# State v. Callahan

> Court of Appeals of Tennessee · April 24, 1997

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/1081080

## Case

- **Court:** Court of Appeals of Tennessee
- **Decided:** April 24, 1997
- **Precedential status:** Published
- **Opinion:** Opinion
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

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## Opinion text

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE

AT KNOXVILLE FILED
DECEMBER SESSION, 1996 April 24, 1997

Cecil Crowson, Jr.
Appellate C ourt Clerk
STATE OF TENNESSEE, ) C.C.A. NO. 03C01-9507-CC-00203
)
Appellee, )
)
) SULLIVAN COUNTY
VS. )
) HON. R. JERRY BECK
NATHAN ALLEN CALLAHAN,) JUDGE
)
Appellant. ) (First Degree Murder)

ON APPEAL FROM THE JUDGMENT OF THE
CRIMINAL COURT OF SULLIVAN COUNTY

FOR THE APPELLANT: FOR THE APPELLEE:

STEPHEN M. W ALLACE CHARLES W. BURSON
District Public Defender Attorney General and Reporter

DARIAN B. TAYLOR
Assistant Attorney General
450 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243-0493

H. GREELEY W ELLS
District Attorney General

NANCY S. HARR
Assistant District Attorney General
Blountville, TN 37617

OPINION FILED ________________________

AFFIRMED

DAVID H. WELLES, JUDGE
OPINION

This is an appeal as of right pursuant to Rule 3, Tennessee Rules of

Appellate Procedure. The Defendant, Nathan Allen Callahan, was convicted by

a Sullivan County jury of one count of first-degree murder and one count of

second-degree m urder, respectively, for the shooting deaths of his mother and

younger sister. The jury set punishment for the first-degree murder conviction at

life imprisonment and fined the Defendant $47,000.00 for the count of second-

degree murder. The trial court ordered twenty-two years imprisonment on the

conviction for second-degree murder to be served concurrently with the life

sentence. The Defendant appeals his convictions and raises the following

issues: (1) That the evidence is insufficient to support the conviction for murder

in the first degree; (2) that the trial court erred in denying the Defendant’s special

jury request; (3) that the trial court erred in failing to suppress his confession; and

(4) that the trial court erred by not suspending the fine imposed by the jury. After

careful review of the issues and the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial

court.

On March 30, 1994, Gale Callahan and her thirteen-year-old daughter,

Holly, were shot to death in the garage of their home. At the time of the murders,

the Defendant had just turned fifteen. He lived with his parents, Gale and Glen

Callahan, and his younger sister, Holly, in a suburban neighborhood in the Indian

Hills community of Sullivan County. At around age fourteen, the Defendant’s

behavior had changed; he had new friends, his grades began to drop, he stopped

doing homework, and he started skipping classes. In the fall of 1993, after

-2-
becoming suspicious that his son might be using drugs, Glen Callahan installed

a recorder to tape his son’s telephone calls. On New Year’s Eve, 1993, Mr.

Callahan recorded the Defendant talking with a friend about using marijuana. He

also talked about sneaking out of the house and driving the new Trans-Am

Pontiac his grandfather had bought for him. Mr. Callahan confronted the

Defendant, who denied that this was true and refused to reveal his drug source.

Mr. Callahan became enraged and smashed the Defendant’s electric guitar,

another gift from his grandfather.

Mr. Callahan stayed that night with the Defendant who lived in the

downstairs area of the house, fearful of how he might react. The next morning,

the Defendant went into the bathroom to take a shower, but actually crawled out

the window. After discovering he was missing, his parents searched for him and

later found him lying under the basement steps. Mr. Callahan sold the

Defendant’s car, took him for random drug tests, and became very restrictive of

his activities and his access to money. He had an outpatient mental health

evaluation in January which revealed no significant mental disturbance, but did

indicate substance abuse. The recommended treatment was outpatient

counseling, with more extensive treatment possible if the drug screens continued

to appear positive. Subsequent drug screens continued to test positive for

marijuana and the Defendant’s parents monitored his activities at school. They

bought a new black Chevrolet Camaro and promised the Defendant a learner’s

permit to drive if two drugs screens came back negative. The car keys were kept

locked up.

