Lead Opinion
Anthony Caldwell appeals from his conviction of conspiracy to possess cocaine base with the intent to distribute in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846 (1988). The sole issue on appeal is whether the district court
On January 7, 1990, Barbara Johnson opened a package delivered to the apartment of her grandmother, Gustine Sumner. The package was delivered by Federal Express and addressed to “Bob Johnson” at Sumner’s address. Johnson opened the package in Sumner’s apartment and saw a clear plastic bag with a white powder chunk. Johnson took the package upstairs to her apartment and called a neighbor, Vivian Jones. Jones lived in the same four-
Jones and Johnson decided to seek advice from Mike Washington, a St. Louis police officer and a friend of Johnson’s. Washington came to Johnson’s apartment, looked at the package, and suspected that it contained drugs. Because Washington did not feel he had the necessary expertise to investigate a drug matter, he called the police department command post and requested that Detective Albert Upchurch come to the apartment.
While Washington was in Johnson's apartment, Caldwell called Jones at her apartment, which was on the same level as Johnson’s. Jones talked to Caldwell on the telephone and tried to persuade him to return to the apartment. Washington then went to Jones’s apartment and spoke with Caldwell on the telephone. Caldwell was upset and crying, and Washington told him that he should return to Johnson’s apartment to straighten this matter out, and that if he did not return, he could “probably be in a lot of trouble.”
Caldwell returned to Johnson’s apartment. Washington spoke to Caldwell, who was “scared, very frightened, [and] extremely nervous.” Caldwell’s voice was lower than usual and quivering. Jones was also visibly upset and pacing around the apartment. Washington did not advise Caldwell of his Miranda rights. Washington asked Caldwell about the package, and Caldwell told him that a couple of weeks earlier, he had met a man named “Ray” who promised him $500 if he would accept a package at his address. Caldwell admitted that he knew that the package would contain cocaine. Washington told Caldwell that he had called Detective Upchurch from the police command post and that it would be in his best interest to be as cooperative as possible with Upchurch.
Detective Upchurch arrived and Washington led him to the kitchen where Caldwell was seated. Upchurch looked at the package, which he believed to contain crack cocaine. Washington introduced Upchurch to Caldwell. Detective Upchurch immediately advised Caldwell of his rights to remain silent and to counsel, telling Caldwell:
You got the right to remain silent. Anything you say will and can be used against you in the court of law. You have a right for an attorney. If you can’t afford one, one will be appointed to you.
Upchurch then asked Caldwell whether he understood his rights. Caldwell shook his head indicating he understood. Up-church testified that Caldwell was “scared and hysterical looking.” Jones paced in and out of the kitchen, and Upchurch testified that she was “excited” and “hysterical.” Caldwell and Upchurch moved to the living room where Upchurch again asked Caldwell: “You sure you understood your rights?” Caldwell said that he did. Up-church then asked Caldwell what happened, and Caldwell repeated the same story he told Washington — that a guy named “Ray” agreed to pay him $500 to use his address to have cocaine delivered. At that point, Upchurch placed Caldwell under arrest, and after talking with his mother and looking at Caldwell’s room, took him to the narcotics office of the St. Louis Police Department. There, Upchurch again advised Caldwell of his rights and asked him if he understood his rights. Caldwell said that he did, and in answer to questions, Caldwell repeated the statements he had given before. Caldwell refused to sign a written statement.
The facts above are essentially as recited in the magistrate’s report and recommendation following the suppression hearing. United States v. Caldwell, No. 90-12-CR(6), slip op. at 2-7 (E.D.Mo. June 13, 1990). The magistrate recommended that Caldwell’s statements made in Johnson’s apartment to both Washington and Up-church be suppressed because Caldwell did
The district court adopted the statement of facts concerning the motion to suppress the statements and the recommendation that Caldwell’s statements to Washington be suppressed. United States v. Caldwell, No. 90-12-CR(6), slip op. at 1-2 (E.D.Mo. Aug. 2, 1990). The district court, however, rejected the magistrate’s recommendation that Caldwell’s statements to Upchurch be suppressed, reasoning that Upchurch advised Caldwell three times of his constitutional rights and asked him twice if he understood those rights. Id. at 1-2. The court ruled that the circumstances did not “ ‘rise to the level of compulsion or coercion to speak ... within Miranda’s concerns.’ ” Id. at 2 (quoting Illinois v. Perkins,
A jury convicted Caldwell of conspiring to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. Caldwell was sentenced to a mandatory 121 month sentence, as the amount of cocaine was 197.2 grams of 85% pure crack cocaine with a wholesale value of $20,000-24,000. U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(c)(5).
