United States v. Begay

310 F. Supp. 3d 1318
CourtDistrict Court, D. New Mexico
DecidedFebruary 23, 2018
DocketNo. CR 14–0747 JB
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 310 F. Supp. 3d 1318 (United States v. Begay) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. New Mexico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Begay, 310 F. Supp. 3d 1318 (D.N.M. 2018).

Opinion

JAMES O. BROWNING, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

THIS MATTER comes before the Court on: (i) the Defendant Lyle Woody Begay's Motion to Suppress Statement and Supportive Memorandum, filed July 22, 2014 (Doc. 28)("Suppression Motion"); and (ii) the United States' Motion to Exclude Expert Testimony from Suppression Hearing, filed August 16, 2017 (Doc. 128)("Exclusion Motion"). The Court held evidentiary hearings on August 17-18, 2017, and on November 20, 2017. The primary issues are: (i) whether Dr. Richard Leo, a Professor of Law and Psychology at the University of San Francisco School of Law, may offer expert testimony regarding police interrogation tactics; (ii) whether Dr. Leo may offer expert testimony regarding false confessions; (iii) whether Eric Lucero, a former *1325New Mexico State Police officer and certified polygraph examiner, may offer expert testimony regarding polygraph examinations; (iv) whether Defendant Lyle Woody Begay's July 18, 2013, interview was a custodial interrogation; (v) whether Begay's statements during the July 18, 2013, interview were voluntary; (vi) whether Begay's July 19, 2013, interview was a custodial interrogation; (vii) whether Begay's statements during the July 19, 2013, interview were voluntary; (viii) whether Begay validly waived his Miranda 1 rights during the July 30, 2013, interview; and (ix) whether Begay's statements during the July 30, 2013, interview were voluntary. The Court concludes that: (i) Dr. Leo may testify about police interrogation tactics generally, but not about the application of such techniques to this case; (ii) Dr. Leo may not testify regarding false confessions, because the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has indicated that such testimony is unreliable; (iii) the Court will exclude Lucero's testimony, because it is irrelevant; (iv) Begay's July 18, 2013, interview was not a custodial interrogation; (v) Begay's statements during the July 18, 2013, interview were voluntary; (vi) Begay's July 19, 2013, interview was not a custodial interrogation; (vii) Begay's statements during the July 19, 2013, interview were voluntary; (viii) Begay validly waived his Miranda rights during the July 30, 2013, interview; and (ix) Begay's statements during the July 30, 2013, interview were voluntary. Accordingly, the Court will deny the Suppression Motion and grant in part and deny in part the Exclusion Motion.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Rule 12(d) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure requires the Court to state its essential findings on the record when deciding a motion that involves factual issues. See Fed. R. Crim. P. 12(d) ("When factual issues are involved in deciding a motion, the court must state its essential findings on the record."). The findings of fact in this Memorandum Opinion and Order shall serve as the Court's essential findings for rule 12(d) purposes. The Court makes these findings under the authority of rule 104(a) of the Federal Rules of Evidence, which requires a judge to decide preliminary questions relating to the admissibility of evidence, including the legality of a search or seizure and the voluntariness of an individual's confession or consent to a search. See United States v. Merritt, 695 F.2d 1263, 1269-70 (10th Cir. 1982). In deciding such preliminary questions, the other rules of evidence, except those with respect to privileges, do not bind the Court. See Fed. R. Evid. 104(a). Thus, the Court may consider hearsay in ruling on a motion to suppress. See United States v. Merritt, 695 F.2d at 1269 ("The purpose of the suppression hearing was, of course, to determine preliminarily the admissibility of certain evidence allegedly obtained in violation of defendant's rights under the Fourth and Fifth Amendments. In this type of hearing the judge had latitude to receive it, notwithstanding the hearsay rule."); United States v. Garcia, 324 Fed.Appx. 705, 708 (10th Cir. 2009) (unpublished)2 ("We need not resolve *1326whether Crawford [v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36 (2004) ]'s[3 ] protection of an accused's Sixth Amendment confrontation right applies to suppression hearings, because even if we were to assume this protection does apply, we would conclude that the district court's error cannot be adjudged 'plain.' "); United States v. Ramirez, 388 Fed.Appx. 807, 810 (10th Cir. 2010) (unpublished)("It is beyond reasonable debate that Ramirez's counsel were not ineffective in failing to make a Confrontation Clause challenge to the use of the confidential informant. The Supreme Court has not yet indicated whether the Confrontation Clause applies to hearsay statements made in suppression hearings."). Cf. United States v. Hernandez, 778 F.Supp.2d 1211, 1226 (D.N.M. 2011) (Browning, J.)(concluding "that Crawford v. Washington does not apply to detention hearings").

1. The FBI Interviews.

1. On July 18, 2013, FBI Special Agent Matthew Schaeffer and Navajo Nation Criminal Investigator Darryl Boyd were investigating allegations that Begay had sexually abused a minor named Liberty Davis, Begay's niece. See Transcript of Recorded Interview of Lyle Woody Begay at 7:9-16 (Schaeffer, Begay); id. at 52:1-2 (Schaeffer); id. at 56:1-11 (Schaeffer, Begay)(taken July 18, 2013)("First FBI Tr.").

2. On July 18, 2013, Schaeffer and Boyd knocked on the door of Begay's home in Lukachukai, Arizona. See United States' Response in Opposition to Defendant's Motion to Suppress Statement at 1, filed August 11, 2014 (Doc. 35)("Suppression Response"); See Draft Transcript of Hearing at 164:25; 165:1 (taken August 17, 2017)(Schaeffer)("First Hearing Tr.").4

3. Schaeffer identified himself as an FBI agent with his credentials while standing at Begay's door. See First Hearing Tr. at 164:10-17 (Schaeffer, Wilson).

4. Schaeffer was dressed in plainclothes. See First Hearing Tr. at 164:10-17 (Schaeffer, Wilson).

5. Schaeffer's firearm was not visible. See First Hearing Tr. at 164:10-17 (Schaeffer, Wilson).

6. Schaeffer introduced Boyd as a tribal investigator.

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Bluebook (online)
310 F. Supp. 3d 1318, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-begay-nmd-2018.