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The situation remained somewhat the same during the month before the

murders. Mr. Callahan noted at trial that the Defendant rarely expressed emotion

and that he had never seen him cry. The Defendant never expressed anger,

even after his guitar was smashed, his car was sold, and he was restricted.

However, two days before the killings, the Defendant asked his sister, in the

presence of her friend, “what would you do if I killed my Mom and Dad?” His

sister Holly replied: “Nathan, shut up. That’s not nice to say. You shouldn’t do

that, I would hate you forever if you did.”

On the day of the murders, the Defendant had lengthy telephone

conversations with two of his friends. He initiated a discussion about whether he

should kill his parents. Unbeknownst to the Defendant, these telephone calls

were tape-recorded. They revealed the animosity he harbored toward his family

and the planning and execution of the murders. The Defendant devised the plan

to kill his mother and sister after they returned home from a shopping trip. His

father was away on a business trip and was expected to be back later that

evening. The Defendant retrieved a 20 gauge shotgun, a present from his

grandfather that was stored under his parents bed. He located a box of

ammunition, loaded the chamber with four shells and placed the gun outside

behind a fence near the garage. During this time, the Defendant remained in

phone contact with James Saylor, who participated actively and made

suggestions.

W hen the Defendant saw that his mother and sister had returned, he set

the telephone down, still off the hook, and went outside. He picked up the

shotgun and hid behind his Camaro, that was parked in the driveway. His mother

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and sister opened the garage door and walked inside toward a door leading into

the house. As they neared the door, the Defendant walked into the garage. His

sister, Holly, turned around and he shot her in the lower front. He then shot his

mother in the shoulder. He walked within a few feet of his sister and shot her in

the head, then reloaded the gun and shot his mother in the buttocks, in her back,

and in her head. The brains of both victims were blown from their heads.

The Defendant left the garage and picked up the telephone, telling James

Saylor that he had killed his mother and sister. He took money and his m other’s

cellular phone and put the shotgun and a box of shells in the Camaro. Saylor

became concerned and told his m other, Terrell Saylor, what the Defendant had

done. Terrell Saylor called the Defendant, then allowed her son James to talk

with him while still listening on the line. The Defendant again stated that he had

killed his mother and sister. Fearful that he would come to their home, Terrell

Saylor called 911 and reported the incident. The Defendant left the house,

driving the black Camaro.

Mem bers of the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to

the Callahan residence. Noticing that the garage door was open, the officers

went inside and discovered the bodies of Gale and Holly Callahan. The officers

also did a protective sweep of the home, noticing a number of bloody footprints

both in the garage and in some areas of the house. Lieutenant Reece Christian

arrived on the scene to investigate. A number of shell casings were observed in

the garage. Gale Callahan’s purse was lying in a laundry basket, where the

Defendant had left it after taking some cash.

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Meanwhile, the Defendant drove to the Fort Henry Mall to look for Jonathan

Mann, another friend. He approached Andrew Carter, a school classmate, in a

video arcade and announced that he had just killed his mother and sister. The

Defendant pulled the car keys out of his pocket and asked “you believe me now?”

The Defendant also stated that he needed to find somewhere to hide. He left the

mall and went to a convenience store, the Greenwood Market. While he was

using the pay phone, someone at the market called 911 and reported his

presence. He then left and drove to the B&C Market, another convenience store.

Charles Addison, a local resident, saw the Defendant at the Greenwood Market

and followed him to the B&C. He observed the Defendant on the pay phone. Mr.

Addison then reported the Defendant’s whereabouts. Soon thereafter, Lieutenant

Christian and two other officers arrested him at the B&C Market. The officers

saw a shotgun and a box of shells through the hatchback window. The

Defendant was transported to the Sheriff’s Department.