On appeal, Caldwell argues that the district court erred in failing to suppress his statements made to Upchurch because Caldwell was inadequately advised of his Miranda rights.
As a threshold matter, we must first consider whether Caldwell was in custody for Miranda purposes when he confessed to Upchurch. Miranda warnings are required only when a suspect is in custody and is about to be interrogated. Rhode Island v. Innis,
The magistrate concluded that Caldwell was “in custody” for Miranda purposes when Officer Washington first began to question him in Johnson’s apartment. Slip op. at 7-8 (June 13, 1990). The district court did not decide whether Caldwell was in custody for Miranda purposes.
We need not decide whether Caldwell was in custody for Miranda purposes when he first confessed to Upchurch. The government does not address Caldwell’s statement made during his interrogation at the police station where it is uncontradicted that Caldwell was under formal arrest, and therefore, in custody for Miranda purposes. In light of the confusion created by the district court’s ruling, we assume for purposes of this appeal that Caldwell was in custody at the time he returned to Johnson’s apartment.
Before considering the merits of Caldwell’s claim that he was provided with inad
Even if Caldwell adequately raised the objection in his motion to suppress before the magistrate judge, he failed to renew the objection before the district court, and therefore, did not properly preserve the issue for appeal.
The Supreme Court has explained that the plain-error doctrine “authorizes the Courts of Appeals to correct only ‘particularly egregious errors' ... that ‘seriously affect the fairness, integrity or public
Miranda requires that before a custodial interrogation a suspect must be informed, among other things, that he has the right to the presence of an attorney, and that if he cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed for him before any questioning if he desires. Miranda v. Arizona,
The rule the court established in Miranda is clear. In order to be able to use statements obtained during custodial interrogation of the accused, the State must warn the accused prior to such questioning of his right ... to have counsel, retained or appointed, present during interrogation.
Id. at 717,
In California v. Prysock,
The Supreme Court “has never indicated that the ‘rigidity’ of Miranda extends to the precise formulation of the warnings given a criminal defendant.” Prysock,
Caldwell’s only complaint is that Up-church failed to specifically warn him of his right to counsel before and during the interrogation. Upchurch did, however, generally warn Caldwell that he had the right to an attorney. That warning immediately followed Upchurch’s warnings that Caldwell had the right to remain silent and that anything he said could be used against him. If there was a deficiency in the warning, it is in the ambiguity of the warning, not that the warning actively misled Caldwell by suggesting a false limitation of his right to counsel.
It is true that the warnings given in both Prysock and Duckworth specifically stated that the suspect had a right to an attorney before questioning, but the claimed deficiency rejected in Prysock was that the suspect was not explicitly informed of his right to have an attorney appointed before questioning.
It is apparent that the warning in this case does not suffer from the inadequacy discussed in both Duckworth and Prysock, namely, linking the right to appointed counsel to a future point in time after interrogation. When the only claimed deficiency is that of generality, the teaching of Duck-worth that we are not construing a will or defining the terms of an easement convinces us that we cannot hold the warning in this case amounts to plain error.
Moreover, this court has not strictly required that a defendant be explicitly advised of his right to an attorney before and during questioning.
A panel of this court recently declined to consider the precise question before this court in Butzin v. Wood,
Narcotics agents provided almost the same warning to the defendant in Sweeney v. United States,
Similarly, the Seventh Circuit in United States v. Adams,
Although Upchurch could, and arguably should, have been more explicit in advising Caldwell of his right to an attorney, we believe the decisions cited above further support our conclusion that the warning provided does not rise to the level of plain error.
