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203 Kan. 249

Morris v. State

Supreme Court of Kansas

Decided April 12, 1969

Supreme Court of Kansas · decided 1969-04-12

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently July 1971

2 state decisions

Relies on Holt v. State · State v. Weinman · Cox v. State

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1969-04-12

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¶1The opinion of the court was delivered by

Kaul, J.:

¶2Petitioner appeals from an order denying relief in a proceeding brought under K. S. A. 60-1507.

¶3The issue on appeal centers on the admission of petitioner’s statement into evidence during his jury trial.

¶4On August 24, 1964, petitioner was arrested and charged on two counts of statutory rape. After his arrest, petitioner was taken to the county attorney’s office where he was informed as to his constitutional rights. The county attorney discussed the charges with petitioner, who was then confined in the county jail. The following morning petitioner asked to see the county attorney again. He was taken by the undersheriff to the county attorney’s office and, after being advised of his rights, made the statement in question. The county attorney typed the statement then handed it to petitioner who read and signed it.

¶5The record discloses that petitioner waived a preliminary hearing and was bound over for trial in the district court.

¶6On September 8, 1964, petitioner appeared before the district court and present counsel was appointed. A plea of not guilty was entered and the case was set for jury trial on September 21, 1964.

¶7During the course of the trial the state offered petitioner’s state*250ment in evidence. Petitioner objected, the jury was excused, and the trial court heard evidence offered by the state and petitioner as to the voluntariness of the statement.

¶8After hearing the evidence, the trial court found the statement was freely and voluntarily made. The court stated:

“. . . There is no evidence here whatsoever — even from the defendant himself — that any promises or threats or force or intimidation was used in order to influence him in making this statement. . . .”

¶9During the trial, petitioner testified in his own behalf. He denied the charges and testified that the statement was incomplete and had not been written in his exact words. The undersheriff, who was present at the time, testified that the statement was practically an exact account of what petitioner said.

¶10After overruling petitioner’s motion for a new trial, the trial court deferred sentence and referred petitioner to the Topeka State Hospital for an examination and report.

¶11On April 14, 1965, petitioner was returned to Marshall County and sentenced to a term of not less than one nor more than twenty-one years on each count. The trial court directed that the sentences be served concurrently and credit allowed for the time petitioner was confined in the state hospital.

¶12On November 23, 1966, petitioner filed papers entitled “Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus.” The trial court concluded the papers should be treated as a motion under K. S. A. 60-1507 and directed that forms provided for in Rule No. 121 (Rules of the Supreme Court, 201 Kan. XXXIV) be mailed to petitioner.

¶13On Februaiy 21, 1967, petitioner filed the motion under consideration here. In his motion he contends in essence that the admission of his statement at the trial violated his rights under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States in that he was not properly informed of his rights; that in making the statement he was compelled to testify against himself, due to pressure by the county attorney; and the statement, as written, was not accurate or complete.

¶14Present counsel was appointed to represent petitioner in proceedings before the trial court. On April 12, 1967, a pretrial conference was had and the trial court determined the presence of petitioner was unnecessary.

¶15On June 12, 1967, the trial court heard the motion and there*251after made findings of fact and conclusions of law. The conclusions pertinent read as follows:

“3. The court concludes as a matter of law that the matters urged in defendant’s motion, and amended motion, were duly considered and disposed of during the trial and post trial proceedings and do not now raise any substantial issues of law or fact.
“4. The defendant was adequately advised of his statutory and constitutional Tights prior to the time he made the statement to the officers.
“5. No statutory or constitutional rights of the defendant were violated at any stage of the proceedings.”

¶16Thereafter petitioner perfected this appeal.

¶17The abstract and counter abstract before us contain what appears to be a complete transcript of the out of court hearing before the trial court on the question of voluntariness. The testimony of petitioner and Undersheriff Walters, pertaining to the statement of petitioner, fully supports the findings and conclusions of the trial court.

¶18The statement itself sets out that petitioner was advised as to his rights to remain silent, protection from compulsory self-incrimination, right to counsel, and a warning that anything petitioner might say could be used against him in court.

¶19Walters testified that petitioner was fully advised of his rights when he first appeared before the county attorney and again on his second appearance the following day.

¶20Petitioner testified in part as follows:

“Q. At the time this was made, were you informed as to your rights?
“A. Yes. I was informed as to my rights and as to counsel.
“Q. And you were informed as to your rights against self incrimination?
“A. Yes.
“Q. And you were informed that you didn’t have to make any statement if you didn’t want to?
“A. Yes.”

¶21Petitioner was a mature adult, a carpenter by trade. The record reflects that when he was interrogated concerning the giving of his statement, his answers were responsive and intelligent. There is no showing that he did not fully understand his position. No claim was made at the trial or in this proceeding that petitioner requested counsel at the time of making his statement.

¶22The trial court heard and determined the question of voluntariness during the trial and then reexamined the evidence in this proceeding. We find nothing in the record to warrant disturbing the trial court’s determination.

¶23*252This court has repeatedly held that where an accused is fully advised of his rights a confession or statement is not rendered inadmissible solely because it was made at a time when accused did not have counsel. (Holt v. State, 202 Kan. 759, 451 P. 2d 221; State v. Weinman, 201 Kan. 190, 440 P. 2d 575, and Cox v. State, 199 Kan. 797, 433 P. 2d 470.) There is no showing whatsoever that a request for counsel was denied.

¶24As found by the trial court, the motion, files and records of the case conclusively showed that petitioner was entitled to no relief.

¶25The judgment is affirmed.

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