There, Glen Callahan, who had returned from his business trip, gave

permission to question the Defendant. After being advised of his rights, the

Defendant gave a lengthy confession. Lieutenant Christian wrote out the

statement as the Defendant made the oral confession. The Defendant reviewed

and signed the document. A urine drug screen was conducted and the results

were negative. The Defendant was housed in the Upper East Tennessee

Regional Juvenile Detention Center until he was transferred to the Lakeshore

Mental Institute for an evaluation. He was determined to be competent to stand

trial. He was returned to the Detention Center. On July 7, 1994, the Defendant

was transferred to the Sullivan County Criminal Court for prosecution as an adult.

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The Defendant was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder for the

shotgun deaths of Gale and Holly Callahan. He was transferred to the Sullivan

County Jail, a secure facility, and was housed separately from the adult

population. The Defendant was tried on March 13-17, 1995, and was convicted

on a jury verdict of one count of first-degree murder and one count of second-

degree murder. The jury imposed a sentence of life imprisonment for the first-

degree murder and a $47,000.00 fine for the second-degree m urder. A

sentencing hearing was held on March 18, 1995, after which the trial judge

imposed a sentence of twenty-two years for the charge of second-degree murder

to be served concurrently with the life sentence. The Defendant contests his

convictions and the fine set by the jury.

I. Sufficiency of the Evidence

In his first issue, the Defendant argues that the evidence was insufficient

to support the verdict of murder in the first degree for the death of Gale Callahan.

He contends that the State failed to prove the element of deliberation because

he was in an emotional state when the killings occurred.

W hen an accused challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence,

the standard is whether, after reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable

to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential

elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S.

307, 319 (1979). Questions concerning the credibility of the witnesses, the

weight and value to be given the evidence, as well as all factual issues raised by

the evidence, are resolved by the trier of fact, not this court. State v. Pappas, 754

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S.W .2d 620, 623 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1987). Nor may this court reweigh or

reevaluate the evidence. State v. Cabbage, 571 S.W.2d 832, 835 (Tenn. 1978).

A jury verdict approved by the trial judge accredits the State’s witnesses

and resolves all conflicts in favor of the State. State v. Grace, 493 S.W .2d 474,

476 (Tenn. 1973). On appeal, the State is entitled to the strongest legitimate

view of the evidence and all inferences therefrom . Cabbage, 571 S.W .2d at 835.

Because a verdict of guilt removes the presumption of innocence and replaces

it with a presum ption of guilt, the accused has the burden in this court of

illustrating why the evidence is insufficient to support the verdict returned by the

trier of fact. State v. Tuggle, 639 S.W .2d 913, 914 (Tenn. 1982); Grace, 493

S.W.2d at 476.

The Defendant claims that the evidence was insufficient to prove

deliberation as required for first-degree murder. The trial judge instructed the

jury under Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-202(a)(1), which states, "(a)

First degree murder is: (1) An intentional, premeditated and deliberate killing of

another...." Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-202(a)(1) (1991). A " '[p]remeditated act'

means one done after the exercise of reflection and judgment. Premeditation

may include instances of homicide committed by poison or by lying in wait."

Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-201(b)(2) (1991). A "’[d]eliberate act' means one

performed with a cool purpose." Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-201(b)(1) (1991).

The Tennessee Supreme Court has addressed the issues of premeditation

and deliberation in State v. Brown, 836 S.W .2d 530 (Tenn. 1992), and in State

-8-
v. W est, 844 S.W .2d 144 (Tenn.1992). In Brown, the court emphasized that

deliberation and premeditation are two separate elements of first-degree murder.