Caldwell also argues that the district court erred in admitting his confessions because he did not waive his constitutional rights voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently. Caldwell says that “coercion is determined from the perspective of the suspect,” Innis,
Whether a defendant waives his constitutional rights has two distinct inquiries. “First, the relinquishment of the right must have been voluntary in the sense that it was the product of a free and deliberate choice rather than intimidation, coercion, or deception.” Moran v. Burbine,
We review the district court’s factual findings concerning whether a defendant waived his rights under the clearly erroneous standard. United States v. Bartlett,
In this case, the district court found that there was no compulsion or coercion, and made no specific factual findings regarding waiver. In denying Caldwell’s motion to suppress, the district court did, however, cite United States v. Filiberto,
We have carefully reviewed the transcripts of the evidentiary hearing and trial in this case. It is undisputed that Up-church advised Caldwell of his rights and asked him if he understood those rights on at least two occasions. Cf. Tague v. Louisiana,
The issue before us is determining whether the requirements of Miranda were observed in this case. We recognize the extreme harshness of the penalty which results from application of the statutory mandatory minimum ten year sentence. The harsh sentence should not cause us to decide the Miranda question in a manner other than required by our reading of the applicable cases.
We affirm the conviction.
Notes
. The Honorable George Gunn, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri.
. Miranda v. Arizona,
. The government did not appeal from the district court ruling suppressing Caldwell’s statement made to Washington.
. The district court adopted the magistrate’s recommendation that Caldwell’s statements to Washington be suppressed and, thus, may have implicitly agreed with the magistrate’s conclusion that Caldwell was in custody for Miranda purposes when he returned to Johnson’s apartment to talk to Washington. Slip op. at 1 (Aug. 2, 1990).
. Caldwell filed a motion to suppress with the magistrate judge arguing only that his statements should be suppressed because "At no time during or prior to the interrogation was Defendant apprised and informed of his constitutional rights to an attorney and against self-incrimination as required under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. [436] 443 [
. The dissent argues that Caldwell raised the issue of adequate Miranda warnings in a motion to suppress filed with the magistrate judge, and that both the magistrate judge and district court considered whether Caldwell was adequately warned of his Miranda rights. The dissent contends that the lower courts consideration of the issue is shown by their analysis of whether Caldwell waived his rights. This argument, however, flies in the face of language in both decisions. For example, the magistrate judge observed that "Detective Upchurch properly advised [Caldwell] of his Miranda rights,” slip op. at 9, and that Caldwell "was again advised of his Miranda rights." Id. at 10. Similarly, the district court judge observed that “Upchurch three times advised defendant of his constitutional rights," slip op. at 1, and that "following the three recitations of his constitutional rights, defendant three times told Detective Upchurch his version of the events_” Id. at 2.
.The dissent states that United States v. Neumann,
As we have stated, the magistrate judge observed that Caldwell was properly advised of his Miranda rights but did not consider or decide whether Caldwell received adequate Miranda warnings. The magistrate judge did not decide this issue because Caldwell failed to place the question in issue. The magistrate judge granted Caldwell's motion to suppress because he concluded that Caldwell did not voluntarily and intelligently waive his rights due to his upset mental state, his mother’s upset condition, and his age and inexperience. Slip op. at 9. The issue of the adequacy of Miranda warnings was not presented to or ruled on by the district court.
. The factual findings underlying the adequacy challenge are subject to clearly erroneous review. Connell,
. Several decisions from other circuits have, however, held or implied that a defendant must be specifically warned of his right to an attorney before and during police questioning. See, e.g., Windsor v. United States,
. The dissent suggests that this court settled the issue presented here in Long, and that we have overridden the "clear statement” of the law. The warning provided in Long, however, differed from the one here. The warning in Long failed to inform the defendant that he had a right to appointed counsel. "At most, Long was told he didn’t have to say anything and that he could have a lawyer.”
