State v. Corder

460 N.W.2d 733, 1990 S.D. LEXIS 140, 1990 WL 126857
CourtSouth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 5, 1990
Docket16704
StatusPublished
Cited by43 cases

This text of 460 N.W.2d 733 (State v. Corder) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering South Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Corder, 460 N.W.2d 733, 1990 S.D. LEXIS 140, 1990 WL 126857 (S.D. 1990).

Opinion

HENDERSON, Justice.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Ronald Ray Corder (Corder) and Harvey Ernst (Ernst) were initially charged by complaint on December 5, 1988, with First Degree Murder. On December 13, 1988, *735 before a preliminary hearing could be held, Corder and Ernst were indicted by a Clay County grand jury with one count each of Premeditated First Degree Murder, one count each of First Degree Felony Murder and one count each of Second Degree Murder.

On January 30, 1989, Corder filed a motion with the court asking that his trial be severed from that of Ernst. That motion, together with a motion to suppress, were heard by the court on February 9, 1989. On March 14, 1989, the trial court granted Corder’s motion for severance but denied the motion to suppress.

A jury trial began April 24,1989. At the conclusion of the trial on May 2, 1989, the jury returned a verdict of guilty against Corder for Premeditated First Degree Murder. On May 9, 1989, Corder was sentenced to life in prison. On appeal, Corder argues that:

(1) His motions to suppress evidence should have been granted;
(2) His proposed jury instruction number 10 should have been given to clarify aiding and abetting; and,
(3) His motion for judgment of acquittal should have been granted.

-Holding-

Deeming these contentions to be nonmer-itorious, we affirm on all issues.

FACTS

On the morning of December 4,1988, the bludgeoned and lifeless body of Clifford Hirocke (Hirocke) was found by two hunters, 3 miles south of Vermillion. Due to the injuries inflicted on the body, authorities began investigating the case as a homicide.

Law enforcement authorities received information that Corder and Ernst had been with the victim at approximately 2:15 a.m. on December 4, 1988, at a local bar and subsequently a pizza establishment in Vermillion. 1 Since Corder and Ernst were apparently the last persons to have seen Hi-rocke alive, a determination was made by law enforcement officials to interview Corder and Ernst concerning their whereabouts on the evening of December 3rd and the early morning hours of December 4, 1988.

During the evening hours of December 4, 1988, an unmarked patrol car was dispatched to the home of Corder. Corder was spotted pulling his vehicle into his driveway at approximately 7:50 p.m. As Corder left his vehicle, he was confronted by DCI agent Neidringhaus, who identified himself and asked for Corder’s driver’s license, which was produced. Corder was advised that they were trying to ascertain what knowledge he might have concerning Hirocke’s whereabouts after 2:30 a.m. the night before.

Corder was informed by Neidringhaus that “we need to ask you some questions.” Corder was asked if he would be willing to drive his vehicle to the police station, which he did. His girlfriend and young son accompanied him.

At the police station, Corder was taken to an interview room where he was alone with agents Neidringhaus and DeVaney. These agents advised Corder that they were investigating the death of Hirocke. The initial interview started at 8:00 p.m. and lasted approximately 10-20 minutes. The conversation centered on his whereabouts during the early morning hours of December 4th. Corder made no incriminating statements during this interview.

While he was being interviewed, blood and hair were observed on the hood of Corder’s vehicle. Immediately after the interviewers were informed of this fact, Corder was read Miranda warnings. Cord-er was then informed that blood was observed on his vehicle’s hood. He waived his Miranda rights and gave an incriminating oral confession to the authorities. 2

*736 After giving this oral confession, Corder was once again given his Miranda warnings. Asked if he understood those rights, Corder then signed the Miranda card. He thereafter furnished the police with a written statement consistent with his oral confession.

Corder’s girlfriend, Misty Stice Porter (Porter) gave a statement to authorities implicating both Corder and Ernst in Hi-rocke’s death. They were married five weeks after Porter gave the statements.

A search warrant was subsequently obtained to search Corder’s vehicle and house. Four days later, a search warrant was obtained for blood and hair samples from Corder.

DECISION

I. The trial court did not err in denying Corder’s motion to suppress evidence.

Corder moved the trial court for an order to suppress all oral, verbal, written and physical evidence obtained during the course of the interview conducted by law enforcement on December 4, 1988, claiming his Fourth Amendment rights were contravened. The trial court denied Corder’s motion.

We review the trial court’s findings in connection with the motion to suppress under the clearly erroneous standard. United States v. Lewis, 738 F.2d 916, 920 (8th Cir.1984). Under this standard, the decision of the lower court must be affirmed unless it lacks the support of substantial evidence, it evolves from an erroneous view of the applicable law, or upon considering the entire record, we are left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made. United States v. Lems, 738 F.2d at 920. We must consider the evidence in a light most favorable to support the trial court’s denial of Corder’s suppression motion. State v. Hall, 353 N.W.2d 37, 40 (S.D.1984).

Initially, Corder argues that he was “in custody” for purposes of receiving Miranda protection during his initial encounter with the DCI agents. The test of custody or non-custody is whether, under the totality of the circumstances, a reasonable person would not believe himself free to go. Terry v. State of Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1968). The United States Supreme Court has further stated that the ultimate inquiry, based on the circumstances of each case, is whether there is a restraint on the suspect’s freedom of movement “of the degree associated with a formal arrest”. California v. Beheler, 463 U.S. 1121, 1125, 103 S.Ct. 3517, 77 L.Ed.2d 1275 (1983).

In State v. McQuillen, 345 N.W.2d 867, 870 (S.D.1984), we stated:

It is fundamental that before the Miranda warning needs to be given, there must be a ‘custodial interrogation’ of the individual. The court in Miranda defined ‘custodial interrogation’ as questioning initiated by law enforcement officers after a person has been taken into custody or otherwise deprived of freedom in any significant way.

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

Related

State v. at the Straight
984 N.W.2d 715 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 2023)
In re H.L.S.
2009 SD 92 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 2009)
State v. Bowker
2008 SD 61 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 2008)
State v. Boll
2002 SD 114 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 2002)
State v. Owens
2002 SD 42 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 2002)
State v. Webster
2001 SD 141 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 2001)
State v. Belmontes
2000 SD 115 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 2000)
State v. Vento
1999 SD 158 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1999)
State v. Buchholz
1999 SD 110 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1999)
State v. Smith
1999 SD 83 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1999)
State v. Durke
1999 SD 39 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1999)
State v. Hanson
1999 SD 9 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1999)
State v. Westerfield
1997 SD 100 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1997)
State v. Gesinger
1997 SD 6 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1997)
State v. Eagle Star
1996 SD 143 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1996)
State v. Anderson
1996 SD 59 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1996)
State v. Rhines
1996 SD 55 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1996)
State v. Helmer
1996 SD 31 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1996)
State v. Karp
527 N.W.2d 912 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1995)
Sommervold v. Grevlos
518 N.W.2d 733 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1994)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
460 N.W.2d 733, 1990 S.D. LEXIS 140, 1990 WL 126857, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-corder-sd-1990.