Deliberation, the court said, "requires some period of reflection, during which the

mind is 'free from the influence of excitement, or passion.' " Brown, 836 S.W .2d

at 540. Thus, deliberation requires “the formation of a cool, dispassionate intent

to kill.” W est, 844 S.W .2d at 147. Premeditation does not require a specific

amount of time to pass between the formation of the idea and the act. Brown, 836

S.W.2d at 540. However, the intent necessary to commit first-degree murder

may not be formed in an instant because of the additional requirement of

deliberation. Id. at 543. The court also noted that repeated blows or shots,

alone, were not enough to prove first-degree murder. Id.; see also State v.

Darnell, 905 S.W.2d 953, 961-62 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995).

The Defendant contends that the act of shooting his mother was not free

from passion such that the deliberation was formed to support his conviction.

“Passion” has been defined as “any of the human em otions known as anger,

rage, sudden resentment or terror which renders the mind incapable of cool

reflection.” State v. Tune, 872 S.W .2d 922, 926 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1993) (quoting

State v. Bullington, 532 S.W.2d 556, 560 (Tenn. 1976)). Yet, the presence of

agitation or anger does not necessarily preclude a finding that the act was

performed with the necessary deliberation. See State v. Gentry, 881 S.W.2d 1,

5 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1993).

The Defendant points to the tape recording of his telephone conversations

just prior to the murders. He asserts that his demeanor demonstrates that he

was not free from the passion of the moment. The tape recording was played for

-9-
the jury at trial. The Defendant’s father and grandfather testified that the tape

recorded conversation did not sound like his normal voice and that he sounded

agitated. The Defendant highlights excerpts of the tape in which he forms the

intent to kill. However, he claims that it was done in an excited state fueled by

his friend, James Saylor’s encouragement. The Defendant does make some

statements such as “Ah shit, I’m going to be so goddamn nervous trying to drive

(after he murders the victims)” and that it would be “damn fun” or that “[s]on of a

bitch, I’m going to try it. You want me to call you back?” At a later point in the

conversation, they discuss Saylor coming over to the Defendant’s house after he

does the killings, yet Saylor conditions it by saying “I thought you were going to

do that first” and “if you’ll do it, I’ll come over.” The Defendant voices some

agitation by saying “I can’t believe what the fuck we’re doing.” He asserts that the

anxiety he was experiencing just prior to the murders had not subsided such that

he was free from passion.

Yet, there is evidence that the Defendant coolly calculated a plan, that he

implemented the plan, and that he considered the consequences before he

acted. In his confession, he admitted to thinking about killing his parents two

weeks before the murders and he talked to others about killing his parents two

days before the murders. In his confession, he states:

I told my sister that I was thinking about killing our parents to see what
Holly thought about it. Holly did not believe me and told me not to do it.
She did not think I was serious but I was definitely serious about killing my
parents. . . . [I] called Jonathan at his home and talked with him. We
talked about killing my sister and my mother and he did not believe me.
I told him I did not like the way my sister and my mother were treating me.
. . . I have been thinking about killing my father, mother and sister for about
2 weeks. Because they would never let me go out and do anything with
my friends.

-10-
From the recorded telephone conversations, the Defendant considered

that if he killed his family “we’re going to need some place to stay.” Also, he plans

the event: “They just went out to eat. W hy don’t you come over. I’m going to

shoot them as soon as they walk in the door. Come up behind them, and shoot

them in the garage so I don’t get blood all over the house.” “You know where my

car is at, out back there, I’ve got the gun laying down there.” When the

Defendant hears that two other boys are at Saylor’s house he asks: “Does he

know what I’m going to do? Hey, you better not tell them, just in case.” He states

that “if I get caught. I’ll go to jail. . . . If I get pulled over, I’m gonna have to shoot

the goddamn cop. I can’t outrun his fuckin’ ass ‘cause they’ll have roadblocks.

. . . I could get myself in a shit load of trouble right now. How many years do you

think I’d get? Life?” “We’re going to pawn all my Mom’s jewelry out of state.”

