# Appendix — Wyrick v. Fields

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URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/brief%3Amicro_IA40385009_0501%3A2

## Record

- **Collection:** Supreme Court brief
- **Document type:** Appendix
- **Published:** January 1, 1982
- **Citation:** 459 U.S. 42

## Text

A

APPENDIX A

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

EDWARD FIELDS, Appeal from the
Appellant, United States Dis-
trict Court for the
Eastern District of
DONALD WYRICK, Missouri.

Appellee. |

V.

Submitted: September 17, 1981
Filed: April 23, 1982

Before LAY, Chief Judge, and HEANEY and ROSS, Cir-
cuit Judges.

HEANRY, Circuit Judge.

Edward Fields appeals from the district court’s denial
of his petition for habeas corpus relief filed pursuant to
28 U.S.C. § 2254. We reverse the lower court on the ground
that Fields’ state court conviction was obtained as a result
of his involuntary confession. Federal habeas corpus relief,
therefore, should have been granted.

Fields, a soldier then stationed at Fort Leonard Wood,
was charged with raping a Waynesville, Missouri woman
on September 21, 1974. He was convicted by a jury on

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March 13, 1975, and was sentenced to twenty-five years
imprisonment. His conviction was affirmed on appeal. State
v. Fields, 538 S.W.2d 348 (Mo. Ct. App. 1976).

Fields subsequently filed three successive motions to
set aside his conviction under Rule 27.26 of the Missouri
Rules of Criminal Procedure. These motions were denied.
Fields v. State of Missouri, 596 S.W.2d 776 (Mo. Ct. App.
1980); Fields v. State of Missouri, 572 S.W.2d 477 (Mo.
1978). Fields then sought a writ of habeas corpus, citing
various grounds allegedly justifying relief. Only one of
these asserted errors concerns us on appeal, i.e., Fields’
contention that the trial court erroneously admitted testi-
mony regarding his ‘‘involuntary confession.’”

Our recitation of the cireumstances leading up to
Fields’ confession relies primarily on facts either stipu-
lated to by the parties at the suppression hearing or as
set out in the court’s opinon affirming Fields’ conviction
on direct appeal. Fields was arrested on September 25,
1974, and charged with rape. He was released on his own
recognizance and retained private defense counsel. After
diseussing the matter with his counsel and a military at-
torney, Fields consented to the administration of a poly-
graph examination in connection with the rape charge.
The examination was conducted on December 4, 1974, by
Jesse Merl Bourne, Jr., an agent with the United States
Army Criminal Investigation Division (CiD) at Fort
Leonard Wood. Although an attorney is allowed to be
present during a CID polygraph examination, Fields’ coun-

1Fields also claims that he was denied effective assistance of counsel
at his trial, on direct appeal, and in perfecting his 27.26 motions; that
the warrant causing his arrest lacked probable cause; and that the jury
which convicted him was selected in a manner which systematically ex-
cluded women and blacks. Because we agree that Fields’ confession was
involuntary, we need not reach the other issues raised in his habeas pe-
tition.

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sel was not invited to be present, nor was he informed
that the test would be given that day. Before the poly-
graph examination was given, Fields was advised that
he had the right to remain silent and to have an attorney
present, and he signed a written form consenting to the
examination.

After the examination was completed, Bourne told
Fields that there had been some deceit’’ and asked him
if he had some explanation as to why his answers were
bothering him. Fields threupon stated that he had had in-
tercourse with the victim on September 21, 1974, but that
she had instigated and consented to the contact. Bourne
then asked Fields if he wished to discuss the matter fur-
ther with another CID agent, Charles Fann, and the
Waynesville Chief of Police, James Cole. Fields agreed
to do so. Police Chief Cole gave Fields the Miranda warn-
ings before questioning him. Fields repeated to Cole and
Agent Fann his account of what happened on September 21,
i.e., that the victim had voluntarily engaged in sexual rela-
tions with him at her residence.

Fields sought to suppress the testimony of Police Chief
Cole and Agents Bourne and Fann regarding his ‘‘con-
fession’’ to voluntary intercourse. On the dav of Fields’
trial, a hearing was held on Fields’ motion, at the conclu-
sion of which the trial court stated the following:

Well, I’m going to overrule the Motion to Suppress
for the reason that this defendant on several ocen-
sions was advised what his rights were.

It's true that he was represented by counsel and
he talked to counsel about it. And while I’m inclined
to believe that we ought to make every effort to pro-
tect the rights of individuals, grant them their con-
stitutional rights, still, after the defendant is advised

not on one occasion, but on several occasions, what

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his rights are, then he voluntarily requests and puts
himself in position for making statements which—with
the understanding that they might be used against
him, I think that in this case that he waived those
rights and I would have to overrule the Motion to
Suppress.

The trial court did not enter written findings of fact or
conclusions of law on the motion to suppress. *

The propriety of this ruling was the sole issue raised
in Fields’ direct appeal of his conviction. The Missouri
Court of Appeals stated that Fields’ pleadings or briefs
did not preserve anything for appellate review, but went
on to ‘‘briefly’’ consider Fields’ constitutional claim under
a plain error“ standard. State v. Fields, supra, 538
S.W.2d at 349-350. The court concluded that the motion to
suppress was properly denied because ‘‘defendant had been
repeatedly and amply advised of his rights [and] volun-
tarily, knowingly and intelligently waived his rights.“ JJ.
at 350.

