People v. Parsons

15 P.3d 799, 2000 Colo. J. C.A.R. 3177, 2000 Colo. App. LEXIS 1015, 2000 WL 728996
CourtColorado Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 8, 2000
DocketNo. 98CA1000
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 15 P.3d 799 (People v. Parsons) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Colorado Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Parsons, 15 P.3d 799, 2000 Colo. J. C.A.R. 3177, 2000 Colo. App. LEXIS 1015, 2000 WL 728996 (Colo. Ct. App. 2000).

Opinion

[801]*801Opinion by

Judge KAPELKE.

Defendant, Joe L. Parsons, appeals from the judgment of conviction entered on a jury verdict finding him guilty of first degree murder, conspiracy to commit third degree assault, and tampering with physical evidence. He contends that his conviction must be reversed because: (1) the court erred in denying his motion to suppress statements he made during an "in custody" interrogation without the benefit of a Miranda advisement; (2) the court also erred in denying his motion for a private visit with his attorney; and (8) the evidence was insufficient to establish the "after deliberation" element of his first degree murder conviction. We affirm.

The criminal charges against defendant stem from the death by strangulation of an inmate at the Territorial Correctional Facility (the facility) where defendant was incarcerated.

Defendant was charged with first degree murder, conspiracy to commit first degree murder, and tampering with physical evidence. He entered a plea of not guilty.

Prior to trial, defendant filed a motion to suppress evidence, asserting that his statements to the Department of Corrections (DOC) investigators in connection with the killing of the inmate should be suppressed because they were made involuntarily and while he was in custody and without the benefit of an advisement of his Miranda rights. Defendant also filed a motion for confidential attorney-client visit, asserting that the visiting room at the Colorado State Penitentiary (CSP) lacked privacy and thus was inadequate for purposes of attorney client consultation, and requesting that a secure and confidential location be provided for such visits. The trial court denied both motions.

I.

Defendant first contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence. Specifically, he argues that his interview with the DOC investigators constituted a custodial interrogation and that he was therefore required to be given a Miranda advisement. We disagree.

The determination whether an individual has been subjected to a custodial interrogation within the meaning of Miranda hinges on whether a reasonable person in the suspect's position would consider himself or herself deprived of freedom of action in a significant way at the time of the interrogation. This determination requires the trial court to consider the totality of the cireum-stances surrounding the interrogation. People v. J.D., 989 P.2d 462 (Colo.1999).

Our supreme court has recognized that the traditional test of custody is inapplicable in a prison or jail setting "because it would lead to the conclusion that all prison questioning is custodial because a reasonable person would always believe he could not leave the prison freely." People v. Denison, 918 P.2d 1114, 1116 (Colo.1996)(quoting Cervantes v. Walker, 589 F.2d 424, 428 (9th Cir.1978)).

In Denison, the supreme court discussed the different standard to be applied in determining whether an interrogation conducted in such a setting was "custodial":

Instead of the traditional "free to leave" standard for custody, the court in Cervantes applied a "restriction" standard which, in the prison setting, implies a change in the surroundings of the prisoner that results in an added imposition on his freedom of movement.

People v. Denison, supra, 918 P.2d at 1116.

In determining whether an inmate being questioned has been additionally restricted to the extent that he or she is "in custody" within the meaning of Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 486, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966), a court must consider the totality of the cireumstances and must address the four factors enumerated in Denson: (1) the language used to summon the individual; (2) the physical surroundings of the interrogation; (8) the extent to which the individual is confronted with evidence of his or her guilt; and (4) the additional pressures exerted to detain the individual,. People v. J.D., supra; People v. Denison, supra.

The factors set forth in Denison, however, are not necessarily dispositive of the inquiry whether an individual has been [802]*802further restricted to such an extent as to be deemed in custody for Miranda purposes. Other cireumstances a court may consider include: (1) the time, place, and purpose of the encounter; (2) the persons present during the interrogation; (8) the words spoken by the officer to the defendant; (4) the officer's tone of voice and general demeanor; (5) the length and mood of the interrogation; (6) the placement of any limitation of movement or other form of restraint on the defendant during the interrogation; (7) the officer's response to any questions asked by the defendant; (8) any directions given to the defendant during the interrogation; and (9) the defendant's verbal or nonverbal response to such directions. People v. J.D., supra; see also People v. Dracon, 884 P.2d 712 (Colo. 1994).

If the trial court applies the correct legal standard and there is evidence in the record to support its conclusion, we will not reverse its ruling on appeal. People v. J.D., supra; People v. Horn, 790 P.2d 816 (Colo. 1990).

Here, in denying defendant's motion, the trial court found that: (1) an inmate of the DOC had been murdered in his cell in cell-house seven (CH-7) at the facility; (2) in order to preserve order and evidence and to facilitate the investigation of the murder, the entire facility had been placed on lockdown; (3) inmates had been confined to their cells and did not have permission to report to job assignments; (4) the lockdown applied not only to CH-7 but to all cell-houses at the facility; (5) prison investigators conducted interviews of a large number of inmates, most of whom had been housed in CH-7; (6) the individual inmate interviews were conducted in various offices or rooms in an administrative building which was located at some distance and across the prison yard from CH-7; (7) each inmate who was interviewed was handcuffed at CH-T, escorted by a guard or guards to the administrative building, released from handcuffs, interviewed while free from restraints, re-cuffed following the interview, and then escorted back to CH-7; and (8) defendant was treated no differently from other inmates in this regard.

In evaluating the cireumstances surrounding the interview of defendant by the DOC investigators, the court found that the interview had been conducted in a conference room within the administrative building, and that neither the room itself nor the conduct of the interview by prison investigators was oppressive or coercive. The court further found that defendant and all the other inmates interviewed had been informed that the murder of the victim was the subject of the inquiry, and that the persons conducting the inquiry were DOC investigators. Although no Miranda advisement had been given to any of the inmates, no promises or threats, either implied or explicit, had been used to obtain answers from defendant or any other inmate. Defendant had not refused or expressed reluctance to answer questions and had not requested an attorney.

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Bluebook (online)
15 P.3d 799, 2000 Colo. J. C.A.R. 3177, 2000 Colo. App. LEXIS 1015, 2000 WL 728996, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-parsons-coloctapp-2000.