McLallen v. Wyrick

494 F. Supp. 138, 1980 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14577
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Missouri
DecidedJune 30, 1980
Docket77-0804-CV-W-5-R
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 494 F. Supp. 138 (McLallen v. Wyrick) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McLallen v. Wyrick, 494 F. Supp. 138, 1980 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14577 (W.D. Mo. 1980).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

SCOTT 0. WRIGHT, District Judge.

Petitioner, who is currently confined at the Missouri State Penitentiary, has filed a pro se petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (1976). Leave to proceed in forma pauperis was granted on November 16, 1977, and the respondent was directed to show cause why the writ should not issue. A response was filed December 21, 1977. A pro se Traverse was filed by petitioner on January 6, 1978. On April 20,1978, the Federal Public Defender was appointed to represent petitioner and counsel for the parties were directed to determine a joint schedule for filing of briefs in this action. Stipulations were filed by the parties on September 25, 1979, and October 3,1979. A brief was submitted by petitioner’s appointed counsel on October 3, 1979. A responding brief was filed by the respondent on October 25, 1979.

*140 The petitioner raised the following five general claims: (1) that an involuntary confession given by petitioner to the prosecutor and the sheriff of Benton County, Missouri, on January 17,1972, was improperly admitted into evidence at his trial; (2) that petitioner received ineffective assistance of counsel at his trial in violation of the sixth amendment to the United States Constitution; (3) that petitioner was denied due process because the trial court failed sua sponte to instruct the jury on two matters; (4) that petitioner was denied effective assistance of counsel at his hearing pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 27.26; and (5) that petitioner was denied effective assistance of counsel in the appeal of his motion pursuant to Rule 27.26. This Court will examine each of petitioner’s five claims individually.

I. VOLUNTARINESS OF CONFESSION

In his first claim petitioner asserts that a statement he made on January 17, 1972, to the sheriff and prosecutor of Benton County, Missouri, was involuntary and should have been excluded from his trial. Petitioner asserts the following three grounds as the basis for this claim: (1) that the prosecutor’s continuous questioning contained implied promises that he would be lenient on petitioner if petitioner made a statement and implied threats that he would be harsher on petitioner if petitioner refused to make a statement; (2) that petitioner was sick at the time he confessed; and (3) that petitioner was asked to sign a written statement when he did not have access to glasses he needed for reading. The confession in question was given during a session at the Sedalia, Missouri Police Department, when petitioner was questioned by Sheriff Breshears and Prosecutor Drake, both of Benton County, Missouri.

The Circuit Court of Benton County, Missouri, conducted a hearing on April 17,1972, to determine the voluntariness of the statement given January 17, 1972. Sheriff Breshears was the only person to testify at the hearing concerning the voluntariness of the statement. He stated that the prosecutor orally advised petitioner of his Miranda rights and that petitioner indicated he understood these rights before waiving them and answering questions. Petitioner summarized the crucial testimony of the sheriff as follows:

At least twice, if not more, the Prosecutor told petitioner that he would be better off to provide a statement, (sic) than he would if he refused to provide one (Tr. 34). The Prosecutor stated it would be best for him to give a statement (Tr. 34). Following these representations, McLallen signed a written waiver of his Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights and gave the Prosecutor an oral confession. Drake typed up the statement (Tr. 34), but McLallen, after making corrections on the type statement (Tr. 28), refused to sign it (Tr. 29). Petitioner’s Brief at 25.

The prosecutor tried to introduce a written statement allegedly made by petitioner on January 17, 1972, that petitioner refused to sign. At the close of the hearing held April 17, 1972, the judge found that defendant had been advised of his rights and had voluntarily made the oral statements with knowledge of his rights. Respondent’s Ex. D at 38. The Court sustained petitioner’s objection to the alleged written statement because it was not signed by the defendant. Respondent’s Ex. D at 39.

In his direct appeal petitioner raised the claim that his statement of January 17, 1972, to Sheriff Breshears and Prosecutor Drake was not voluntarily made and should have been excluded. State v. McLallen, 522 S.W.2d 1, 3-4 (Mo.App.1975). Quoting from the case, State v. Hester, 425 S.W.2d 110, 114 (Mo.1968), the Missouri Supreme Court noted that “[w]hen there is no substantial evidence of coercion or duress or of promises of leniency or reward, a confession must be deemed voluntary.” 522 S.W.2d at 3. The Missouri Supreme Court found that the statement by the prosecutor was “not capable of conveying either promise or threat.” 522 S.W.2d at 4. That Court wrote, “Since the statement by the prosecutor here did not constitute either a threat or a promise, such statement did not constitute substantial evidence of either so as to ren *141 der the confession involuntary.” 522 S.W.2d at 4. In addition, the Missouri Supreme Court found that no physical infirmity “interfered with the defendant knowingly and intelligently waiving his right to remain silent.” 522 S.W.2d at 4. Because petitioner raised the claim of the voluntariness of his confession in his direct appeal, he has exhausted state remedies as required under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b) and (c).

The test set forth by the United States Supreme Court to determine whether a confession is voluntary

is not whether the conduct of state officers in obtaining the confession was shocking, but whether the confession was “free and voluntary; that is, [it] must not be extracted by any sort of threats or violence, nor obtained by any direct or implied promises, however slight, nor by the exertion of any improper influence.” Malloy v. Hogan, 378 U.S. 1, 7, 84 S.Ct. 1489, 1493, 12 L.Ed.2d 653 (1964), quoting Bram v. United States, 168 U.S. 532, 542-43, 18 S.Ct. 183, 186-187, 42 L.Ed. 568 (1897).

A state defendant is denied due process of law under the fourteenth amendment if his conviction is founded in whole or in part upon an involuntary confession that has been introduced in evidence. Malloy v. Hogan, 378 U.S. 1, 6, 84 S.Ct. 1489, 1492, 12 L.Ed.2d 653 (1964); Rogers v. Richmond, 365 U.S. 534, 540-41, 81 S.Ct. 735, 739, 5 L.Ed.2d 760 (1961). This is true even though ample evidence exists aside from the confession to support the conviction. Jackson v. Deno, 378 U.S. 368, 376, 84 S.Ct. 1774, 1780, 12 L.Ed.2d 908 (1964); Malinski v. New York,

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
494 F. Supp. 138, 1980 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14577, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mclallen-v-wyrick-mowd-1980.