We are mindful of the Supreme Court’s recent ad-
monition that in federal habeas corpus proceedings the
court must apply a ‘‘ presumption of correctness’’ to factual!
determinations made by the state courts. See Summer „.
Mata, 66 L.Ed.2d 722, 731 (1981). The applicable statute
provides that this ‘‘presumption of correctness’’ applies
to a state court's determination after a hearing on the
merits of a factual issue * * * evidenced by a written find-
ing, written opinion, or other reliable and adequate writ-
ten indicia.’’ 28 U.S.C. 5 2254(d). The presumption does
not, of course, attach to a state court’s resolution of a
question of federal law or to ‘‘a mixed determination of
law and fact that requires the application of legal prin-
ciples to the historical facts of [a] case. Cuyler v. Sulli-

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van, 446 U.S. 335, 342 (1980). As the Supreme Court has
noted, the question of whether or not a defendant has
effectively waived his constitutional rights is not one of
fact but of federal law. See Brewer v. Williams, 430 U.S.
387, 397 n.4 (1977). Accordingly, we have accepted those
‘*hasic, primary or historical facts“ determined by the
state courts,‘ while independently reviewing the legal con-
clusion drawn therefrom.

After a careful review of the record and the state
court’s findings, we conclude that Fields did not knowingly
and intelligently waive his right to have counsel present
at the interrogation described above. Fields’ incriminat-

“The dissent in Sumner t. M

=
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themselves.” Sumner b. Mata, supra, 66 L.Ed.2d at 737. We are not in-
clined to read more into the majority opinion than is clear from its hold-
ing—i.ec., that a federal court considering a habeas petition can overturn
the factual findings of a state trial or appellate court only if, in the
opinion granting the writ, the court clearly states why it considers any of
the eight “exceptions” to the § 2254(d) “presumption of correctness” to
be applicable. Id. at 734. The majority explicitly reasserted that “even a
single federal judge may overturn the judgment of the highest court of
a state insofar as it deals with the application of the United States Con-
stitution or laws to the facts in question.” Id. at 729.

*Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 342 (1980).
*As we have noted. the trial court did not enter evidentiary findings

brief, “plain error” review of Fields’ claim. Cf. Sumner b. Mata,
at 730 ( 2254/d) applies to state appellate court
plenary consideration of petitioners’ claim. including
review of state court record).

the isme of whether section 2254(d)’s strictures apply to that
, 66

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ing statements were, therefore, not voluntarily made and
should have been suppressed.“

It has been clear since Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S.
436 (1966), that ‘‘the right to have counsel present at [an]
interrogation is indispensable to the protection of the Fifth
Amendment privilege’ against self-incrimination. JA. at
469. This aspect of the Miranda ruling reflects the Court’s
concern that ‘‘the circumstances surrounding in-custody
interrogation can operate very quickly to overbear the will
of one merely made aware of his privilege by his inter-
rogators.’’ Id.

The importance of the right to have counsel present
during a custodial interrogation has recently received
renewed emphasis. In Edwards v. Arizona, 68 L. Ed. 20
378 (1981), the Supreme Court held that once a suspect
invokes his right to counsel, he is not subject to further
interrogation until counsel is provided to him, unless the
suspect himself initiates dialogue with the authorities.
In so ruling, the Court apparently sought to buttress the
right to counsel by creating a per se rule restricting the
circumstances under which a court can find that the right
has been waived. See Note, Edwards v. Arizona: The Burg-
er Court Breathes New Life Into Miranda, 69 Cal. L. Rev.
1734, 1746-1747 (1981). Objective criteria controls the waiv-
er determination when a suspect has invoked the right
to counsel: either counsel must be present at subsequent
custodial interrogations or else the dialogue at issue must
have been initiated by the accused.

There is no question that Fields’ “confession” was material to his
conviction because, if believed, it definitively established that Fields had
intercourse with the victim on the day of the rape. The rape victim never
saw her assailant, except for his hand, because her face was covered by
a pillowcase throughout the assault. When asked at trial if the defendant's
hand was the one she saw that day, the victim replied “no.”

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The per se rule enunciated in Edwards does not re-
solve the issue present here. Fields and his counsel mu-
tually agreed that Fields should take the polygraph ex-
amination, Fields appeared at the examination without
his counsel and stated that he did not want counsel present
during the examination. Fields thereby ‘‘initiated’’ fur-
ther dialogue with the authorities after his right to counsel
had been invoked. Accordingly, the question of whether
Fields waived his right to have his counsel present at the
subsequent interrogation becomes more complex. The EA.
wards Court stated that

if * * * in the course of a meeting initiated by the
accused, the conversation it not wholly one-sided [and]
the officers * * * say or do something that clearly
would be ‘‘interrogation’’ * * * the question would be
whether * * * the purported waiver was knowing and
intelligent and found to be so under the totality of
the circurastances, including the necessary fact that
the accused, not the police, reopened the dialogue with
the authorities.

Edwards v. Arizona, supra, 68 L. Ed.2d at 387 n.9.“ The
burden of proving that a defendant has knowingly and
voluntarily waived his right to have counsel present at
an interrogation rests with the government, and the Su-
preme Court has characterized that burden as a heavy“
one. See Miranda v. Arizona, supra, 384 U.S. at 475.

