State of Maine v. Wheatley

CourtSuperior Court of Maine
DecidedApril 25, 2016
DocketCUMcr-15-2677
StatusUnpublished

This text of State of Maine v. Wheatley (State of Maine v. Wheatley) 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. Wheatley, (Me. Super. Ct. 2016).

Opinion

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STATE OF MAINE

v. ORDER ON MOTION TO SUPPRESS

DANIEL WHEATLEY

Introduction

Pending is Daniel Wheatley's motion to suppress evidence arising out of

statements made by him to Detective Daniel L. Violette of the Westbrook Police

Department on January 14, 2015 concerning sexual contact from the period of 1991 to

1998 with Travis, when Travis was under 14-years of age.1 Wheatley is charged with

eight counts of gross sexual assault, Class A, 17-A M.R.S.A. § 253(1)(B). Wheatley

alleges in his motion that any statements he made were involuntary and made in the

absence of the Miranda warnings under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436. 478-79, 86 S.

Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 694 ( 1966). Wheatley relies in part on the fact that he is of below-

average intelligence and was ill, throwing up at least six times during the interview. His

motion raises questions about his ability to comprehend the circumstances and able to

voluntarily make a statement.

At the hearing on the motion to suppress, the State presented three witnesses,

Peter Donnelly, Psy.D. and Detectives Violette and Desjardins of the Westbrook Police

1 Travis was a minor at the time ofthe criminal charges, but he is now an adult in his twenties. Daniel Wheatley believes to a 99.9% certainty that he is Travis' father and there was no evidence to the contrary. This matter became uncovered as a result of Travis's attempt, as an adult, to learn who his parents are. Although Daniel Wheatley' s sister is Travis' mother, Mr. Wheatley's mother raised Travis. Travis and Daniel Wheatley were very close companions throughout most of Travis' life.

1 Department. The parties also stipulated to the admission of the forensic evaluation of Mr.

Wheatley as well as a three-part audio/video police interview of Mr. Wheatley. After

considering all of the evidence, this court concludes for the reasons set forth below that

the motion to suppress is granted.

Discussion

The record contains these facts bearing upon voluntariness of Wheatley's

statement. The court focuses on voluntariness because the detectives did not advise

Wheatley of his Miranda rights and that omission relates directly to Wheatley's ability to

understand whether he was in custody or subject to interrogation and hence capable of

voluntarily making a statement

Detectives Violette and Desjardins went to Wheatley's residence, dressed in plain

clothes and identified themselves as detectives with the Westbrook Police Department.

They stated that they wanted to talk to Wheatley "about a matter they were investigating

relating to Travis." The detectives inquired whether he would come to the Public Safety

Building to speak with the detectives. Once Wheatley said he would, the Detectives left.

Just before they left, Wheatley asked whether he would need a lawyer. Detective

Violette responded, "It is up to you." Detective Desjardin queried, "Why, do you need

one?" Wheatley experienced the detectives' responses as confrontational. At no time,

either at the residence or during the interview at the station, did the detectives advise

Wheatley of the rights described in Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16

L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966).

After speaking with the officers, Wheatley showered, shaved and drove to the

Westbrook Public Safety Building where Detective Violette met him in the vestibule of

2 I-

the Building. Detective Violette escorted him to the interview room in the Criminal

Investigation Office. The interview room was 12 x 12, with one door and a table with

three chairs. The room was equipped with audio and video recording devices, which

were activated without Wheatley's knowledge. Detective Desjardins monitored the

interview in the monitoring room.

Detective Violette closed the door, stating "I closed the door for your privacy;

don't want you to feel trapped in here." Violette told him that he met with Travis and

wanted to discuss "stuff'' reported by Travis yesterday. He told Wheatley that they

discussed generally everything from when he was a child to the present. Violette stated

that the discussion with Travis focused on Wheatley; revolved around Travis and

Wheatley's relationship; and about Travis's mother being Wheatley's sister Ann. Violette

advised Wheatley that Travis reported you and him were involved in sexual relations for

an extended period of time. Violette told Wheatley, "Help me understand." Wheatley

responded, "I know nothing about this. I took care of him since he was in diapers."

Violette inquired, whether Wheatley was Travis' father. When Wheatley responded, "I

don't know", Detective Violette inquired, "is it don't know or don't want to talk about

it?" Wheatley responded, "Possibly both." Wheatley's facial expressions disclosed an

anguished or troubled individual as the interview proceeded. Violette told Wheatley that

Travis wanted to talk about that, that you or one of your brothers is his father. Detective

Violette advised Wheatley, for the first time, he wants to help Travis find closure on that

issue.

Occasionally during the few times Wheatley spoke during the interview,

Wheatley moved off topic,_such as discussing whether Travis has limitations. The

3 Detective sat to Wheatley's left and did most of the talking. Wheatley looked away from

the Detective, staring off into the distance over his right shoulder. Wheatley went off

topic again when Travis' girlfriend was mentioned. Violette brought him back on topic

by stating, "Travis talked about the unusual relationship you have with each other; that is

the focus of conversation with him and what I want to discuss with you." Detective

Violette emphasized he was "on a quest for the truth." Throughout the interview, Violette

continued to do most of the talking, repeating his statements and lecturing Wheatley on

how he wants the truth from Wheatley.

Wheatley finally said, "I told him I could be his father," immediately throwing up,

grabbing his stomach. Wheatley vomited at least six times during the hour and half

interview, making contortions with his body, gagging, and appearing to be ill. At no time

did Wheatley ask for help, nor did the officers offer him any help or stop the interview

for him to calm down and gather himself. Indeed sometimes Detective Violette talked

over Wheatley's vomiting. Finally Wheatley reported he told Travis that he was 99.9%

sure he is his father.

Detective Violette moved on to their special relationship, stating ''you grew up

almost like brothers; there was a fair amount of sexual contact. Travis said started when

6-7 years old in his mom's house. Travis said the last time this occurred was in 2012."

Wheatley's response was, "I don't know where this is coming from." Wheatley continued

to deny any knowledge of these allegations of Travis. Detective Violette repeated that he

is having a hard time believing that Travis made this up. Violette repeated, "My goal is

to find out the truth about everything.

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Related

Miranda v. Arizona
384 U.S. 436 (Supreme Court, 1966)
State v. Michaud
1998 ME 251 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 1998)
State v. Sawyer
2001 ME 88 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 2001)
State of Maine v. Luke A. Bryant
2014 ME 94 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 2014)
State v. Hassan
2007 ME 77 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 2007)
State v. Nightingale
2012 ME 132 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 2012)

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State of Maine v. Wheatley, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-of-maine-v-wheatley-mesuperct-2016.