Finally, when Saylor suggests giving the Defendant’s mother Valium in her food,

the Defendant responds:

Defendant: No, I’m shooting her ass, bitch.
Saylor: Poison her. That would be the best way.
Defendant: I have to kill her, bitch, what if she wakes up, what the
fuck am I gonna say?
Saylor: She ain’t gonna wake up if you poison her right.
Defendant: I want to leave tonight, you sorry bitch. I’m gonna shoot
her, shut the fuck up, I’m shooting her.

Dr. Nancy Lanthorn, a clinical psychologist, testified for the Defendant.

She had evaluated him and listened to the audio tape of the telephone

conversations. She concluded that the Defendant was socially and emotionally

immature. She related that his cognitive developm ent had not reached a point

where he could effectively evaluate and assess the consequences of his actions

to support a finding that he deliberated about the killings. Essentially, she stated

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that “he was not reflecting. He was not planning realistically at that time” (before

the killings).

The State presented Dr. Kevin Blanton in rebuttal, who evaluated the

Defendant at Lakeshore Mental Health Institute and had listened to the audio

tape. He concluded that the Defendant had enough maturity in his ego

development to empathize with others, or to consider future actions, or to take

responsibility for behavior.” He opined that the Defendant had weighed matters,

planned the killings and reflected upon the consequences such that he was able

to deliberate prior to the act. Although admitting that the Defendant sounded

anxious and nervous or nervous and elated, he asserted that the Defendant’s

speech did not suggest that he was consumed by emotion. Dr. Kris Houser, a

psychiatrist, also testified that the Defendant appeared to have considered the

“wisdom of his decision to kill” and that he considered the possible negative

consequences. Dr. Houser stated that the Defendant was not anxious and

nervous such that his judgment was clouded.

After a careful evaluation of the record, we conclude that the evidence was

sufficient to support a conviction for first-degree murder for the death of Gale

Callahan. It appears that the jury could have found beyond a reasonable doubt

that the Defendant possessed the ability to deliberate about his plan to murder

his mother and that he weighed the consequences of his actions. Although he

may have been anxious or elated about perpetrating this crime, this does not

necessarily mean that his emotions clouded his ability to deliberate. A “cool

purpose” is not synonymous with a complete absence of emotion. It merely

requires that the act be done without passion or provocation and free from the

-12-
influence of excitement. See State v. Farmer, 927 S.W.2d 582, 589 (Tenn. Crim.

App. 1996). Here, in a lengthy confession, the Defendant admitted to thinking

about killing his parents two weeks before the murders. He talked about

murdering his parents two days before the killings. He talked with a friend on

the telephone while he planned and implemented the murders. He shot his

mother and sister from behind, without warning and without provocation in such

a manner as to insure their deaths.

There is no merit to this issue.

II.

In his second issue, the Defendant contends that the trial court erred by

denying his special request for a jury instruction. At trial, the Defendant

requested that the trial judge charge the jury the following from State v. Brown,

836 S.W .2d 530 (Tenn. 1992).

The fact that repeated shots were inflicted upon the victim is not
sufficient, by itself, to establish first-degree m urder. Repeated shots
can be delivered with no design or reflection. Only if such shots are
inflicted as the result of premeditation or deliberation can they be
said to prove first-degree murder.

Id. at 541. The trial court denied the request on the ground that the instruction

would amount to an improper comment on the evidence because it suggests that

premeditation or deliberation could be inferred from repeated shots. W ithout the

instruction, the jury would decide whether repeated shots would support a finding

of first-degree murder.

-13-
The Defendant claims, however, that the State emphasized the fact that

repeated shots were fired through testimony by the medical examiner regarding

the wounds on the victims and the number of shotgun shells found at the scene.

He argues that the omission of the special jury instruction deprived him of having

every issue of fact submitted to the jury with proper instructions.

A defendant is entitled to a complete and correct charge of the law. State

v. Teel, 793 S.W .2d 236, 249 (Tenn. 1990). A trial judge should properly instruct

the jury on the law governing issues raised by the evidence introduced at trial.

