State v. Winfrey, 55861

Decision Date28 August 1974
Docket NumberNo. 55861,55861
Citation221 N.W.2d 269
PartiesSTATE of Iowa, Appellee, v. Robert Steven WINFREY, Appellant.
CourtIowa Supreme Court

Anthony M. Critelli, Des Moines, and Michael J. Laughlin, Urbandale, for appellant.

Richard C. Turner, Atty. Gen., Fred M. Haskins, Asst. Atty. Gen., and Ray A. Fenton, County Atty., for appellee.

Heard by MOORE, C.J., and MASON, RAWLINGS, REES and UHLENHOPP, JJ.

MOORE, Chief Justice.

Defendant, Robert Steven Winfrey, appeals from judgment entered on a jury verdict convicting him of first degree murder. He was charged with killing Gerald Koder during the robbery of a Des Moines service station.

Defendant-appellant asserts the trial court erred (1) in overruling his motion to suppress evidence of his oral admissions made while in custody and (2) refusing to sustain his challenge for cause of a prospective juror who had experienced trouble with blacks.

I. The record reflects the following facts. About 9:50 p.m., March 29, 1970 two girls discovered the body of Gerald Koder, attendant, lying in a pool of blood on the floor of Vickers service station at East 16th and University Avenue in Des Moines. Police investigation revealed Koder had been shot once in the head. His pockets had been emptied. A comb and pack of cigarettes were lying next to the body. Defendant's fingerprints were found on the cigarette pack. His palm print was found on the service station door. Koder's empty billfold was found a block from the station.

Defendant, then age 17, and his 15 year old accomplice, Thadius Allen, were arrested in Davenport, Iowa and returned to Des Moines on April 6, 1972. After arraignment they were committed to the county jail. Two attorneys and his mother advised defendant not to discuss the case with anyone. He was told that anything he might say could be used against him.

On Sunday afternoon April 9 defendant, with Allen present, talked to Polk County deputy sheriff Alfred J. Baumann and Lieutenant Ray Steiner, a Des Moines police officer. He related how he had obtained a gun from another youth for the express purpose of robbing the Vickers Station and the details of the robbery and shooting of Koder.

On September 8, 1972 defendant filed a motion to suppress any testimony by Baumann and Steiner pertaining to defendant's statements and admissions. He alleged (1) he had not been informed of his constitutional rights, (2) that even if the Miranda warnings (Miranda v. State of Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694, 10 A.L.R.3d 974) were given, Winfrey lacked intelligence and maturity to knowingly, understandingly and intelligently waive his rights, and (3) his confession was not made voluntarily.

II. To meet due process requirements the trial court was required to conduct a pretrial evidentiary hearing to consider the totality of the circumstances and determine the admissibility of defendant's statements and admissions. Jackson v. Denno, 378 U.S. 368, 376, 84 S.Ct. 1774, 12 L.Ed.2d 908, 915, 1 A.L.R.3d 1205; State v. Fetters, Iowa, 202 N.W.2d 84, 88; State v. Holland, 258 Iowa 206, 215, 138 N.W.2d 86, 90; State v. Leiss, 258 Iowa 787, 789, 140 N.W.2d 172, 174.

The trial court held such a pretrial evidentiary hearing at which the State had the burden to prove by a preponderance of the evidence defendant's confession was voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently made. Lego v. Twomey, 404 U.S. 477, 487--489, 92 S.Ct. 619, 30 L.Ed.2d 618, 626, 627; State v. Cullison, Iowa, 215 N.W.2d 309, 314; State v. Rank, Iowa, 214 N.W.2d 136, 138 and citations.

Deputy Sheriff Baumann testified he had had prior jail contacts and visits with defendant and that on Sunday morning April 9 defendant sent a note asking to talk to Baumann. A meeting resulted and when during the conversation Winfrey made reference to the pending murder charge, Baumann stopped the conversation. Baumann testified he cautioned defendant about the serious nature of the charge and gave him the Miranda warnings, to which defendant indicated he knew his rights and stated he wished to talk about his involvement. Further that defendant was asked if he wanted his attorney or parents to be present to which defendant answered in the negative because he had lied to them earlier. After some additional conversation Baumann had Thadius Allen brought from his jail cell. The two youths then expressed their desire to talk with a police officer, preferably Ray Steiner.

Baumann further testified he telephoned Steiner and told him Winfrey and Allen wished to talk to him about the shooting. Steiner refused to meet with the two unless their parents or attorneys were present. Later Steiner received a second telephone call at which time Winfrey and Allen personally asked Steiner to talk to them. Steiner again expressed reluctance to have any discussion without their parents or attorneys being present. The two repeated their request that Steiner come to the jail and talk with them. Steiner then agreed.

Upon Steiner's arrival at the county jail Baumann and the two youths were in a small office. Steiner and Baumann testified in detail of the conversation which followed. After reading the Miranda warnings, Steiner advised them of the serious nature of the charge. He specifically advised both youths that he and Baumann would testify in court about what was said. Winfrey rejected Steiner's suggestion the conversation be recorded. Both told Steiner they did not want either their parents or attorneys present because they had lied to them earlier. Winfrey and Allen then related the events of the robbery and shooting of Koder.

Winfrey, then 18 years of age, related his educational background. He had completed ten years of school and had been in special classes for slow learners. Since age 12 he had lost time from school during periods he was in Eldora or jail. His testimony contradicted several of Baumann's and Steiner's statements. However he admitted telephoning Steiner and requesting Steiner to come to the jail, and that Steiner read to him the Miranda warnings including the fact that anything he said could be used against him. He admitted he did not want his parents or attorney present during his talks with Baumann and Steiner. His main contention was that both officers had assured him of a lighter sentence if he talked. Both officers denied giving any such assurances. Defendant stated that since he was not giving a written statement or signing anything, he thought the oral statement could not be used against him.

Pursuant to court order Winfrey was examined by Dr. Paul Loeffelholz, a psychiatrist, at the Iowa Security and Medical Facility. Dr. Loeffelholz testified defendant does not have a typical mental disorder and that tests indicated Winfrey was in the low average range of intelligence with an I.Q. score range of approximately 85 to 90. He opined Winfrey was 'some place in the fourteen to fifteen year old range of mental age' and capable of understanding a statement of rights allegedly read to him but depending upon how the statement was presented to him. His cross-examination by the county attorney included: 'Because of his experience, there is no doubt that Mr. Winfrey knows what happens to you if you are found guilty of something in a court of law. * * *. It is still my opinion that Mr. Winfrey was competent and able to make decisions at the time of his apprehension. This would, however, depend upon the circumstances and explanations given to him.'

The above sets out most of the evidence which bears on the issues here involved....

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