State ex rel. Rhonda L. Wade, Marshall County Prosecuting Attorney v. Hon. David W. Hummel, Jr., Judge and H.D.

West Virginia Supreme Court·Decided June 16, 2020·No. 19-1047·Published

Opinion

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA

January 2020 Term FILED

June 16, 2020

released at 3:00 p.m.

No. 19-1047 EDYTHE NASH GAISER, CLERK SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

_____________ OF WEST VIRGINIA

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA EX REL. RHONDA L. WADE, MARSHALL COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY, Petitioner

V.

THE HONORABLE DAVID W. HUMMEL, JR., JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF MARSHALL COUNTY;

AND H.D.,

Respondents

PETITION FOR WRIT OF PROHIBITION

WRIT GRANTED

Submitted: May 19, 2020

Filed: June 16, 2020

Andrea C. Poling Michael B. Baum Eric M. Gordon Edmond & Baum, PLLC Marshall County Prosecuting Wheeling, West Virginia Attorney’s Office Attorneys for Respondent H.D. Moundsville, West Virginia Attorneys for the Petitioner Brett M. Ferro Chief Public Defender

Moundsville, West Virginia Attorney for Amicus Curiae, Public Defender Corporation for the Second Judicial Circuit

JUSTICE JENKINS delivered the Opinion of the Court.

CHIEF JUSTICE ARMSTEAD, deeming himself disqualified, did not participate in the decision of this case.

JUDGE J.D. BEANE, sitting by temporary assignment. JUSTICE WORKMAN not participating.

SYLLABUS BY THE COURT

1. “‘Prohibition lies only to restrain inferior courts from proceeding in causes over which they have no jurisdiction, or, in which, having jurisdiction, they are exceeding their legitimate powers and may not be used as a substitute for [a petition for appeal] or certiorari.’ Syllabus Point 1, Crawford v. Taylor, 138 W. Va. 207, 75 S.E.2d 370 (1953).” Syllabus point 1, State ex rel. Franklin v. Tatterson, 241 W. Va. 241, 821 S.E.2d 330 (2018).

2. “‘In determining whether to entertain and issue the writ of prohibition for cases not involving an absence of jurisdiction but only where it is claimed that the lower tribunal exceeded its legitimate powers, this Court will examine five factors: (1) whether the party seeking the writ has no other adequate means, such as direct appeal, to obtain the desired relief; (2) whether the petitioner will be damaged or prejudiced in a way that is not correctable on appeal; (3) whether the lower tribunal’s order is clearly erroneous as a matter of law; (4) whether the lower tribunal’s order is an oft repeated error or manifests persistent disregard for either procedural or substantive law; and (5) whether the lower tribunal’s order raises new and important problems or issues of law of first impression. These factors are general guidelines that serve as a useful starting point for determining whether a discretionary writ of prohibition should issue. Although all five factors need not be satisfied, it is clear that the third factor, the existence of clear error as a matter of law, should be given substantial weight.’ Syllabus Point 4, State ex rel. Hoover v. Berger, 199

i

W. Va. 12, 483 S.E.2d 12 (1996).” Syllabus point 2, State ex rel. Franklin v. Tatterson, 241 W. Va. 241, 821 S.E.2d 330 (2018).

3. “The Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination has been interpreted to provide protection only where incriminating evidence of a testimonial or communicative nature is sought from a witness through the vehicle of state compulsion.” Syllabus point 8, Marano v. Holland, 179 W. Va. 156, 366 S.E.2d 117 (1988).

4. A defendant’s Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination is not violated by the admission into evidence and/or publication to the jury of an audio/video recording of the defendant’s voluntary statement made to law enforcement officers.

ii

Jenkins, Justice:

The petitioner in this original jurisdiction case, Rhonda L. Wade (“Ms.

Wade”), the Marshall County, West Virginia, Prosecuting Attorney, asks this Court to prohibit the Circuit Court of Marshall County from enforcing a ruling that found an audio/video recording of a voluntary statement made to law enforcement officers by a respondent herein, H.D., 1 who is the defendant in the underlying criminal proceeding, violated H.D.’s privilege against self-incrimination as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The circuit court’s ruling was based upon its finding that playing the incriminating recording for the jury was commensurate with compelling H.D. to testify against himself. Ms. Wade argues that, because H.D. was not compelled to give the statement, but did so voluntarily, it is not a violation of his privilege against self- incrimination to allow the State to introduce the audio/video recording into evidence, and/or publish it to the jury, during its case-in-chief. Ms. Wade further asserts that the circuit court’s contrary ruling misapplies the Fifth Amendment privilege against self- incrimination. Based upon our review of the parties’ arguments, the amicus brief, 2 the

1

Due to the sexual nature of the crime allegedly committed by H.D., and the tender age of his victim at the time of his alleged acts, we follow our long standing practice and use initials to refer to those involved in this case. See W. Va. R. App. P. 40(e)(1) (restricting use of personal identifiers in cases involving certain sexual crimes or juveniles). See, e.g., State ex rel. Harvey v. Yoder, 239 W. Va. 781, 782 n.2, 806 S.E.2d 437, 438 n.2 (2017); State v. Potter, 197 W. Va. 734, 737 n.1, 478 S.E.2d 742, 745 n.1 (1996).

2

We acknowledge and appreciate the Amicus Curiae brief filed by the Public Defender Corporation for the Second Judicial Circuit of West Virginia, which was filed in support of the respondent, Judge David W. Hummel, Jr.

appendix record, and the relevant authority, we agree with Ms. Wade. Therefore, we grant the requested writ of prohibition.

I.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY These facts, as presented by Ms. Wade, are not refuted by H.D. On December 12, 2018, H.D. was visited at his home by a Marshall County Deputy Sheriff who asked if H.D. would be willing to make a statement about allegations that he had engaged in improper sexual contact with E.D., a child. Later that same day, H.D. voluntarily arrived at the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, where he was shown to the interview room and advised that he was not under arrest and was free to leave. Nevertheless, H.D. was read his Miranda rights. 3 He then signed a document stating that he understood his rights and that he waived all of them. Prior to being interviewed, H.D. was informed that a video recording of his interview was being made. He was interviewed by Deputy Doug Sayman and Detective Bear Mobly, both of the Marshall County Sheriff’s

3

See Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966). The requirement for advising an individual of his/her Miranda rights arises only in the context of a custodial interrogation. See State v. George, 185 W. Va. 539, 545, 408 S.E.2d 291, 297 (1991) (“It is clear that in this jurisdiction Miranda warnings are required only when a suspect has either been formally arrested or subjected to custodial interrogation.” (quotations and citation omitted)). To the extent that H.D. was not under arrest and was free to leave, it was not necessary for law enforcement officers to advise him of his rights. See State v. Farley, 192 W. Va. 247, 255 n.10, 452 S.E.2d 50, 58 n.10 (1994) (“Telling a suspect that he/she is not under arrest and is free to leave usually is sufficient to prevent a finding of custody[.]”).

Department. During the course of the interview, H.D. also prepared a two-page, hand- written statement. When the interview concluded, H.D. was permitted to leave.

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