State v. McAfee, 737 S.W .2d 304, 308 (Tenn. Crim. App.1987). If a trial judge

gives instructions that correctly, fully, and fairly set forth the applicable law, it is

not error to refuse to give a special requested instruction. State v. Bohanan, 745

S.W.2d 892, 897 (Tenn.Crim.App.1987). Upon reviewing the entire charge we

may only invalidate it if, when read as a whole, it fails to fairly submit the legal

issues or misleads the jury as to the applicable law. In re Estate of Elam, 738

S.W .2d 169, 174 (Tenn.1987).

Special instructions should be given if "fundamental" to the case. W here

the charge is one that is "fundamental in nature" and "essential to a fair trial,"

failure to give the charge may result in error. State v. Phipps, 883 S.W.2d 138,

142 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994); Teel, 793 S.W .2d at 249; Souey v. State, 81

Tenn. (13 Lea) 472, 480 (1884).

Here, the trial court gave instructions to the jury in accordance with the

Tennessee Pattern Jury Instructions for first-degree murder as well as the

holdings in Brown and W est. See State v. Brown, 836 S.W.2d 530 (Tenn. 1992);

-14-
State v. West, 844 S.W.2d 144 (Tenn.1992); T.P.I.-Crim. 7.01 (3d. ed.). This

included sections defining the elements of the crime and both premeditation and

deliberation. This was a complete instruction on the law of first-degree murder

as to the required elements to prove the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.

Considering the facts in this case, the instruction that was given was sufficient.

A special instruction must be fundamental to the case before the failure to

issue it becomes error. Unlike Brown, repeated shots were not integral to proving

the case at bar. In Brown, the Defendant beat his three-year-old son to death.

Brown, 836 S.W.2d at 534. In order to support a conviction for first-degree

murder, the State relied solely on circumstantial evidence that the victim had

received repeated blows. Id. at 543. Our supreme court held that “repeated

blows” alone could not support a conviction. The proof in this case, however,

does not rely on the fact that the Defendant inflicted repeated shots. There was

ample evidence through his confession, the taped telephone calls, and the

testimony of witnesses that would sustain a finding that the killings were

premeditated and deliberate. The necessity of a special instruction must be

determined by “the nature of the proceedings and the evidence introduced during

trial.” Teel, 793 S.W .2d at 249; see McAfee, 737 S.W .2d at 308. Thus, the issue

of repeated shots was not fundamental to the proof of this case.

W e cannot conclude that the failure of the trial judge to issue the special

jury instructions prevented the Defendant from receiving a fair trial. We also

agree that the evidence of repeated shots was an issue of fact and that any

inference drawn therefrom, whether it supported or hindered the defense, was

properly left to the jury to decide.

-15-
This issue has no merit.

III.

In his third issue, the Defendant claims that the trial court erred in admitting

his confession on two grounds: (1) That the failure of Sheriff’s Department

detectives to inform him that he could be tried as an adult rendered his

confession involuntary; and (2) that the confession should have been suppressed

because it was not recorded on audio tape.

The Defendant asserts that his waiver of his right to remain silent was

involuntary and violative of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution

and Article I, Section 9 of the Tennessee Constitution. The Fifth Amendment to

the Constitution as applied to the States through the Fourteenth Amendment

insures that the accused may not be compelled to be a witness against himself.

The Tennessee Constitution also provides that a defendant cannot be compelled

to give evidence against himself. Tenn. Const. art. I, § 9. The accused may

waive these rights, but the waiver must be made “voluntarily, knowingly, and

intelligently” and “the accused must be adequately and effectively apprised of his

rights and the exercise of those rights m ust be fully honored.” Miranda v.

Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 444, 467, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 1612, 1624, 16 L.Ed.2d 694,706,

719 (1966).

The voluntariness test under the Tennessee Constitution is more protective

of individual rights than the test under the Fifth Amendment. State v.

