State of Maine v. Richardson

CourtSuperior Court of Maine
DecidedMarch 6, 2017
DocketCUMcr-16-6527
StatusUnpublished

This text of State of Maine v. Richardson (State of Maine v. Richardson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of Maine primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State of Maine v. Richardson, (Me. Super. Ct. 2017).

Opinion

I --·- ·,

STATE OF MAINE UNIFIED CRIMINAL DOCKET CUMBERLAND, ss . PORTLAND / CUMCD-CR-16-6527

STATE OF MAINE ) ) ) V. ) MOTION TO SUPPRESS ) CLIFFORD RICHARDSON ) )

NOW COMES Defendant, Mr. Clifford Richardson, by and through counsel Devens M. Hamlen of The H&H LawCenter, and requests that this Honorable Court suppress any statements Mr. Richardson made during the custodial interrogation in Officer Phillip Jones's cruiser as well as at the Bridgton Police Department because those statements were obtained in violation of Mr. Morse's rights under Article 1, Sections 6 and 6-A of the Maine State Constitution and Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.

As grounds for this Motion, Mr. Richardson respectfully states:

FACTS

1. The State had charged Mr. Morse with one Class B Felony of Unlawful

Sexual Contact and one Class D Misdemeanor of Unlawful Sexual Touching .

2. According to discovery provided by the State, the following events, relative

to this Motion, happened between October 1 and October 31, 2016:

3. On October 31, 2016, Officer Phillip Jones went to the Richardson's house

to talk to Richardson's about allegations made by K.D. Officer Jones told Mr.

Page 1 of 18 , ( (

Richardson that he was not under arrest and they agreed to talk inside Mr. Richardson 's

home. Mrs. Richardson along with the Richardson's daughter and grandchildren were

present in the home. There were also a number of the Richardson 's dogs in the house.

4. Officer Jones explained that he was "used" to people being nervous and

that, due to "distractions" is was sometimes "easier" to talk alone with individuals.

Officer Jones asked to talk to Mr. Richardson outside and alone.

5. Once outside, Officer Jones asked Mr. Richardson why he thought the

police were at the house. Mr. Richardson explained that he had received some text

message regarding K.D.s allegations; he emphatically denied having any sexual contact

with K.D.

6. Officer Jones indicated in his police report that at that point, he offered to

talk to Mr. Richardson in his cruiser because it started to rain. He also reports that he

again told Mr. Richardson that he was not under arrest.

7. However, the recorded interview does not comport with this report. In the

recording, Mr. Richardson again emphasized that he felt very nervous. More

specifically, as Mr. Richardson is explaining the Richardson's relationship with K.D. he

states:

Mr. Richardson: From what I understand, she's had a pretty rough time at home with neglect ... not . .. (eh) don't get me wrong ... she's not ... not in a way that she's in harm.

Officer Jones: Right .. .

Mr. Richardson: I mean ... What I ... I'm sorry, I'm so nervous

Officer Jones: Have a seat . . .come over here ... you 're not in trouble but let's just sit and relax a little bit.

Page 2 of 18 )'~ ,,--. I

At that point, Mr. Richardson and Officer Jones got into the police cruiser.

8. Officer Jones begins by asking about the babysitting arrangements with

K.D., how often she was over at the house, and how the Richardson's viewed and

treated K.D. Mr. Richardson explained that he and his wife basically treated K.D. as a

their own grandchild and treated her with love because they felt as if she was not

getting loved at home.

9. As the interview goes on, Officer Jones talked about people being nervous

when he interviews them. About a third of the way through the interview, Mr.

Richardson tells Officer Jones that he is "scared to death." Officer Jones tells Mr.

Richardson that if he did nothing wrong, "there is nothing to worry about."

10. Officer Jones explained to Mr. Richardson that there was a forensic

interview with K.D . He goes on to say that some of K.D.s clothes were analyzed (it is

unclear by who) for mitochondrial DNA. He explained that skin cells go everywhere.

