J.N. v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.) ( 2017 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION FILED
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), 08/31/2017, 9:55 am
this Memorandum Decision shall not be CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
regarded as precedent or cited before any Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
court except for the purpose of establishing
the defense of res judicata, collateral
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Matthew J. Buehler Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Warsaw, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Monika Prekopa Talbot
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
J.N., August 31, 2017
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
43A04-1703-JV-613
v. Appeal from the Kosciusko
Superior Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable David C. Cates,
Appellee-Plaintiff Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
43D01-1609-JD-268
Altice, Judge.
Case Summary
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[1] J.N. appeals his juvenile adjudication for committing an act that would
constitute Level 3 felony child molesting if committed by an adult. Specifically,
he contends that the juvenile court abused its discretion in admitting his
videotaped statement to the investigating officer at the evidentiary hearing.
[2] We affirm.
Facts & Procedural History
[3] Near the end of the school year in 2016, seventeen-year-old J.N., nine-year-old
B.R., eight-year-old D.A., and D.A.’s six-year-old brother J.C. were playing in
a wooded area after school behind their trailer park. In the woods, J.N. had a
“hideout” with blankets and a pillow. Transcript at 42. J.N. eventually told
B.R. and J.C. to go away for a few minutes, which they did. When B.R.
returned, he observed D.A. “sucking [J.N.’s] private, his wiener.” Id. at 37.
J.N. told B.R. to go away and not to tell anybody. B.R. was scared and left.
[4] On July 9, 2016, D.A.’s mother took her to the hospital upon learning that J.N.
had possibly molested D.A. Detective Todd Sautter of the Kosciusko County
Sheriff’s Department went to the hospital and spoke with D.A. and her family.
Around this same time, B.R. told his parents about what he had seen several
weeks earlier involving D.A. and J.N. Thereafter, on July 11, B.R. spoke with
Detective Sautter.
[5] On July 12, 2016, J.N. and his mother (Mother) came to the sheriff’s
department for an interview with Detective Sautter. J.N. and Mother had
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heard several recent rumors regarding various allegations being made by D.A.,
her family, and B.R. against J.N.1 At the beginning of the interview, Detective
Sautter advised that he wanted to speak with J.N. regarding an incident that
happened between J.N. and D.A. Detective Sautter then read an advice of
rights/waiver of rights form, which J.N. signed and Mother witnessed.
Thereafter, he informed J.N. and Mother that he was going to step out of the
room so they could have private consultation time. Detective Sautter returned
a little over two minutes later after seeing that J.N. and Mother were no longer
talking. Upon his return, Detective Sautter asked if they had had a chance to
talk. He then read the juvenile waiver of rights form to J.N. and Mother, which
they then executed. Thereafter, J.N. made incriminating statements, including
admitting to having had D.A. perform oral sex on him in the woods.
[6] On September 2, 2016, a delinquency petition was filed against J.N. The
juvenile court held a suppression hearing immediately before the fact-finding
hearing on December 22, 2016. J.N. sought to suppress his statement on the
basis that the juvenile waiver was not properly obtained. Specifically, J.N.
argued that he and Mother were not provided a meaningful time for
consultation – only two minutes – and were not informed of the delinquent act
1
Mother indicated to Detective Sautter that she came for the interview because “there’s too many stories
floating around and too many things that I have questions on.” Exhibit Book at State’s Exhibit 1. J.N. stated
that B.R. had told four different stories.
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of which he was suspected of committing. The juvenile court denied the
motion to suppress.
[7] During the fact-finding hearing, B.R. and Detective Sautter testified, and J.N.’s
statement was admitted into evidence. The juvenile court ultimately
adjudicated J.N. delinquent for having committed what would be Level 3
felony child molesting if committed by an adult, noting that exclusion of the
videotaped statement would not have changed this determination. Following a
dispositional hearing, the court ordered J.N. to be placed with the Indiana
Department of Correction Boys School for the completion of their program.
J.N. now appeals. Additional facts will be provided below as needed.
Discussion & Decision
[8] J.N. contends that the juvenile court erred in admitting his statement to
Detective Sautter because certain procedural safeguards for the waiver of a
juvenile’s constitutional rights were not followed. Specifically, J.N. argues that
he was not afforded an opportunity for meaningful consultation with Mother as
required by Ind. Code § 31-32-5-1(2)(C). He also contends that the waiver was
not made knowingly and voluntarily because prior to obtaining the waiver,
Detective Sautter did not inform J.N. and Mother that J.N. was suspected of
molesting D.A.
[9] The State bears the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the
juvenile received all of the protections required by I.C. § 31-32-5-1 and that both
the juvenile and his parent knowingly and voluntarily waived the juvenile’s
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rights. D.M. v. State, 949 N.E.2d 327, 334-35 (Ind. 2011). In reviewing a
juvenile court’s denial of a motion to suppress, we do not reweigh the evidence
but instead examine the record to determine whether there is substantial
evidence of probative value to support that decision. Id. at 335. We consider
any conflicting evidence in a light most favorable to the juvenile court’s
decision, along with any substantial uncontested evidence. Id. And we will
uphold the decision if it is supported by “a reasonable view of the evidence.” Id.[10] Although not addressed by the parties, we initially observe that it is not clear
whether J.N. was actually in custody at the time he was interviewed by
Detective Sautter. “As a general rule, when a juvenile who is not in custody
gives a statement to police, neither the safeguards of a Miranda warning nor the
juvenile waiver statute is implicated.” N.B. v. State, 971 N.E.2d 1247, 1252
(Ind. Ct. App. 2012) (footnote omitted), trans. denied. To be custodial in the
non-arrest context, the interrogation must commence after the juvenile’s
freedom of action has been deprived in a significant way. Id. In other words,
would a reasonable person in similar circumstances believe he is not free to
leave? Id.[11] The threshold issue, therefore, should be whether J.N. was subjected to a
custodial interrogation when he gave his statement. But the parties ignored this
issue below and in this appeal. Accordingly, we will assume for the sake of
argument that J.N. was subjected to a custodial interrogation.