»The fact that Fields “initiated” the meeting with the authorities
does not render the resulting interrogation “noncustodial,” as the state
seems to suggest; it merely changes the standard by which the existence
vel non of a waiver is determined. Nor was the interrogation “noncus-
todial” simply because Fields was not in jail at the time the
was run. Fields had been arrested on the rape charge, and was release:
on his own recognizance only under the condition that his company com-
mander know where he was at all times.

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Regardless of whether the Edwards per se rule is
strictly applicable, the clear import of the Edwards de-
cision is to affirm that a defendant’s right to have counsel
present at custodial interrogations must be zealously
guarded, particularly when the defendant has retained
counsel and thereby has expressed a desire to deal with
the authorities through counsel. We cannot find that the
government proved a knowing and intelligent waiver in
this case without significantly undermining that principle.

In our view, the right to have counsel present is espe-
cially erueial where, as here, the authorities utilize the
results'“ of a polygraph examination to elicit inerimi-
nating statements from the accused. It has been suggested
that the primarv utility of polygraphs administered in
the course of a criminal investigation is to induce confes-
sions from the aceused. See Lykken, A Tremor in the
Blood: Uses and Abuses of the Lie Detector, 214-215
(1981), This Cireuit has refused to admit the results of
unstipulated polygraph examinations into evidence hecause
„the polygraph does not command scientific acceptability
and * is not generally believed to he sufficiently reli-
able in ascertaining truth and deception to justify its
utilization in the trial process.’’ United States v. Alexander,
526 F.2d 161, 164 (Sth Cir. 1975). Accord, United States v.
Masri, 547 F.2d 932, 926 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 434 U.S.
907 (1977); United States v. Skeens, 494 F.2d 1050, 1053
(D.C. Cir. 1974). See DeMartino ». Weidenburner, 616
F.2d 708, 713 (3rd Cir. 1980); United States u. Russo, £27
F.2d 1051, 1058-1059 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 426 U.S.
906 (1976). The Missouri state covrts refuse to allow any

Professor Lykken cites, for example, the experience of the Los
Angeles Police Department polygraph laboratory. Their examiners esti-
mate that they obtain confessions from twenty-five percent of the suspects
subjected to polygraph tests. Lykken, A Tremor in the Blood: Uses and
Abuses of the Lie Detector, 208 (1981).

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polygraph examination results into evidence at trial, even
if the parties have stipulated to the use of such evidence.
See State v. Biddle, 599 S.W.2d 182, 191 (Mo. 1980)
(en banc); State v. Weindorf, 361 S.W.2d 806, 811
(Mo. 1962). The Missouri Supreme Court recently stated
that

[gliven the large margin of error stated by some ex-
perts and the disagreements among the experts as to
the polygraph’s reliability. a stipulation as to the ad-
missibility of its results is, in effect, an agreement
to rely upon chance rather than upon competent evi-
dence, as well as an agreement regarding scientific
opinion beyond the competence of either party to un-
derstand or evaluate.

State v. Biddle, supra, 599 S.W.2d at 190 n.10.

The questionable reliability of so-called ‘‘lie-detec-
tors’ does not, however, diminish the significant psycho-
logical impact the device can have or the examinee. See
Lykken, supra, at 211-212. It may seem futile to maintain
silence in the face of the examiner’s statement that the
machine, cloaked with the mystique of scientific infalli-
bility, has shown the accused to be lying. Furthermore,
the examiner is not likely to be challenged by the accused
when he indicates that the machine has shown ‘‘some de-
ceit ;’’ the accused, and frequently the court reviewing the

As this Court noted in United States v. Alexander, 526 F.2d 161,
165 (8th Cir. 1975),
[t}here is no “lie detector.” The polygraph machine is not a lie de-
tector,” nor does the operator who interprets the graph detect “lies.”
The machine records physical responses which may or may not be
connected with an emotional reaction and that reaction may or may
not be related to guilt or innocence.
quoting, H.R. Rep. No. 198, 89th Cong., Ist Sess. 13 (1965). See Lvk-
ken, supra, at 55-62.

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circumstances of a polygraph-induced confession, has no
way of knowing what, in fact, the test results revealed.“

We do not, of course, imply that the use of a poly-
graph and its ‘‘results’’ is the kind of ‘‘trickery’’ that
necessarily renders post-test confessions involuntary. We
merely hold that because of the significant potential for
abuse inherent in a post-polygraph interrogation, the courts
must be particularly cautious about finding that a suspect
has ‘‘waived”’ his right to have counsel present at such
an interrogation.

There is no question that Fields waived his right to
have counsel present while the examination itself was
being conducted. Fields was advised that he did not have
to answer any of the examiner’s questions and that he
could have an attorney present at the examination. Prior
to the beginning of the polygraph examination, Fields
stated that he did not want a lawyer present and signed
a written consent to the examination. This fact is not suf-
ficient to meet the government’s burden to prove that
Fields knowingly and intelligently waived his right to have
counsel present at the post-test interrogation.

The line we draw is not an artificial one. In Henry
v. Dees, 658 F.2d 406 (5th Cir. 1981), the Fifth Cireuit held
that the defendant’s waiver of his constitutional right to
remain silent and have counsel present during a polygraph
examination did not extend to questions propounded by
the examiner after the defendant was ‘‘off’’ the polygraph
machine. The defendant, Gilbert Henry, with his counsel!
present, had signed written consent forms waiving his
constitutional safeguards for the duration of the polygraph
examination and stipulating to the admissibility of any
statements of guilt procured by the examiner during the

That was the case here: the results of Fields’ polygraph examination
were not part of the record before the district court or on appeal.

