Mooney v. State
Mooney v. State
Opinion
¶ 1. Harmon L. Mooney was convicted of felony possession of methamphetamine. Mooney appeals and argues that the trial court committed reversible error when it admitted Mooney's confession into evidence. We find no error and affirm.
¶ 3. Officer Tony Smith testified that he, along with Officers Mike Williams and Brett Flake, arrived at Mooney's residence in Leake County to serve an arrest warrant. Officer Smith approached Mooney and informed him he was under arrest. Officer Smith handcuffed Mooney and informed him of hisMiranda rights. Officer Smith testified that Mooney indicated that he understood his Miranda rights. Officer Smith then conducted a pat down search of Mooney and found a pair of bags containing a white crystal substance in Mooney's front pant's pockets. Officers Williams and Flake corroborated Officer Smith's testimony. They also testified that they did not hear Smith attempt to coerce or promise Mooney anything in exchange for a statement.
¶ 4. Officer Smith transported Mooney to the Leake County jail. During transport, Officer Smith testified that he had a "casual conversation" with Mooney. Officer Smith testified that during this casual conversation he reminded Mooney of his rights. Officer Smith also stated that this conversation occurred around five to ten minutes after Mooney was originally read his rights. Officer Smith then testified that during the "conversation" Mooney said the "stuff on him was a quarter gram of meth and that he paid twenty dollars for it. Mooney described it as "home made meth." Officer Smith testified that he never attempted to coerce or promise Mooney anything during the "conversation."
¶ 5. As a result of this testimony, the trial court allowed the confession to be admitted into evidence and presented to the jury. It is this decision that Mooney claims is reversible error. *Page 629
¶ 8. The State has the burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the confession was voluntary. Payton v.State,
¶ 9. Mooney argues that he had not waived his right to counsel or his right against self-incrimination. "The right to have an attorney present must be `specifically invoked.'"Holland v. State,
¶ 10. Mooney also argues that the confession came at a different time and place from when he was informed of hisMiranda rights. Officer Smith testified that the confession occurred only five to ten minutes after Mooney had been advised of his Miranda rights. Further, the incriminating statements were given to the same officer that read Mooney his Miranda rights. The supreme court has held that five to ten minutes constituted a pause in questioning that "did not require a renewal of Miranda warnings."Taylor v. State,
¶ 11. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding that from the totality of the circumstances that the confession was voluntary and allowing it to be presented to the jury. McGowan v. State,
¶ 12. THE JUDGMENT OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEAKECOUNTY OF CONVICTION OF POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE ANDSENTENCE OF FIVE YEARS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPIDEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND PAY A FINE OF $1,500 IS AFFIRMED.ALL COSTS OF THIS APPEAL ARE ASSESSED TO THE APPELLANT.
KING, C.J., LEE AND MYERS, P.JJ., IRVING, CHANDLER, BARNES, ISHEE AND ROBERTS, JJ., CONCUR. CARLTON, J., NOT PARTICIPATING.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Harmon L. Mooney v. State of Mississippi
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published