State v. Bradford

471 So. 2d 1045, 1985 La. App. LEXIS 8771
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedJune 25, 1985
DocketNo. 85 KA 0116
StatusPublished

This text of 471 So. 2d 1045 (State v. Bradford) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Bradford, 471 So. 2d 1045, 1985 La. App. LEXIS 8771 (La. Ct. App. 1985).

Opinion

SAVOIE, Judge.

Defendant, Booker T. Bradford, was charged by bill of information with armed robbery, La.R.S. 14:64, and attempted second degree murder, La.R.S. 14:27 and 30.1, in connection with an incident that occurred in December of 1983 at a restaurant in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. Defendant pled not guilty. In a jury trial held August 21-22, 1984, defendant was convicted of armed robbery and aggravated battery, a violation of La.R.S. 14:34. Defendant was sentenced to 30 years at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence for the armed robbery conviction. Also, he was sentenced to a concurrent term of 10 years at hard labor for the aggravated battery conviction. In addition, because a firearm was used in the crime, he was sentenced to two years without benefit of parole, probation, suspension of sentence or credit for good time pursuant to La.R.S. 14:95.2. We affirm.

At approximately 10:00 P.M. on December 20, 1983, Lawrence Mornhinveg and Stephanie Drain had eaten dinner at Mike Anderson’s restaurant and were walking toward Mornhinveg’s truck in the rear parking lot. Ms. Drain noticed the interior light was on in the truck. The light went off and they observed defendant walking toward them with Mornhinveg’s orange knapsack over his shoulder. Mornhinveg continued walking toward defendant but Ms. Drain stopped. Mornhinveg asked defendant to give him his knapsack and defendant complied. He then took defendant by the arm and said, “Let’s go up to the front.” After walking together for approximately 20 feet, defendant jerked away and pulled a .22 caliber pistol out from behind his back. Defendant placed the pistol to Mornhinveg’s heart and, with a great deal of abusive language demanded his wallet. Mornhinveg turned over the wallet, whereupon defendant backed off some 12-15 feet and fired a shot at Mornhinveg’s feet. Defendant ran approximately another 15 feet while Mornhinveg turned and attempted to escape to the back of the restaurant. At this point, defendant fired and struck him [1047]*1047in the back. Fortunately, Mr. Mornhin-veg’s heavy winter coat absorbed the bulk of the bullet’s force and he received only a laceration and a large bruise. When defendant reached the outer edge of the parking lot, he fired a third shot at Mornhinveg, but missed. Ms. Drain witnessed the entire sequence of events.

Officers from the Sheriffs Department arrived at the scene within 10 minutes and obtained a description of defendant. During the investigation, Detective Ed Cronin observed fresh footprints leading away from the scene of the crime through the mud and sand of an adjacent construction site. The imprint was from a tennis shoe with a distinctive diamond-shaped tread. The tracks led to the back door of a residence some 50-75 yards from the scene. Defendant, defendant’s mother, and the owner of the residence were found inside. Defendant voluntarily accompanied the officers back to the scene where the victim made a positive identification. The identification occurred within 45 minutes of the crime.

Defendant was returned to the residence where the owner voluntarily consented to a search of the home. From a bedroom used by defendant, the officers recovered a .22 caliber revolver with 5 spent cartridges in the cylinder, the victim’s wallet, and defendant’s tennis shoes. Defendant was then arrested.

The officers testified that defendant was advised of his Miranda rights as soon as he was discovered in the residence. Prior to his being taken back to the scene, he was again advised of his rights. Shortly after the recovery of the victim’s wallet, defendant made a spontaneous statement to the officers in which he confessed that he had committed the robbery but had used a “stick” instead of a pistol. This statement was made in the living room of the residence in the presence of defendant’s mother and the owner of the house.

ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

In this appeal, defendant alleges three assignments of error:

1. The trial court committed error when it allowed the introduction of hearsay testimony.
2. The trial court erred when it allowed the admission by the prosecution of statements allegedly made by defendant without a showing by the state of a knowing and intelligent waiver by defendant of his rights.
3. The trial court erred when it imposed an excessive sentence and failed to comply with La.C.Cr.P. art. 894.1.

Assignment of error number one was not briefed, and is therefore considered abandoned. Uniform Rules Courts of Appeal, Rule 2-12.4.

2.

In this assignment of error, defendant argues the state failed to show that defendant’s confession was freely and voluntarily made and therefore the trial judge erred in permitting the state to use the statement at trial.

As a condition precedent to the use of a confession at trial, La.R.S. 15:451 provides:

Before what purports to be a confession can be introduced in evidence, it must be affirmatively shown that it was free and voluntary, and not made under the influence of fear, duress, intimidation, menaces, threats, inducements or promises.

Defendant’s counsel contends defendant is of limited education and intelligence and had been drinking gin that night. Consequently, defendant did not have the capacity to make a knowing and intelligent waiver of his constitutional rights. Furthermore, defendant was “upset” because he had been identified by the victim and therefore was under the influence of duress, fear and intimidation contrary to the provisions of La.R.S. 15:451.

At trial, outside the presence of the jury, a predicate was laid by the state for introduction of the confession into evidence. Two officers testified that they advised defendant of his rights. Detective Cronin stated that he gave defendant his rights in the presence of defendant’s mother and the [1048]*1048owner of the house and defendant appeared to understand them. Lt. McAllister stated that, as he was advising defendant of his rights, he asked defendant after each sentence if he understood his rights and defendant advised he did. He further stated there was no indication that defendant was physically or mentally impaired in any way. Both officers stated that defendant was not threatened, coerced, or in any way forced to make the statement.

The trial judge ruled the statement was admissible, noting that there were witnesses at the home when the statement was made who could have shed light on the matter but were not called by defendant. He found the statements to be made freely and voluntarily after defendant was adequately apprised of his rights.

Furthermore, Detective Cronin testified the statement was entirely spontaneous and voluntary and we find nothing in the record to the contrary.

Under these circumstances it is unnecessary to address defendant’s arguments that he did not have the ability to knowingly and intelligently waive his constitutional rights because such spontaneous statements are admissible in evidence even without Miranda warnings. State v. Robinson, 384 So.2d 332 (La.1980).

However, for purposes of this opinion, we shall address defendant’s arguments.

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

Related

State v. Davis
448 So. 2d 645 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1984)
State v. Robinson
384 So. 2d 332 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1980)
State v. Sepulvado
367 So. 2d 762 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1979)
State v. Burns
441 So. 2d 1294 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1983)
State v. Benoit
440 So. 2d 129 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1983)
State v. Prados
404 So. 2d 925 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1981)
State v. Lindsey
404 So. 2d 466 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1981)
V. J. S. v. Illinois
464 U.S. 1004 (Supreme Court, 1983)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
471 So. 2d 1045, 1985 La. App. LEXIS 8771, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-bradford-lactapp-1985.