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examination. The examiner, administering the examination
without defendant’s counsel that he had ‘‘failed’’ and asked
did he ‘‘want to tell me about the thing?’’ The court con-
cluded that the inculpatory statements made by the de-
fendant in response to that inquiry were „, under the
totality of the circumstances, freely and voluntarily made
and, therefore, should have been suppressed. Id. at 408-409.

In refusing to extend Henry’s examination consent
to the post-test questioning, the Fifth Cirenit noted that
‘**{njeither Henry nor his counsel contemplated that the
instruments they signed exposed Henry to questioning
which was not an integral part of a polygraph examina-
tion.“ Id. at 410. There is similarly no evidence that Fields
or his lawyer anticipated that the CID officer would at-
tempt te elicit incriminating statements from Fields after
the examination was run. Fields’ lawyer stated at the sup-
pression hearing that he and the defendant only wanted
a polygraph to be run and that we be given results.“
It was his understanding that ‘‘the running of the poly-
graph would have merely shown deceit or non-deceit and
would have been used for the purposes of a possible pre-
trial negotiation.’ Agent Bourne, the polygraph exami-
ner, did not attempt to dispel this mistaken impression
before the examination began. Bourne testified that he
did not inform Fields that if the machine indicated that
his responses were deceitful that Bourne would continue
the questioning ‘‘to find the truth.“ Nonetheless, Fields
was subjected to interrogation of aſn] [investigative |
officer, out of the presence of his counsel, and without
the benefit of meaningfully timed Miranda warnings."’

Fields consented to the polygraph examination because it was his
and his commanding officers’ hope that a “successful” polygraph exami-
nation of Fields would encourage the authorities to drop the charces
against Fields so that he could graduate and transfer out with the rest
of his basic training class.

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Id. (emphasis added). The [officer] moved from adminis-
tration of a polygraph examination to police interrogation
without pausing to remind [the defendant) of his privilege
against self-incrimination and his right to have counsel
present during questioning.’’ Id. at 409. As a result, the
officer obtained highly incriminating admissible testimony
from the defendant, instead of merely determining the
results of the polygraph examination—results which could
not have been introduced at Fields’ trial. See State v.
Biddle, supra, 599 S. W. 2d at 191; State v. Weindor}, supra,
361 S. W. 2d at 811.

Because we hold that Fields’ consent to the polygraph
did not constitute a waiver of his right to have counsel
present at the post-test interrogation, we then must in-

In response to questioning by the states attorney, Bourne testified:

Q. After the polygraph examination was done, did you have
any further conversations with this man?

A. Yes sir.

Q. Did you indicate to him that ne did not have to make any
further statements other than what he had already done on the
polygraph examination?

A. No sire, we continued to discuss it.

The Missouri Court of Appeals, in its opinion affirming Fields’
conviction, erroneously considered Fields consent to the polygraph to be
sufficient evidence of knowing and intelligent consent to the post-test
interrogation. The court bolstered its consent finding by stating that Fields
testiiied that |.efore the test began he was read his rights and “I under-
stood it to be that I didn’t have to make any statements, do anything
without my counsel being present.” The transcript reveals, however, that
Fields in fact stated that at the time of his arrest, he understood that he
did not have to make any statements before he retained counsel and had
him or her present. As the Supreme Court has noted, “waiver requires
not merely comprehension but reliquishment.” Brewer v. Williams, 430
U.S. 387, 404 (1977). Miranda warnings successfully imparted to Fields
at the time of his arrest no more constitute conclusive evidence of a post-
polygraph waiver than does the fact that Fields waived his right to pro-
tection of counsel during the examination.

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quire whether he subsequently waived this right.!“ The
government has simply introduced no evidence from which
we can conclude that when Fields was confronted with the
accusatory statement that the ‘‘lie-detector’’ showed he
was lying, he waived his right to the protection of counsel
in this coercive situation.

After Fields ‘‘confessed’’ to Agent Bourne, he wis
requestioned by Police Chief Cole and CID Officer Fann.
This questioning was preceded by Miranda warnings. These
warnings, however, could hardly be considered **meaning-
fully timed.“ Fields had already told Bourne his version
of the events of September 21, 1974, a story that was
merely repeated to the other officers. Cole’s and Fann’s
testimony at trial regarding the substance of Fields“ “con-
fession’’ was cumulative. Therefore, even if we were to

ln our view, neither the Henry v. Devs decision, nor ours in the
instant case, is inconsistent with our Court's opinion in United States v.
Little Bear, 583 F.2d 411 (8th Cir. 1978). Little Bear, under investiga-
tion for the manslaughter of her husband, agreed to take a polygraph
examination. Before the examination began, she signed a written consent
form. She therein stated that she was consenting to an interview with

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a previously asserted right to deal with the author-

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„Little Bear expressly consented to an interview that
confined to questions propounded as part of the polygraph exami.
was no question then of whether the examiner had im-
exceeded the scope of what Little Bear had consented to. Final-
rela Little Bear’s “confession” was prompted by the exami-

only question propounded while she was on the machine.
not subjected to “post-test” interrogation prompted by alleged
responses.

