) (b) (428 SE2d 333) (1993), is misplaced. The Supreme Court of Georgia has recently clarified that “the explicit nine-factor analysis set forth in . . . ReinhardtY ] applies only to the confessions of juveniles and not to those of adults.” (Citations omitted.) Vergara v. State, 283 Ga. at 177-178 (1). Because Inman was over 18 “at the time of his statements, they are admissible if, considering the totality of the circumstances, they were made voluntarily, without being induced by hope of benefit or coerced by threats.” (Citation and punctuation omitted.) Id. at 178 (1).

The record reveals that Inman, who was 58 years old at the time of his custodial interview at the Whitfield County jail, was advised of his Miranda 1 rights verbally and in writing. Inman testified that he knew his rights “from TY” and knew that he had the right to remain silent, that his statements could be used against him, and that he had a right to an attorney. He testified that he was not threatened and that the detectives made him no promises in exchange for his statements. The detectives testified that Inman did not appear to be under the influence of any intoxicants, that he understood his rights, and that he voluntarily signed a waiver-of-rights form, initialing each right after they were read to him. The interview lasted about 40 minutes, and Inman was not threatened or deprived of food, water, or restroom facilities. Although Inman argues in his brief that he could not have understood his rights due to his “limited mental capacity,” the record shows that Inman had completed the eleventh grade, that he had worked as a babysitter, and that he could answer complex questions and recall the details of past events. There was no test evidence introduced which demonstrated that Inman had a below-average IQ or was mentally or cognitively impaired such that he was incapable of understanding his rights.

During the hearing, Inman admitted that he gave the statements recounted by the detectives. The detectives testified that Inman, who initially denied touching the female victims in any way, told them that he may have accidentally fondled one victim’s chest *463 and that, while bathing another victim, he may have accidentally inserted his finger into the child’s vagina. Inman told the detectives that he knew he would be found guilty and that he wanted to know if he could be sent to a mental hospital or clinic because he knew what happened to child molesters in prison. The detectives told Inman that the only thing they could do was tell the district attorney that he was cooperative “and then it would be up to the discretion of the judge and the jury as to what happened to [him].” At the end of the interview, as the detectives were leaving, Inman asked: “What’s going to happen now? I need help to stop doing the things to kids that I used to do. I haven’t done it in six years.”

Based on the testimony given by Inman and the detectives who questioned him, the trial court found that Inman’s custodial statements were freely and voluntarily made, especially given Inman’s own testimony that he understood his rights and willingly waived them. “This Court will not interfere with findings of the trier of fact where, as here, there is evidence to support the factual findings.” (Footnote omitted.) Montgomery v. State, 287 Ga. App. 382, 384 (2) (651 SE2d 491) (2007). The trial court’s findings are also supported by the initialed and signed waiver of rights form. There is no evidence that the detectives offered Inman a hope of benefit. Rather, it appears Inman sought treatment in lieu of imprisonment, and that the detectives told him they could make no promises. Based on the totality of the circumstances, we cannot say the trial court erred in holding that Inman’s custodial statements were voluntary under OCGA § 24-3-50. See Mezick v. State, 291 Ga. App. 257, 257-258 (1) (661 SE2d 635) (2008) (The defendant’s alleged mental shortcomings did not render his statements inadmissible given the totality of the circumstances.). Consequently, we find no error.

2. Inman contends the evidence adduced was insufficient to support his convictions beyond a reasonable doubt.

When a criminal defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his or her conviction, “the relevant question is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” (Citation omitted; emphasis in original.) Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U. S. 307, 318-319 (III) (B) (99 SC 2781, 61 LE2d 560) (1979). The jury, not this Court, resolves conflicts in the testimony, weighs the evidence, and draws reasonable inferences from basic facts to ultimate facts. Id. “As long as there is some competent evidence, even though contradicted, to support each fact necessary to make out the State’s case, the jury’s verdict will be upheld.” (Citation and punctuation omitted.) Miller v. State, 273 Ga. 831, 832 (546 SE2d 524) (2001). Viewed in this light, the record reveals the following facts.

*464 Inman, who was known as “Pappy,” babysat several young neighborhood girls, including the victims, F. W, K. L., and A. M., during the period of time from June 1997 through December 1999 in Whitfield County. Each of the victims recounted how, while in Inman’s care, he molested them.

In her videotaped statement, which was played for the jury, thirteen-year-old F. W.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
671 S.E.2d 921, 295 Ga. App. 461, 2009 Fulton County D. Rep. 187, 2009 Ga. App. LEXIS 13, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/inman-v-state-gactapp-2009.