Stephenson, 878 S.W .2d 530, 544 (Tenn. 1994); see State v. Crump, 834

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S.W.2d 265, 268 (Tenn. 1992); State v. Sm ith, 834 S.W .2d 915 (Tenn. 1992). A

waiver is valid if the suspect is aware of the nature of the right being abandoned

and the consequences of the decision to abandon the right. Id. at 547. In

assessing whether a waiver of a right was voluntary, we must look at the totality

of the circum stances surrounding the relinquishment of the right. State v. Benton,

759 S.W.2d 427, 431-32 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1988).

After the Defendant was arrested, he was transported to the Sullivan

County Sheriff’s Department and was placed in an interview room. This was at

approximately 9:30 p.m. Glen Callahan arrived at the Sheriff’s Department and

gave his permission for Lieutenants Christian and Boyd to interview the

Defendant. Christian presented the Defendant with a standard rights form

containing the Miranda warnings and read it to him. The Defendant also read the

form himself and stated that he understood it. Christian asked the Defendant

whether he was willing to talk, and he indicated his assent. Christian then read

a waiver of rights form, which the Defendant signed. He then made a statement.

He was calm and polite. During this time, Lieutenant Christian wrote out,

verbatim, the Defendant’s statement. The Defendant reviewed the statement,

initialed any changes, and signed it. The statement chronicled the events leading

up to, during, and after the killings, resulting in a thirteen-page confession.

The Defendant does not contend that he was coerced into giving a

confession, but claims that his age and the fact that he was not informed that he

could be prosecuted as an adult precluded him from making a knowing and

intelligent waiver. He asserts that he is potentially exposed to two differing

ranges of punishment as a juvenile and as an adult.

-17-
The totality of the circumstances approach has been applied to the

custodial interrogation of juveniles. See Fare v. Michael C., 442 U.S. 705, 99

S.Ct. 2572, 61 L.Ed.2d 197 (1979). This includes assessing “the juvenile’s age,

experience, education, background, and intelligence, and into whether he has the

capacity to understand the warnings given him, the nature of his Fifth

Amendment rights, and the consequences of waiving those rights.” 442 U.S. at

725, 99 S.Ct at 2572. However, “[t]he (United States) Constitution does not

require that a criminal suspect know and understand every possible consequence

of a waiver.” Colorado v. Spring, 479 U.S. 564, 574, 107 S.Ct. 851, 857, 93

L.Ed.2d 954 (1987); see also Moran v. Burbine, 475 U.S. 412, 106 S.Ct. 1135,

89 L.Ed.2d 410 (1986). The primary protection afforded by the Miranda warnings

are to prevent coerced self-incrimination and “relevant defendant ignorance.”

Stephenson, 878 S.W .2d at 547.

Our examination of the totality of the circumstances surrounding the

statement made by the Defendant indicates that the relinquishment of his rights

was not the product of intimidation, coercion, or deception, but that it was the

result of the appellant's free and deliberate choice. The Defendant was given

Miranda warnings and read them. He read and signed the waiver as well. His

demeanor was calm and cooperative. He was given something to drink and to

eat. Although he was of a young age, the Defendant has above-average

intelligence and indicated no reason why he could not comprehend what rights

he was relinquishing.

As for not informing him that he could be tried as an adult, there is no

constitutional requirement that mandates such information be provided to secure

-18-
a knowing waiver. Miranda warnings inform a defendant that “anything you say

can be used against you in court.” This applies to any court. Furthermore, the

ultimate decision to try the Defendant as an adult was not made until after he was

questioned and gave his statement. It would have been premature and

inappropriate for the detectives to outline all the legal consequences of a

relinquishment of rights.

Deference is given to the trial court to assess the credibility of the

witnesses and determine issues of fact. At an evidentiary hearing on a motion

to suppress evidence, the trial court’s findings of fact are conclusive. State v.

