State v. Napier

385 So. 2d 776
CourtSupreme Court of Louisiana
DecidedJune 23, 1980
Docket65860
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 385 So. 2d 776 (State v. Napier) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Napier, 385 So. 2d 776 (La. 1980).

Opinion

385 So.2d 776 (1980)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
James NAPIER and Walter B. Gatewood.

No. 65860.

Supreme Court of Louisiana.

June 23, 1980.

*777 William J. Guste, Jr., Atty. Gen., Barbara Rutledge, Asst. Atty. Gen., John M. Mamoulides, Dist. Atty., Abbott J. Reeves, William W. Hall, Asst. Dist. Attys., for plaintiff-appellee.

Jack Quarles, Martha E. Sassone, Indigent Defender Board, for defendant-appellant.

*778 DENNIS, Justice.

Defendants James Napier and Walter Gatewood were charged with a crime of simple burglary, La.R.S. 14:62, arising out of an incident at the Whitney Shop in Gretna. The defendants were tried separately. Napier was found guilty as charged and was sentenced to serve five years imprisonment at hard labor. Gatewood was found guilty of attempted simple burglary and received a sentence of imprisonment at hard labor for four years. Both defendants appeal their convictions arguing primarily that confessions given by them should have been suppressed because they were given only as a result of promises allegedly made by the arresting police officers. The defendants' arguments are without merit. The trial judge's ruling that the statements were not improperly induced is supported by the record. We, therefore, affirm the convictions and sentences of both defendants.[1]

On April 17, 1977 the police received a call at about 8:25 p. m. that a burglary was in progress at the Whitney Shop in Gretna. Patrolman Dunn was the first on the scene and when he arrived he spotted Napier outside the business. The officer called out to Napier who responded by turning and walking in the other direction, ultimately walking behind a large trailer on the premises. Officer Dunn followed and placed Napier under arrest, read his Miranda rights, and placed the defendant in the police car. Dunn testified that at that point he went to the building and looked in, spotting another person still inside. He radioed headquarters for additional men and a K-9 unit. Upon arrival the K-9 team entered the building and captured Gatewood, placing him under arrest.

Both Napier and Gatewood gave statements to the police about the burglary. They said they were prisoners at the Forest County Prison Farm located in Mississippi and had been sent to Louisiana by Warden Alford of Forest County Prison to steal tools. Defendants explained that the warden was planning to open a shop near the prison where he would repair stolen cars and sell them. The warden, however, needed tools to effectuate this operation. Therefore, he sent prisoners, Napier and Gatewood, to steal what he needed; a practice which, according to the defendants, was not uncommon. The defendants expressed great fear of Warden Alford, who allegedly told them not to return without his tools.

The defendants argue that the officers promised them that neither Napier nor Gatewood would be sent back to Mississippi or prosecuted in Louisiana on burglary charges if they would give a statement describing the illegal activity allegedly occurring in Mississippi. Both defendants gave statements which were introduced at each defendant's trial despite defendants' arguments that the confessions were not voluntary.

In order for a confession to be introduced into evidence the state has the burden of showing affirmatively and beyond a reasonable doubt that the confession was made freely and voluntarily and that it was not made under the influence of fear, duress, intimidation, menaces, threats, inducements, or promises. La.R.S. 15:451; La.C.Cr.P. art. 703(C); State v. Manning, 380 So.2d 46 (La.1980); State v. Bouffanie, 364 So.2d 971 (La.1978); State v. Glover, 343 So.2d 118 (La.1977). In reviewing the trial judge's ruling on the admissibility of the confession his findings of fact and determinations of credibility are due great weight. State v. Bouffanie, supra; State v. Bias, 352 So.2d 1011 (La.1977). We find no error in the trial judge's ruling that the statements were admissible in that they were given freely and voluntarily and were not the result of any improper influence on the part of the police. It is not disputed that both Napier and Gatewood were given their rights under Miranda at the time of their arrest and before any statements were given. Later each defendant was presented *779 a police "rights of arrestee" form which enumerated the defendants' rights and each signed the form acknowledging that he understood all of the rights enumerated thereon.[2] They also signed statements saying that their confessions were given freely and voluntarily and not as a result of any inducement or promise.[3] Any question of the validity of the confessions is a result only of the defendants' account of what happened immediately preceding the giving of the statements.

Defendant Gatewood actually gave two statements, one on the date of the burglary, April 17th, and another several days later, April 22nd. Only the April 22nd statement was introduced at trial. Although the first statement was not introduced, the defense argues that its illegality taints the voluntariness of the April 22nd statement. The circumstances surrounding the giving of the first statement must be considered in determining the propriety of admitting the second statement at trial.

The story of Gatewood's arrest is told differently by him and by the policeman making the arrest. Officer O'Quain testified that upon entering the Whitney Shop he gave the command for the K-9 Max to seek out and find the person still in the building. Max searched the building and detected that Gatewood had climbed upon the top of the false ceiling and was hiding there between it and the roof. O'Quain climbed a ladder up to this level. He grabbed Gatewood as the defendant tried to get away. A scuffle ensued during which punches were exchanged. Then the two men stepped off of the lumber cross pieces and onto the unsupported ceiling. This flimsy ceiling material was unable to hold their weight and both men fell through to the floor. When they fell the dog grabbed Gatewood by the leg. As Gatewood tried to get away from the dog it became more vicious and bit the defendant on the arms and legs. Officer O'Quain was somewhat stunned at first from the fall and upon regaining his complete consciousness called the dog off and arrested Gatewood. The defendant had sustained several lacerations and scratches on his arms and legs from the dog and had also sustained a broken nose. He was given first aid treatment by those present and then proceeded to give a statement to police.

Gatewood's story of the arrest is very different. According to his version, when O'Quain climbed the ladder he pointed his gun at Gatewood who immediately surrendered. *780 The officer made Gatewood climb down the ladder first. When he got almost to the floor the dog grabbed his pants leg. Although Gatewood protested, O'Quain would not call the dog off and forced defendant to climb down to the floor. When the policeman reached the floor he hit Gatewood breaking his glasses and his nose. Gatewood's attempt to retreat from the brutality of the officer resulted in his being more severely bitten by the dog. He was finally placed under arrest formally and escorted to the police car.

Gatewood went on to say that he was not given any medical treatment and was told that he didn't have to make a statement but that his cohorts had already made statements and if Gatewood did not he would be returned to the care of the Mississippi authorities.

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Bluebook (online)
385 So. 2d 776, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-napier-la-1980.