[12] I.C. § 31-32-5-1 provides in relevant part as follows:
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Any rights guaranteed to a child under the Constitution of the
United States, the Constitution of the State of Indiana, or any
other law may be waived only:
***
(2) by the child’s parent…if:
(A) that person knowingly and voluntarily waives the
right;
(B) that person has no interest adverse to the child;
(C) meaningful consultation has occurred between that
person and the child; and
(D) the child knowingly and voluntarily joins with the
waiver[.]
Further, I.C. § 31-32-5-4 sets out six circumstances to consider in determining
whether the waiver of rights by the parent and juvenile was made knowingly
and voluntarily, one of which – I.C. § 31-32-5-4(3) – is whether they had been
informed of the delinquent act with which the child was charged or of which
the child was suspected.
[13] We turn first to J.N.’s contention that he and Mother were not provided with a
meaningful opportunity for consultation.2 The consultation requirement is
2
J.N. also argues that his rights were “subjectively waived” prior to the consultation with Mother because of
the initial advice of rights/waiver of rights form that he signed and Mother witnessed. Appellant’s Brief at 11.
J.N. has waived this argument by failing to raise it below. Moreover, we observed that the requirements of
I.C. § 31-32-5-1 may still be met and the waiver found knowing and voluntary if the record demonstrates that
the child waived his rights again – either directly or impliedly – after being afforded the opportunity to engage
in meaningful consultation with the child’s parent. See N.B., 971 N.E.2d at 1256. Here, J.N. did so directly
by signing the juvenile waiver of rights form.
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satisfied when actual consultation of a meaningful nature occurs, the purpose of
which is to allow the juvenile to make a decision on whether to waive his rights
in a comparatively relaxed and stable atmosphere. D.M., 949 N.E.2d at 335. In
this regard, the State need only prove that the police provided a relatively
private atmosphere that was free from police pressure in which the juvenile and
his parent could have a meaningful discussion about the allegations,
circumstances of the case, and the ramifications of their responses to police
questioning. Id.
[14] While we agree that two minutes is not a substantial amount of time in which
to consult regarding waiving J.N.’s rights, the record establishes that it was
sufficient under the circumstances of this case. Detective Sautter reentered the
interrogation room only after observing that Mother and J.N. were no longer
conversing. He then made sure to ask if they had been able to talk before he
began reading the juvenile waiver of rights form to them. Moreover, Mother
testified at the suppression hearing that she had an opportunity to talk with J.N.
and that it was his decision to go ahead with the interview. Although she was
supportive of this decision, Mother indicated that she warned J.N. that the
detective was trained in asking questions. Mother testified further that she
knew what was at stake and had advised her son accordingly before signing the
waiver. Under these circumstances, we cannot say that the trial court abused its
discretion in determining that Mother and J.N. were afforded an opportunity
for meaningful consultation.
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[15] Next, J.N. argues that his waiver was not knowing and voluntary because he
was not advised of the “nature of the allegations that law enforcement was
investigating prior to waiving his rights.” Appellant’s Brief at 12. J.N. notes that
Detective Sautter made no mention of child molesting or sexual misconduct
prior to obtaining the waiver.
[16] This is but one of six nonexclusive factors to be considered when determining
whether a waiver is made knowingly and voluntarily.3 Standing alone, this
factor is insufficient to render a waiver unknowing and involuntary. See Estrada
v. State, 969 N.E.2d 1032, 1042 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012) (citing Tingle v. State, 632
N.E.2d 345, 352-53 (Ind. 1994)), trans. denied.
[17] Here, the record indicates that before coming in for the interview, Mother and
J.N. were keenly aware of rumors going around the trailer park regarding
sexual activity between J.N. and eight-year-old D.A. Mother had seen or
received text messages from D.A.’s mother a few days prior regarding the
sexual abuse allegations, and J.N. noted that B.R. had told at least four
3
I.C. § 31-32-5-4 requires the juvenile court to “consider all the circumstances of the waiver”, including:
(1) The child’s physical, mental, and emotional maturity.
(2) Whether the child or the child’s parent…understood the consequences of the child’s
statement.
(3) Whether the child and the child’s parent…had been informed of the delinquent act with
which the child was charged or of which the child was suspected.
(4) The length of time the child was held in custody before consulting with the child’s parent….
(5) Whether there was any coercion, force, or inducement.
(6) Whether the child and the child’s parent…had been advised of the child’s right to remain
silent and to the appointment of counsel.
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different stories. Under the circumstances, it is unlikely that J.N. was unclear
about the nature of the interview.
[18] As J.N. essentially concedes, the other statutory factors also support a finding
that the waiver in this case was voluntarily and knowingly made. J.N. was
seventeen years old when he waived his rights, he and Mother understood the
consequences of his statements, and there is no indication that he had been held
in custody. Further, Mother and J.N. were fully advised of J.N.’s rights, and
Detective Sautter did not use any coercion or force. The totality of the
circumstances supports the trial court’s determination that the waiver was
knowingly and voluntarily made.
[19] Judgment affirmed.
Baker, J. and Bailey, J., concur.
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