Vigil v. People
| Decision Date | 29 March 1971 |
| Docket Number | No. 23478,23478 |
| Citation | 482 P.2d 983,174 Colo. 164 |
| Parties | Raymond J. VIGIL, Plaintiff in Error, v. The PEOPLE of the State of Colorado, Defendant in Error. |
| Court | Colorado Supreme Court |
Edward H. Sherman, Public Defender, Edward L. Kirkwood, Earl S. Wylder, Asst. Public Defenders, Denver, for plaintiff in error.
Duke W. Dunbar, Atty. Gen., John P. Moore, Deputy Atty. Gen., Michael T. Haley, Asst. Atty. Gen., Denver, for defendant in error.
This matter is here for review on writ of error from a conviction of aggravated robbery.
On September 14, 1966, a robbery was committed at the DeBell Grocery Store just as the owner of the store, Mr. DeBell, was preparing to close the store for the day. The defendant Vigil entered and asked if Mr. DeBell was getting ready to close and if Mr. DeBell's wife had already left. Vigil received an affirmative reply to both questions. A minute later a man carrying a hand gun entered the store and commanded DeBell and the defendant to do as they were told or they would get hurt. He then took money and a check from the person ofDeBell and money from the cash register. DeBell was ordered to lie on the floor. The gunman then directed and defendant to remove DeBell's glasses and tie him up. DeBell was told to remain on the floor for ten minutes or he would be hurt.
When DeBell got up, the defendant and the gunman were gone. The defendant did not return to the store.
The gunman was later identified as Mr. Mares. He was arrested two weeks later while driving the defendant's car. The defendant and one other person were in the car at the time. When Mares was arrested, the defendant was advised of his constitutional rights, questioned and released. A few days later the defendant was again arrested. After being advised for a second time of his rights, he voluntarily discussed his presence at DeBell's Grocery Store with the police. During the discussion, the defendant made the following statement:
Question: 'Did you return to the store after you followed the bandit?' Answer: 'No.' Question: 'Why?' Answer:
On the date of the defendant's second arrest, Mr. DeBell identified him in a line-up. Subsequently, the defendant was tried and a jury found him guilty of aggravated robbery. The defendant moved for a new trial and from the denial of that motion, appeals to this court.
The defendant sets forth four basic assignments of error which we will discuss in numerical sequence as set forth below. Finding no reversible error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
The defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the prosecution's burden of proving defendant guilty as an accessory during the fact to the crime of aggravated robbery.
The scope of our review is limited to a determination of whether there is sufficient evidence to support the verdict of the trial court. On an appeal by the defendant, the evidence must be viewed in a light most favorable to the People. Wilson v. People, 143 Colo. 544, 354 P.2d 588. The defendant elected not to testify. His statement did not create any substantial conflicts in the evidence. To the extent that there were conflicts, they jury resolved them in favor of the People. The jury may draw any and all reasonable inferences from the evidence before it. Schamber v. People, 159 Colo. 102, 410 P.2d 514, 516. After examining the record, we have concluded that sufficient evidence was presented to justify the jury's verdict.
On appeal the defendant claims for the first time that his statement, exculpatory in nature, was obtained in violation of Miranda and Escobedo rights.
Inasmuch as the introduction of the defendant's aforementioned statement was not objected to at the time of trial, nor raised in the motion for new trial, we normally would not consider the issue on review. However, because of the seriousness of the charge, we will examine the alleged error.
The defendant made three visits to the police station. On his first visit after a purported Miranda warning he remained silent. On his second visit, the record indicates that he discussed something unrelated to his involvement in the present case. On his third visit, under arrest for his participation in the DeBell robbery, he was again given a purported Miranda warning.
The defendant's response to the advisement was, 'I don't need a lawyer.' He then made the statement which was offered in evidence by the People. At the time the offer was made, counsel for the defendant stated, 'Well, the defense is satisfied that the defendant was advised of his constitutional rights at the time the statement was taken. * * *'
The evidence of the People that the statement was voluntary and uncoerced is not challenged. There is nothing in the record to indicate either overt or subtle coercion.
It is obvious that the defendant initially made the statement in the expectation, or at least the hope, that it would absolve him of complicity in the crime. At the trial he and his counsel undoubtedly believed that it was better strategy to place the defendant's story of his participation in the incident before the jury by way of his extrajudicial statement rather than take the witness stand and subject his 'story' to cross-examination by the district attorney.
This was a choice he had to make. Having make the choice and lost he is not entitled to try a different strategy in the hope that the result would be more favorable...
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Russell v. State, 4735
...L.Ed. 1718. Chewing and swallowing a check by a defendant taken during a robbery was evidence explaining its absence. Vigil v. People, 1971, 174 Colo. 164, 482 P.2d 983. Evidence that defendant, being transported to scene of burglary, removed nylon stocking from his head there at time of ar......
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Section 16 CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS - RIGHTS OF DEFENDANT.
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