. We also note that on the state of this record, it is not entirely certain that Caldwell was not informed of his right to an attorney before and during his interrogation at the police station. The testimony of Detective Gilmore, a partner of Upchurch’s, suggests that Caldwell was read his full Miranda warnings at that time. Gilmore testified that he was present during Up-church’s questioning, and that Upchurch "read Caldwell his rights” from the police station waiver form.
. The dissent cites a number of cases which it suggests are contrary to the opinion of this court. None of the warnings in the cited cases, however, involve the same general warning that was provided to Caldwell here.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
I must respectfully dissent.
The majority opinion fails to follow longstanding precedents of this court and controlling Supreme Court precedent. Equally alarming is the majority’s failure to address the central issue raised and its facile reliance on the plain error rule in making its analysis. In this regard Judge Gibson’s opinion fails to follow procedural rules of this circuit and ignores a controlling en banc opinion.
It will be readily discernable to all parties that the majority fails to address the basic legal issue raised. The majority says the sole issue is the adequacy of warning. The record is to the contrary. The issue relating to adequacy of the warnings is simply part of the fundamental question addressed by the magistrate and the district court: whether Caldwell knowingly and intelligently waived his fifth amendment rights. The magistrate held that Caldwell had not knowingly and intelligently waived his fifth amendment rights; the district court did not reach this issue since it found there was no custodial interrogation and Miranda v. Arizona,
The issue of waiver is clearly raised by appellant’s brief.
Perhaps the majority’s holding that defendant’s fifth amendment privilege against self-incrimination is not violated arises from the majority’s erroneous reliance on the plain error rule. The opinion acknowledges the plain error rule should be used sparingly and then only to correct “egregious errors” of law affecting the fairness and integrity of the proceedings. This discussion seemingly puts a gloss on a violation of the defendant’s fifth amendment privilege against self-incrimination into the cliché of technical or harmless error. The Miranda rule is fundamental to the protection of the unknowing and often innocent suspect. It is a rule which the
The Supreme Court, as late as 1989, reaffirmed this principle in Duckworth v. Eagan,
Unlike the warnings administered in several cases relied upon by the majority, the statement read to Caldwell by Detective Upchurch did not offer him the opportunity to make a telephone call from which the right to consult a lawyer could be inferred. Cf Evans v. Swenson,
One must assume the majority analysis as to the Miranda warning is directly related to the court’s analysis of plain error. If not, why has the court belabored such discussion? Although it is somewhat dubious, surely, I hope the court is not holding that as a matter of law the Miranda warnings given were adequate. If that is the intent of the majority opinion, then clearly the court has erred. Such a holding would be contrary to specific holdings of the Supreme Court, this court and the overwhelming majority of the court of appeals of this country. See, e.g., Duckworth,
The court urges that its analysis must be made under the plain error doctrine because no objection was made at the trial. This thesis is based on the conclusion that Caldwell did not (1) address this issue in his motion to suppress and (2) if he did, then he effectively waived the issue by not renewing his objection at trial. With all due respect, the first premise ignores the clear record, the second premise ignores the clear law.
The record shows that Caldwell raised the issue of the sufficiency of the warning in his motion to suppress. The motion reads that Caldwell was not “apprised and informed of his constitutional rights to an attorney and against self-incrimination as required under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. [436] 443,
The Court finds that these circumstances [officer Upchurch’s interrogation] do not “rise to the level of compulsion or coercion to speak,” Illinios v. Perkins, [496] U.S. [292, 299],110 S.Ct. 2394 , 2397, [110 L.Ed.2d 243 ] (1990), and so “are not within Miranda’s concerns.” Id. Moreover, “[t]he prophylactic Miranda warnings are ‘not themselves rights protected by the Constitution but [are] instead measures to insure that the right against compulsory self-incrimination [is] protected.... The inquiry is simply whether the warnings reasonably ‘conveyfy] [sic] to [a suspect] his rights as required by Miranda.’ ” Duckworth v. Eagan, [492] U.S. [195, 203],109 S.Ct. 2875 , 2880, [106 L.Ed.2d 166 ] (1989). See, also, United States v. Filiberto,712 F.Supp. 482 , 486-87 (E.D.Pa.1989). Accordingly,
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that defendant’s motion to suppress statements made to Officer Washington be and it is granted.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that defendant’s motion to suppress statements made to Detective Upchurch be and it is denied.