17

111

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consider the belated warnings to be sufficient evidence that
Field voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently waived his
right to have counsel present, the warnings—and the al-
leged waiver—simply came too late.

We note that the troublesome circumstances of this
case could have been easily avoided. If the polygraph did,
in fact, detect physiological responses by Fields that the
examiner associated with deceitful testimony, it would have
been a simple matter for him to contact Fields’ counsel
before proceeding to interrogate the defendant. This ne-
tion, of course, was not constitutionally commanded. But
it would have prevented the situation we are presented with
here—a defendant, in the absence of his retained counsel,
giving key inculpatory testimony to an investigative offi-
cer, without any indication in the record that he knowingly
and intelligently waived his right to have his counsel pres-
ent.

For the reasons set forth above, we remand to the
district court with directions to it to order the state to
either release the appellant or afford him a new trial. The
district court shall fix a reasonable time period within
which the state must provide this relief.

ROSS, Cireuit Judge, Dissenting.

I am compelled to dissent from the majority’s con-
clusion that the appellant’s confession during the post-
polygraph test interview was involuntarily given because
Fields did not knowingly and intelligently waive his right
to have counsel present’’ at that interrogation. It is well
established ‘‘that waivers of counsel must not only be
voluntary, but constitute a knowing and intelligent relin-
quishment or abandonment of a known right or privilege,
a matter which depends in each case ‘upon the particular
facts and circumstances and conduct of the accused.’ ’’ EA.
wards M. Arizona, 101 S.Ct. 1880, 1883-84 (1981), quoting

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Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458, 464 (1938). However,
accepting the basic fr ‘ts presented in the majority opinion,
it seems clear that Fields must be viewed as having waived
his rights to have counsel present at the interrogation in
accordance with this standard.

On September 25, 1974, when Fields was arrested and
charged with the rape he was given his Miranda warnings.
He admitted in his suppression hearing that he understood
the meaning of these rights when he stated that ‘‘I under-
stand it to be that I didn’t have to make any statements,
do anything without my counsel present.“ Fields there-
upon consulted with both privately retained and military
counsel, and consented to a polygraph examination. Prior
to undergoing the polygraph on December 4, 1974, Fields
was again fully advised of his rights. He was given and
signed a written consent document which informed him
of his rights under the Uniform Code of Military Justice
and the Eighth Amendment. In addition, the agent read
the defendant the following detailed statement of his
rights“:

Before I ask you any questions, you must understand

your rights. You do not have to answer my questions

or say anything. Anything you say or do can be used as

evidence against you in a criminal trial. You have a

right to talk to a lawyer before questioning or have a

lawyer present with you during the questioning. This

lawyer can be a civilian lawyer of your own choice, or

a military lawyer, detailed for you at no expense to

you. Also, you may ask a military lawyer of your

choice by name and he will be detailed for you if super-
iors determine he’s reasonably available. If you are
now going to discuss the offense under investigation,
which is rape, with or without a lawyer present, you
have a right to stop answering questions at any time
or speak to a lawyer before answering further, even

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if you sign a waiver certificate. Do you want a lawyer
at this time? Defendant answered. No.“

State v. Fields, 538 S. W. 2d 348, 350 n.1 (Mo. Ct. App. 1976)
(emphasis added). It is important to note that Fields was
clearly advised that he could stop answering questions at
any time or speak to a lawyer even if he signed the waiver
certificate. After Fields had made his confession to con-
sensual sexual intercourse with the victim to Agent Bourne,
he was again given his Miranda warnings before he re-
peated his confession to the police.

Thus, it is clear that Fields was given full warnings
concerning his rights at least twice before he made his con-
fession to Agent Bourne. Furthermore, there is absolutely
no indication that Fields did not fully comprehend those
rights and the consequences of any statement that he made.
To the contrary, Fields’ admission that he understood what
his Miranda rights meant, even if made in reference to post-
arrest warnings, strongly supports the conclusion that
Fields still understood what those rights meant when he
was advised of them again prior to the polygraph, especial-
ly in light of the fact that Fields had been advised by coun-
sel prior to taking the polygraph. There is simply nothing
in the stated facts which would cast doubt as to Fields’
continuing comprehension of his rights at the time he took
the examination. Moreover, althongh the majority opinion
notes that Fields’ waiver of Miranda rights immediately
after his confession to Agent Bourne but prior to his re-
peated confession to the police are not timely as to that first
confession, Fields’ continuing waiver of those rights is at
least indicative of his continued comprehension and desire
to waive those rights.

If continued waiver of counsel after numerous clear
warnings is not sufficient to show voluntary, knowing and
intelligent waiver, I am somewhat perplexed as to what

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would be sufficient in the circumstances of this case. As I
read the majority’s opinion, only two things would have
made the confession voluntary: (1) the presence of Fields’
counsel at the polygraph, or (2) giving Fields another set
of Miranda warnings after the polygraph had been turned
off but before any further questioning. As the court notes
in its opinion, contacting Fields’ counsel, in the absence of
a request by Fields to do so, is not constitutionally require.
Furthermore, it is difficult to understand, in the cireum-
stances of this case, how one more recitation of Miranda
warnings would prove knowing and intelligent waiver if
waiver of two prior sets of warnings, one of which was given
minutes before, does not.