Jackson, 889 S.W.2d 219, 222 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1993). The findings of the trial

judge are afforded the weight of a jury verdict and will not be disturbed on appeal

unless the evidence in the record preponderates against the judgment of the trial

court. Id.; see State v. Kelly, 603 S.W .2d 726, 728-29 (Tenn.1980). State v.

Killebrew, 760 S.W.2d 228, 233 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1988); The evidence in the

record does not preponderate against the trial court's findings. This issue is

without merit.

The Defendant also asserts that his confession should have been

suppressed because it was not tape-recorded. He readily admits that there is no

precedent in this state requiring confessions to be recorded. He argues that the

law should be changed. He cites opinions from two state supreme courts that

have instituted a policy that confessions must be tape recorded if at all possible.

State v. Scales, 518 N.W .2d 587 (Minn. 1994); Stephan v. State, 711 P.2d 1156

(Alaska 1985).

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In Stephan, the court ruled that custodial interrogations in a place of

detention must be electronically recorded. 711 P.2d at 1162. This holding was

based entirely on that court’s interpretation of the Alaska Constitution. Id. at 1160.

The Minnesota Supreme Court exercised its supervisory power to institute a

recording requirement for custodial interrogations. Scales, 518 N.W .2d 592.

Although we agree that it is preferable to record electronically the reading of

Miranda warnings, the waiver of rights, and custodial interrogations, we decline

to impose this as a requirement for admissability of statements. It inures to the

benefit of law enforcement to record the processes by which it garners

confessions by showing that the procedures were done properly and without

coercion. It is rather curious that the detectives in this case chose to write out the

Defendant’s statement in longhand. Yet, neither the federal nor state

constitutions mandate the use of recording devices. Therefore, we find that the

trial court properly admitted the Defendant’s written statement. This issue has

no m erit.

IV.

As his fourth and final issue, the Defendant claims that the trial court erred

in declining to waive the $47,000 fine assessed by the jury on the count of

second-degree murder. The imposition of fines is guided by the 1989 Sentencing

Act. Second-degree murder is a Class A felony for which the jury may impose

a fine not to exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-13-

210(b), 40-35-111(b)(1). Furthermore, the punishment should be justly deserved

in relation to the seriousness of the offense. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-102(1).

-20-
The Defendant asserts that because he is indigent and the fine would pose

an economic hardship, the trial court should have waived the fine. He cites State

v. Bryant, 805 S.W.2d 762 (Tenn. 1991) which approved of the appellate review

of fines. He also notes that the court upheld this Court’s vacating a fine imposed

on an indigent woman who worked as a waitress and newspaper delivery person.

She also was convicted for selling cocaine and was fined $200,000. State v.

Brenda G. Bryant, C.C.A. No. 872, Sullivan County (Tenn. Crim. App., Knoxville,

Dec. 27, 1989), perm. to appeal granted (Tenn. 1990). The Defendant contends

that he is indigent, will likely spend twenty-five years in prison, was in high school

and has no employment record. Yet, proof of indigency and hardship does not

necessarily preclude the punishment of a fine. See State v. Marshall, 870

S.W.2d 532, 542 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1993). If, however, it hampers a defendant’s

rehabilitation, a fine m ay represent an unreasonable punishment. Id.

Here, the Defendant is clearly underage, indigent and has not developed

job skills. There is evidence, though, that he has support from his family that has

not abated even after this calculated and tragic crime. We do not feel that the

imposition of the fine in this case is such that it contravenes the purpose of the

Sentencing Act; rather it reflects the seriousness of the crime for which the

Defendant was convicted. We find no error.

After thoroughly reviewing the record and the Defendant’s arguments in

this appeal, we conclude that none have merit. Accordingly, we affirm the

judgment of the trial court.

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____________________________________
DAVID H. WELLES, JUDGE

CONCUR:

___________________________________
DAVID G. HAYES, JUDGE

___________________________________
THOMAS T. WOODALL, JUDGE

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/1081080. Public record. Not legal advice.