11. He then touched the dashboard of his cruiser and suggested that his

(Officer Jones's) DNA was now on the dashboard. Officer Jones goes on to explain how

the State, forensically, can find someone's DNA on clothing, outside of underpants or

even inside underpants. He concludes this part of the interview by telling Mr.

Richardson that he had reviewed all of the reports before he came to his house. As it

turns out, the State never tested K.D.'s clothing for DNA nor were there any reports

regarding DNA.

12. Officer Jones then explains how important it was for Mr. Richardson to tell

the truth and that he knew most of the answers to the questions he was asking; he also

explains that he saw some inconsistencies between his investigation and what Mr.

Page 3 of 18 ·( -::.:.

Richardson was saying . Mr. Richardson continued to deny that any sexual contact had

occurred.

13. Towards the end of the interview, Officer Jones states that Mr.

Richardson 's denials were getting harder to believe. The interview goes on as follows:

Mr. Richardson: So, I'm going to jail

Officer Jones: No, I didn't say that ... If I thought that you needed to go to jail right now, I'd grab my handcuffs, put them on you , and we'd drive to jail.

14. Officer Jones then explains that he wanted to get to the truth and wanted

an open an honest conversation and once that happens "we can think about our

options." He tells Mr. Richardson that the "lie is worst part." Mr. Richardson again

denies doing anything to K.D.

15. They then discuss K.D. wearing a dress the last time she was over at the

house. Mr. Richardson explains at one point, K.D.'s dress accidently went up and he

pulled her dress down. He explains that any contact was inadvertent as he pulled her

dress back down. They then have a discussion about pornography. Mr. Richardson

emphatically denies showing any pornography to K.D . As Officer Jones continues to

express disbelief in Mr. Richardson 's statements, Mr. Richardson says, in resignation,

"o.k., I'm sunk."

16. After some more strong denials, Officer Jones appears to change tactics.

He explains to Mr. Richardson that, after interviews such as this one, people tend to go

far away or are so depressed that they hurt themselves. Mr. Richardson responds that

he has nothing to hide and that he has no intention of hurting himself.

Page 4 of 18 ( ­

17. Sensing that Officer Jones was referring to jailing Mr. Richardson, Mr.

Richardson responds by saying, "but what you are saying is that I am looking at jail

time." The interview continues as follows :

Officer Jones: No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying that people that are gettin' (sic) investigated because of an allegation often times get very worried.

Mr. Richardson: I am .. . I am worried like you wouldn't believe ... I am scared to death . I've heard what happens to people who go to prison. Officer Jones: But did you do anything wrong? Mr. Richardson: No, I didn't.

Officer Jones: Then if you did nothing wrong , you have nothing to worry about.

Mr. Richardson: But you are telling me I did .

Officer Jones: I'm tell you that I have a very clear statement from a young lady that says there was misconduct. And I am telling you there is ... there are levels of evidence that are being analyzed.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Miranda v. Arizona
384 U.S. 436 (Supreme Court, 1966)
Oregon v. Elstad
470 U.S. 298 (Supreme Court, 1985)
Stansbury v. California
511 U.S. 318 (Supreme Court, 1994)
Missouri v. Seibert
542 U.S. 600 (Supreme Court, 2004)
State v. McConkie
2000 ME 158 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 2000)
State v. Jones
405 A.2d 149 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 1979)
State v. Michaud
1998 ME 251 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 1998)
State v. Thibodeau
496 A.2d 635 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 1985)
State v. Tardiff
374 A.2d 598 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 1977)
State v. Theriault
425 A.2d 986 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 1981)
State v. Smith
612 A.2d 231 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 1992)
State v. Griffin
2003 ME 13 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 2003)
State v. Hewes
558 A.2d 696 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 1989)
State v. Gould
2012 ME 60 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 2012)
State v. Mikulewicz
462 A.2d 497 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 1983)
State v. Collins
297 A.2d 620 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 1972)
State v. Williams
2011 ME 36 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 2011)
State v. Lavoie
2010 ME 76 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 2010)
State v. Nadeau
2010 ME 71 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 2010)
State v. Dodge
2011 ME 47 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 2011)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
State of Maine v. Richardson, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-of-maine-v-richardson-mesuperct-2017.