Moreover, I cannot agree that the line drawn between
the interrogation undertaken during which the polygraph
was attached and the questioning following the polvgraph
is not an artificial and hypertechnical one. The substance
of the entire transaction was interrogation to which Fields
clearly consented as indicated by his waiver. Although the
results of the polygraph could not be used against Fields
under Missouri law, it is not clear that any admission made
by Fields during the course of that examination would also
be inadmissible. There is substantial support for the rule
that the mere fact that a confession was made in anticipa-
tion of, during, or following a polygraph examination does
not render the confession involuntary and inadmissible.
See 89 A.L.R.3d 230, 236 (1979), and cases cited therein.

I do not believe that Henry v. Dees, 658 F.2d 406 (5th
Cir. 1981) supports the requirement of additional Miranda
warnings after the polygraph examination but before
further interrogation. As noted by that court, the question
is whether a waiver can be viewed as voluntary, knowing,
and intelligent in the total cireumstances of a case. How-
ever, the factual circumstances in Dees are clearly distin-
quishable from those in the present case. It seems apparent

A-18

upon reading the Dees opinion that the court’s conclusion
that the confession obtained was involuntary rested very
heavily on the fact that the defendant in the case was men-
tally retarded. Id. at 411. Moreover, unlike the waiver and
consent to a polygraph which was signed in the instant case
where Fields could at any time during the examination stop
the questioning and request counsel, the waiver in Dees
precluded the presence of the defendant’s counsel at the
polygraph. Id. at 408. This factor was also critical in the
court’s determination that the initial waiver was not valid
when the examiner shifted from the polygraph to a general
interrogation. See id. at 409-10. Finally, it must be noted
that the lie detector examination upon which the examiner
based his statement that the defendant had failed the exami-
nation was never completed. Id. at 410. The Fifth Cireuit
clearly noted the relevance of such a hint of deception by
the police in obtaining a confession. Id. In the instant case
there is no evidence of any mental subnormality on the part
of Fields; it is clear that Fields had a right to the presence
of counsel during all phases of the examination and knew
he did; and there is no evidence that the completed poly-
graph examination was used as a ruse to interrogate Fields
outside the presence of his counsel.

In addition to the fact that I believe that Henry v. Dees
does not support the majority’s conclusion, I cannot agree
that the majority’s opinion is not inconsistent with this
court’s decision in United States v. Little Bear, 583 F. 2d
411 (8th Cir. 1978) (Lay, Bright and Ross). In Little Bear
the defendant was questioned by BIA agents concerning
her husband's death the previous night. She was advised
of her rights and signed a waiver form. Two months later
she was again questioned, this time by an FBI agent who
decided to give Little Bear a polygraph examination. Prior
to taking the polygraph she was given a ‘‘Consent to be

A-19

Interviewed with Polygraph’’ form which she signed. She
was also advised by the agent of her constitutional rights
and she signed that form’s waiver provision. During the
polygraph examination Little Bear was asked if she stabbed
her husband. She responded in the affirmative and said she
wanted to talk about it. At this point she was not reminded
of her right to an attorney or to remain silent. Upon further
interrogation, Little Bear signed a written confession. On
appeal, Little Bear contended that the confession should
have been suppressed because it was not voluntarily given
under the cireumstances. This court held that Little Bear
had voluntarily confessed.

The factors upon which the majority distinguishes
Little Bear are not convincing. First, the fact that Little
Bear had not retained counsel seems to be of little relevance
to the instant case, since Fields, although retaining counsel,
had not asserted his right to deal with the authorities
through counsel. If anything, the absence of counsel in
Little Bear would seem to require a closer scrutiny of the
voluntariness of the confession. Secondly, there is nothing
to indicate that this court’s holding in Little Bear even
remotely turned on the fact that the polygraph form which
the defendant signed might be construed to consent to a
broader interview than just a polygraph. In fact, the court,
in arriving at the conclusion that Little Bear’s confession
was voluntary, knowing, and intelligent, relied explicitly
on the reasoning of the Ninth Cirenit in Keiper v. Cupp.
509 F.2d 238 (9th Cir. 1975), which is factually very similar
to the instant case. In rejecting Keiper’s habeas claim that
he should have been given an additional Miranda warning
after the polygraph, but before interrogation resulting in
a confession the Ninth Circuit stated Keiper ‘‘had been
advised many times of his rights prior to, an’ at the time
of the polygraph test, there is no reason to believe that he

A-20

was not fully aware of those rights during the crucial period
when his final story was taped.’’ 509 F. 2d at 238.

Similarly, in the dispositive passage of Little Bear
this court stated :

This case somewhat parallels Keiper in that Ms. Little
Bear also signed a waiver of rights form before a poly-
graph examination, indicated at some subsequent point
that she wanted to offer a statement, and later claimed
her statement was made involuntarily. Additionally,
in the instant case, as in Keiper, the district court
found Ms. Little Bear had voluntarily confessed and
knowingly and intelligently waived her rights even
though no second, post-polygraph Miranda warning
was given.

United States v. Little Bear, 583 F.2d at 414. The reasoning
expressed in Keiper and Little Bear appears to be general-
ly followed. See People v. Barreto, 256 Cal. App. 2d 392,
64 Cal. Rptr. 211 (1967) ; State v. Henry, 352 So.2d 643 (La.
1977); Turner v. State, 250 N.W.2d 706 (Wis. 1977).

