In re Roger G.
California Court of Appeal
53 Cal. App. 3d 198 (1975)
- Written by Carolyn Strutton, JD
Facts
Grace Capistrano was shot to death in the parking lot of the hospital where she worked as a nurse. Roger E. G. (defendant), who was 16 or 17 years old at the time, and two other juveniles were arrested for the crime. Roger was given a proper Miranda warning while in police custody and was then interrogated by two police officers. After Roger persistently refused to confess to the crime or recall anything about the events, the officers told Roger that he might be incarcerated until he was 25, or even tried as an adult and sentenced to life in prison. When Roger asked to speak to the two other suspects, one of the officers implied that if Roger was going to refuse to cooperate, the police would see that Roger was sent to adult court. The police then presented the possibility of parole as more likely if Roger cooperated and less likely if he did not. Finally, the police implied that they would try to help Roger if he cooperated with their interrogation. Roger then confessed to the crime. Roger was adjudicated a ward of the juvenile court by reason of having committed murder. Roger appealed, alleging that his confession was involuntary.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Thompson, J.)
Dissent (Hanson, J.)
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