United States v. Caldwell, No. 90-12-CR(6) at 2 (E.D.Mo. Aug. 2, 1990) (Ord. Denying in part Def.’s Mot. Suppress).
I recite the above because it demonstrates that both the magistrate and the district court judge recognized that within the issue of waiver the adequacy of warnings were specifically addressed by Caldwell’s motion to suppress. There is no question that the district court understood this issue when it wrote in its order “[t]he inquiry is simply whether the warnings reasonably ‘eonvey[y] [sic] to [a suspect] his rights as required by Miranda.’ ” Caldwell at 2 (quoting Duckworth,
The majority opinion states even if Caldwell raised the issue in the motion to suppress, he nevertheless did not preserve the issue for appeal because he failed to renew his objection to the statements at trial. Thus, the majority bottoms its analysis on the plain error rule because of the defendant’s failure to renew his objection to the admission of the statement at trial. The majority relies on United States v. Udey,
By motion before trial, a criminal defendant is permitted to raise any objection “capable of determination without the trial of the general issue,” but motions to suppress evidence must be raised prior to trial. Fed.R.Crim.P. 12(b). We note, in addition, that such a mandatory pretrial motion to suppress, filed on constitutional grounds in a criminal case, if denied, does not ordinarily have to be renewed by way of objection at trial. The failure to raise an objection which must, under the Rule, be made prior to trial, effects a waiver of the objection. Fed.R.Crim.P. 12(f).
Id. at 885 (emphasis added).
Thus, I respectfully submit that analysis of this case under the plain error rule is wrong. The defendant did raise the ade
Overwhelming authority holds that Caldwell was not given proper warnings. This court settled this issue in 1972. Judge Ross then wrote:
While it is true it is the substance of the warnings, not the form, that is important, Evans v. Swenson,455 F.2d 291 , 293 (8th Cir.1972); Tucker v. United States,375 F.2d 363 , 369 (8th Cir.), cert. denied,389 U.S. 888 ,88 S.Ct. 128 ,19 L.Ed.2d 189 (1967), the warnings given must be complete and meaningful to the accused. As stated by the Ninth Circuit, in Smith v. Rhay,419 F.2d 160 , 163 (1969), warnings are inadequate where the accused, although advised he had the right to an attorney, was not advised that “he had the right to the presence of an attorney and that, if he could not afford one, a lawyer could be appointed to represent him prior to any questioning."
South Dakota v. Long,
It is difficult for me to understand how the majority can override, without en banc approval, this clear statement of the law.
I would find as did the experienced magistrate (who held the evidentiary hearing, heard the witnesses and was able to assess the credibility of Caldwell and the officers) that the defendant did not voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently waive his rights to remain silent and to have counsel present before and during the questioning by the police officers.
I add one other commentary. This case involves the conviction of an eighteen-year-old youth, without any prior criminal experience, who made a serious mistake of judgment. He now faces a ten year prison sentence for his immature judgment. If this sentence is carried out, his life will be ruined. His family is devastated. It is difficult for me to believe Congress by its mandatory minimum penalty condones such punitive sanction to a young lad of eighteen. I wonder if Congress knows the injustice it creates by such laws. A civilized society should protest. The President of the United States should grant clemency. In my twenty-five years as a circuit judge I have never encountered such a miscarriage of justice. This gross injustice further emphasizes why denial of this young man’s fifth amendment rights should require a reversal of his conviction.
I respectfully dissent.