In summary, Little Bear and the apparent weight of
authority would seem to support a holding that under the
totality of the circumstances, Fields’ waiver and confession
was voluntary, knowing, and intelligent when he was clear-
ly advised of his rights on numerous occasions prior to his
confession. This seems especially true in light of the fact
that this court found a voluntary, knowing and intelligent
waiver and confession in Little Bear, a case involving an
unsophisticated, uncounseled, and emotionally distraught
Indian woman. Finally, I would note that I can find nothing
in Edwards v. Arizona, supra, a case clearly distinguishable
from the instant case on its facts and the legal principles
involved, which dictates the result reached in the majority's
opinion in this case.

A-21

For the foregoing reasons, I would affirm the district
court’s denial of the appellant’s petition for habeas corpus
relief.

A trus copy.

Attest:

CLERK, U. S. COURT OF APPEALS,
EIGHTH CIRCUIT.

A-23

APPENDIX B
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION

EDWARD FIELDS, N
Petitioner,
* N No. 80-1113
C (3)
DONALD WYRICK, Warden,
Respondent.
ORDER

This matter is before the Court on the petition of
Edward Fields for a writ of habeas corpus. After con-
sideration of the Review and Recommendation of the
United States Magistrate and petitioner’s exceptions
thereto,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Review and Ree-
ommendation of the United States Magistrate be and is
SUSTAINED and ADOPTED and that the petition of
Edward Fields for a writ of habeas corpus be and is DIS-
MISSED without further judicial proceeding.

Dated this 13th day of February, 1981.

Edward L. Filippine
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

A-25

APPENDIX 0
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION

EDWARD FIELDS,
Petitioner,
v. No. 80-11130 (3)

DONALD WYRICK, Warden,
Respondent.

MAGISTRATE’S REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION
Edward Fields has filed a petition for federal habeas
corpus from the custody of Donald Wyrick, at the Mis-
souri State Penitentiary. Fields was convicted in Pulaski
County, Missouri on March 13, 1975, of rape and sentenced
to twenty-five years. His conviction was affirmed at State
v. Fields, 538 S. W. 2d 348 (Mo. Ct. App. Spr. Dist. 1976).

Fields has raised some six grounds charging constitu-
tional right denial, which he claims entitles him to federal
habeas :

(1) He received ineffective assistance of counsel in
perfecting his 27.26 motion.

(2) The warrant causing his arrest lacked probable
cause.

(3) His trial jury was selected by systematically ex-
cluding women and blacks.

(4) His counsel was ineffective in attacking his con-
fession.

A-26

(5) He was denied effective assistance of counsel on

appeal.

(6) Trial counsel was ineffective in failing to investi-
gate and interview one Don Butler, a co-defendant.

At the outset, considering petitioner’s Ground No. 1,
we do not feel that this presents a constitutional question.
Title 28 United States Code, §2254 gives the district court
authority to review a state court conviction, but not col-
lateral proceedings, which are civil in nature and beyond
the aura of the Fifth Amendment. United States ex. rel.
Curtis v. People of State of Illinois, 521 P.2d 717 (7th Cir.
1975), cert denied sub. nom., Curtis v. Winois, 423 US.
1023 (1976); Day v. United States, 428 F.2d 1193 (8th Cir.
1970) ; Baker v. United States, 334 F.2d 444 (8th Cir. 1964).

Concerning Field’s contention that the warrant for
his arrest lacked probable cause determination, respondent
urges that this claim not be considered because it has not
been previously presented to the state courts. By failing
to present this issue to the state court, Fields has failed to
exhaust his available state remedies, and the record so
indicates. Picard v. Connor, 404 U.S. 270 (1971). Further,
we might note that even if exhaustion was conceded, argu-
endo, illegal arrest does not void a subsequent conviction.
Gerstein v. Pugh, 420 U.S .103 (1975). Present detention or
arrest might be the proper subject for habeas corpus chal-
lenge, but a conviction will not be vacated on a defective

arrest ground. Id.

Concerning Fields’ allegation in this third claim, that
he was denied due process and equal protection of the law
in that his jury systematically excluded women and blacks,
respondent again contends that this claim has not been
exhausted in the state courts. A review of the record
verifies respondent’s contention. Further, we note that

A-27

challenges to the jury selection system must be made at
the first opportunity or when such facts are shown. Fran-
cis v. Henderson, 425 U.S. 536 (1976); Wainwright v.
Sykes, 433 U.S. 72 (1977); Picard v. Connor, supra.

Fields’ allegations four and five challenge the as-
sistance of his counsel. Specifically, Fields’ claims that
his trial counsel failed to challenge the ‘‘unconstitutional
obtaining of the confession’’ and that trial counsel did not
properly perfect his appeal. As to the confession, Fields’
sole point of appeal was that the trial court erred in over-
ruling his motion to suppress said confession. The con-
fession in question was taken by the Criminal Investigation
Division (CID) of the United States Army after defendant
had been appointed counsel, but without said counsel be-
ing present.

This Court has carefully considered the points raised
by petitioner in his quest for federal habeas and existing
ease law requires that same be denied. However, it is
somewhat disturbing to review the circumstances under
which Fields’ confession was obtained. He had been ap-
pointed counsel. Apparently, the CID and the defendant
agreed upon a polygraph. They solicited and obtained the
necessary waivers to comply with Miranda v. Arizona, 384
U.S. 436 (1966). When the polygraph showed some irregu-
larity, they called in the local law enforcement people, who
pursued the interrogation. Fields’ attorney was not in-
vited nor present for this continued interrogation. It seems
a somewhat empty gesture to appoint an attorney for an
accused with one hand, and then pursue interrogation of
the accused without his attorney under the guise of know-
ing waiver with the other.

