People v. Wilbert
Opinion of the Court
—Judgment unanimously affirmed. Memorandum: We agree with the determination of the suppression court that the initial statement defendant made to the police was not the product of custodial interrogation. Whether a defendant is in custody is a question for the trier of fact (see, People v Waymer, 53 NY2d 1053, 1054; People v Grimes, 162 AD2d 1031, lv denied 76 NY2d 893) and is to be accorded great respect and left undisturbed unless it is erroneous as a matter of law or unsupported by the record (see, People v Prochilo, 41 NY2d 759, 761; People v McIntyre, 138 AD2d 634, lv denied 72 NY2d 959). Defendant
We also reject defendant’s contention that the initial statement and the later oral and written statements were involuntarily made. The testimony of the social worker that defendant suffered from an oppositional defiant disorder is not relevant to the issue whether defendant was mentally capable of making a voluntary statement. Additionally, the suppression court credited the testimony of the police that defendant did not seem intoxicated at the time he made his statements and did not request to speak to an attorney. Although defendant did request to speak to his mother, the police were unable to reach her and defendant agreed to continue the questioning after being advised that the attempts to reach his mother were unsuccessful. (Appeal from Judgment of Wayne County Court, Strobridge, J. — Sodomy, 1st Degree.) Present— Denman, P. J., Green, Balio, Lawton and Davis, JJ.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.