. Appellant’s brief states:
The Magistrate correctly concluded that the government failed to meet its heavy burden to prove that the Defendant voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently waived his right to remain silent and to counsel. "The court must look to the totality of the circumstances to determine if the suspect’s conduct manifests a knowing and intelligent relinquishment or abandonment of a known right or privilege.” Johnson v. Zerbst,304 U.S. 458 ,58 S.Ct. 1019 ,82 L.Ed. 1461 (1938). U.S. v. Filiberto,712 F.Supp. 482 , 487 (E.D.Pa.1989). In light of the inadequacies of the Miranda warnings, the mental condition of the Defendant, the psychological ploys utilized by the police officers, the lack of any prior criminal history, and the lack of sophistication on the part of the eighteen year old defendant, manifest injustice will result if the verdict and conviction are not reversed.
Brief for Appellant at 14.
. The magistrate found:
After defendant quickly returned involuntarily to the apartment, the circumstances in the apartment were such that defendant was in a custodial environment. Washington immediately questioned defendant about the package. Defendant’s mother was openly very upset. Everyone knew and disapproved of his admitted involvement with the package. Defendant remained in the apartment until Det. Upchurch arrived. Because Officer Washington did not advise defendant of his Miranda rights, the statements defendant made to him before Det. Upchurch arrived should be suppressed. Miranda, supra, 384 U.S. at 479,86 S.Ct. at 1630 .
The next issue is whether the government bore its heavy burden of proving that defendant's statements to Det. Upchurch were preceded by defendant’s voluntary, knowing and intelligent waiver of his rights to remain silent and to counsel. Miranda, supra,384 U.S. at 475 ,86 S.Ct. at 1628 ; Tague v. Louisiana,444 U.S. 469 , 470-71,100 S.Ct. 652 , 653,62 L.Ed.2d 622 (1980); North Carolina v. Butler,441 U.S. 369 , 373,99 S.Ct. 1755 , 1757,60 L.Ed.2d 286 (1979). The undersigned concludes that the government did not sustain its heavy burden in this case.
After he arrived and determined that the package contained cocaine and before he asked defendant any questions, Det. Upchurch properly advised him of his Miranda rights. Defendant only nodded that he understood them. Because the defendant’s mother was so upset, the detective took defendant into the living room to be interviewed. Again, before asking him any questions, Upchurch asked defendant whether he still understood his rights. Defendant hesitatingly said that he did understand them. Defendant repeated the story he had told Washington.
Defendant did not voluntarily and intelligently waive his rights in the apartment, because his mental state at the time was very upset, his mother remained very upset with the whole situation, and his age and experience were not shown to have been sufficient to deal with the pressures of the investigation by his mother and neighbors and the direction from Officer Washington to cooperate with Det. Upchurch. Although he was asked whether he understood his rights, there was no evidence that he was then expressly asked whether he would waive them. He had previously given incriminating statements and he may have felt compelled to repeat the same statements in the presence of the narcotics detective.
The circumstances of the police station interrogation by Det. Upchurch remained such that defendant was not shown to have intelligently waived his rights to remain silent and to counsel. Although he was again advised of his Miranda rights and stated that he understood them, he was not asked expressly whether he would waive them. Further, the police station interview closely followed the apartment interviews and their pressure packed circumstances. When he was asked whether or not he would give a written statement, defendant angrily said that he would not and that he would say no more.
(Mag. Ord. and Rec. at 8-10).
. The magistrate concluded as follows:
[The] issue is whether the government bore its heavy burden of proving that defendant’s statements to Det. Upchurch were preceded by defendant's voluntary, knowing and intelligent waiver of his rights to remain silent and to counsel. Miranda, supra,384 U.S. at 475 [86 S.Ct. at 1628 ]; Tague v. Louisiana,444 U.S. 469 , 470-71 [100 S.Ct. 652 , 652-53,62 L.Ed.2d 622 ] (1980); North Carolina v. Butler,441 U.S. 369 , 373 [99 S.Ct. 1755 , 1757,60 L.Ed.2d 286 ] (1979). The undersigned concludes that the government did not sustain its heavy burden in this case.
(Mag. Ord. and Rec. at 9).