Chief Justice Berger, when a circuit judge in Mathies
v. United States, 374 F.2d 312 (D.C. 1967), indicated that
his feeling was that Miranda v. Arizona, supra, would re-

A-28

quire the presence of counsel at all interviews once an
accused was represented. However, this view has not been
unanimously accepted.

We agree with some reservation that it is logical that
an interrogated defendant can waive presence of counsel
either before or after appointment, but after appointment
it would seem that the burden of the proof of said waiver
should be a heavy one. The awesome force and strength of
the CID of the Army, is common knowledge. A simple
soldier surrounded by this array of military officers, who
were subsequently joined by the state police in their inter-
rogation, is in a difficult position to knowingly and volun-
tarily waive his right to have counsel present.

This soldier was convicted of raping an eighty-one
year old woman, who could not identify him because a
pillow case had been placed over her head during the at-
tack. Also, she was unable to identify his hands which she
did see during the attack. His confession, which conceded
voluntary intercourse, was critical to his conviction. The
woman claimed te have been raped four times and one
other soldier, Don Butler, admitted participation in the
affair. The method used by the Army and the sheriff in
obtaining Fields’ confession are borderline. They do find
support in Moore and McConnell, supra. McConnell pre-
sented a confession obtained after a flunked polygraph
test, not unlike Fields. However, in McConnell, the ap-
pointed attorney, although not present at the confession,
had given his telephonic approval of the polygraph ex-
amination.

It is true that the court of appeals did make some
uncomplimentary observations concerning the appeal brief ;
they considered the point regardless, to ascertain if plain
error was committed. The Missouri Court of Appeals found

A-29

that the defendant had voluntarily, knowingly and in-
telligently waived his right to counsel prior to the taking
of the confession. State v. Fields, supra, at p. 350. The
court further found that the defendant had been repeatedly
and amply advised of his rights and that he voluntarily,
knowingly and intelligently waived these rights.

If an accused can voluntarily, knowingly and intel-
ligently waive his right to counsel before one has been
appointed (or employed), there seems no compelling
reason to hold that he may not voluntarily, knowingly
and intelligently waive his right to have counsel pres-
ent at an interrogation after counsel has been ap-
pointed (or employed).’’ Moere H. Wolff, 495 F.2d
35 (8th Cir. 1974); State „. McConnell, 529 S.W.2d
185 (Mo.App. 1975).

Fields’ sixth claim is another allegation concerning
ineffective assistance of counsel in failing to call one
Don Butler, who was a co-defendant, as a defense witness.
At his third 27.26" hearing, his trial attorney testified that
he was familiar with Fields’ co-defendant, Don Butler. He
further testified that Butler was represented by another
attorney, who would not allow him to testify in any stage
of the proceedings that Fields was involved in (Respond-
ent’s Exhibit G-P89). In view of his obvious effort to fol-
low the directions of Fields in using Butler as a defense
witness, his trial attorney could hardly be called ineffee-
tive.

In this circuit, the evaluation of a petition al-
leging ineffective assistance of counsel involves a

*Fields v. State, 572 S.W.2d 477 (S.C.Mo. 1978), is a landmark
case which decided that in all 27.26 motions, there shall be appointed
counsel. Fields had appealed his prior 27.26 motion ruling because of
his statement that he “didn’t know or understand what could be raised on
a 27.26 motion.”

A-30
two-step process. Rinehart v. Brewer, 561 F.2d 126
(8th Cir. 1977). The petitioner must first show that
his attorney failed to exercise the customary skills
and diligence that a reasonable competent attorney
would exercise under similar cireumstances. United
Stutes v. Easter, 539 F.2d 663, 666 (8th Cir. 1976),
cert. denied, 434 U.S. 844 (1977). Second, the petitioner
must demonstrate that he was materially prejudiced
in the defense of his case by the actions or inactions
of his counsel. Nevels v. Parratt, 596 F.2d 344 (Sth Cir.
1979) ; Morrow v. Parratt, 574 F.2d 411 (8th Cir. 1978);
Rinehart v. Brewer, supra.

Therefore, it is the conclusion and recommendation
of the reviewing Magistrate that Edward Fields’ applica-
tion for federal habeas corpus be denied without further
proceedings.

The parties are hereby advised that they have ten
days from the service of this recommendation within whieh
to file objections to same, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §636(b).

William S. Dabe
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE

Dated: December 16, 1980

A-31

APPENDIX D

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

SEPTEMBER TERM, 1981

No. 81-1245
EDWARD FIELDS, 8 ) Appeal from the
Yhetiant, United States Dis-
vs. . trict Court for the
DONALD WYRICK, Eastern District of
Missouri.
Appellee. |

The Court, having considered Appellee’s petition for
rehearing and suggestions for rehearing en bane and being
now fully advised in the premises, hereby orders the pe-
tition for rehearing and suggestions for rehearing en bane
denied. Judges Ross, Henley and John Gibson voted to
grant the petition for rehearing en banc.

May 28, 1982

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/brief%3Amicro_IA40385009_0501%3A2. Public record. Not legal advice.
