State v. Griffin

713 P.2d 283, 148 Ariz. 82, 1986 Ariz. LEXIS 191
CourtArizona Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 27, 1986
Docket6503
StatusPublished
Cited by26 cases

This text of 713 P.2d 283 (State v. Griffin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Arizona 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. Griffin, 713 P.2d 283, 148 Ariz. 82, 1986 Ariz. LEXIS 191 (Ark. 1986).

Opinion

GORDON, Vice Chief Justice.

A jury convicted defendant, Gary Keith Griffin, of four counts of sexual assault on January 17, 1985. Each offense was found to be of a dangerous nature and it was also found that the defendant committed the crimes while on parole for sexual battery from the state of Florida. The trial court sentenced defendant to a term of life imprisonment on Count I. The trial court ordered Counts II, III and IV be served concurrently with each other, but consecutive to Count I. This Court has jurisdiction pursuant to Ariz. Const, art. 6, § 5(3) and A.R.S. §§ 13-4031-4033 and Rule 31, Ariz. R.Crim.P., 17 A.R.S.

FACTS

The victim met the defendant at a local Phoenix bar on July 7, 1984. She danced with defendant twice and also danced with another man, also named Gary. She gave the “other Gary” her telephone number but refused to give her number to defendant. The victim later received telephone calls from “Gary” asking if he could come over. Each time he called the victim replied “no”. On the night of July 11,1984 “Gary” called and was told not to come over due to the late hour. A female friend of the victim, who lived across the apartment hallway, stopped at the victim’s apartment. While the neighbor and the victim were conversing, the defendant knocked at the victim’s door. The victim was surprised because all along she believed she was speaking with the “other Gary” on the telephone. However, since she recognized the defendant, she let him in her apartment. He brought a six-pack of beer with him. The evidence was unclear as to how defendant obtained the victim’s telephone number and address. However, while the victim was at the bar she had left her purse on the table to dance. Inside her purse was an address book upon which the victim’s name, address and phone number appeared, from which the defendant could have copied the information.

While the three conversed, the victim proceeded to do her homework. At approx *84 imately midnight the neighbor went home. Immediately thereafter the sexual assaults began. Defendant held a knife to the victim’s throat, ordered her into the bedroom, forced her to disrobe and then ordered her to undress him. The victim initially resisted and was repeatedly slapped in the face. During the course of this ugly scenario, defendant forced the victim to: 1) commit oral sex on him (Count I); 2) lick his anus (Count II); 3) have sexual intercourse with him (Count III); and 4), submit to anal intercourse (Count IV). The entire time defendant threatened the victim with a knife. Defendant tied the victim with the cord of an electric iron and left the apartment:

Defendant was subsequently arrested and questioned by Detective Kraemer. During the questioning, defendant admitted to having oral sex and vaginal intercourse with the victim, but denied any act of anal intercourse. However, at trial he admitted to the act of anal intercourse. Defendant maintained the two had engaged in consensual sexual relations.

On appeal defendant raises two issues. First he contends that the trial court erred in determining that he was properly advised of his rights in compliance with Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966) and that, therefore, the statements he made to Detective Kraemer were not voluntary. Second, he contends that the consecutive sentences imposed by the trial court violated his rights against double punishment and double jeopardy.

I. Voluntariness of statements

Defendant contends that his conviction should be reversed and the matter remanded for a new trial because the state allegedly failed to prove statements made by defendant to Detective Kraemer were voluntary. We disagree.

Defendant filed a motion requesting a voluntariness hearing and the hearing was held on January 14, 1985. Detective Kraemer testified as follows regarding his initial contact with defendant:

“Q How did the contact start? What was the first thing that happened?
A Well, when I first contacted him I told him why he was under arrest.
Q What did you tell him?
A That he was a suspect and under arrest for the sexual assault that occurred on the 11th involving [the victim] at her home, or her apartment.
Q After you told him that, did you give him any Miranda rights?
A Yes, I did.
Q And did you do that from memory or from a card?
A From a card.
Q And after you had read those rights to him, did he make any indication to you that he—did he acknowledge them to you in any way?
A Yes. When I asked him if he understood, he replied yes.
Q After you asked the Officer—strike that.
After you gave him his Miranda rights, what happened next? What was the next conversation that was had?
A I asked him if he wanted to explain his side of the story and he proceeded to tell me his version of what had happened.”

Kraemer further testified that he did not threaten defendant, raise his voice or become forceful during the conversation. At the conclusion of Kraemer’s testimony the trial court found that the statements made by defendant to Kraemer were voluntary. Kraemer’s version of the conversation was substantially corroborated by defendant’s own testimony at trial:

“Q So, Detective Kraemer read you your rights, correct?
A Yes, he did.
Q And you knew you didn’t even have to talk to him?
A That’s correct.
Q But you did talk to him, didn’t you?
A Yes, sir.
Q Did you explain to Detective Kraemer what had happened?
A Yes, I tried to.
*85 Q And you admitted to Detective Kraemer that you had had intercourse with oral sex, correct?
A With [the victim], yes, sir.”

Incriminating statements obtained during custodial interrogation are not admissible unless Miranda warnings are administered. State v. Montes, 136 Ariz. 491, 494, 667 P.2d 191, 194 (1983); State v. James, 141 Ariz. 141, 144, 685 P.2d 1293, 1296 (1984). If Miranda warnings are administered, the next requirement for admissibility is voluntariness. Id. In Arizona, confessions are prima facie involuntary. State v. Hensley, 137 Ariz.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
713 P.2d 283, 148 Ariz. 82, 1986 Ariz. LEXIS 191, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-griffin-ariz-1986.