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Rollins v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Feb 20, 1980
267 S.E.2d 262 (Ga. Ct. App. 1980)

Opinion

59512.

SUBMITTED FEBRUARY 5, 1980.

DECIDED FEBRUARY 20, 1980. REHEARING DENIED MARCH 12, 1980.

Armed robbery. Whitfield Superior Court. Before Judge Temples.

Robert B. Adams, for appellant.

Stephen A. Williams, District Attorney, for appellee.


The defendant and her husband were jointly indicted for the armed robbery of a restaurant. On appeal from her conviction, she contends that there was no evidence to establish her involvement and also that tape recordings of certain conversations which she had with an associate named Couey were improperly received into evidence. Held:

1. The evidence showed that the defendant drove her husband to the restaurant, drove a few blocks away to await his return, and then escaped with him. There was also evidence showing that she had provided identical services for her husband in previous robberies. This evidence was quite sufficient to support her conviction. See Fleming v. State, 149 Ga. App. 781 (1) ( 256 S.E.2d 56) (1979).

2. The conversations between Couey and the defendant took place while the defendant was free on bond and Couey was in jail. Couey was scheduled to testify against the defendant at her trial, and the defendant made several visits and phone calls to the jail for the purpose of persuading him to change his testimony. The recordings were made at Couey's urging in order to protect himself against possible charges that he had acted improperly in taking part in the discussions.

The defendant contends that because Couey was cooperating with the police, the conversations amounted to a secret, post-indictment interrogation, which violated her right to counsel under Massiah v. United States, 377 U.S. 201 ( 84 SC 1199, 12 L.Ed.2d 246) (1964). However, the facts in this case bear little resemblance to those in Massiah. There, incriminating statements were elicited from the defendant in accordance with a pre-arranged plan devised by federal agents. Here, the defendant initiated the conversations, and the police did not become involved until Couey asked them to, at which time the discussions were already in progress. Under these circumstances, the conversations cannot reasonably be characterized as a "secret interrogation." Therefore, we hold that the state was neither required to invite her attorney to the proceedings nor to advise her of her Miranda rights. See generally Pierce v. State, 235 Ga. 237 (2) ( 219 S.E.2d 158) (1975).

Judgment affirmed. McMurray, P. J., and Smith, J., concur.


SUBMITTED FEBRUARY 5, 1980 — DECIDED FEBRUARY 20, 1980 — REHEARING DENIED MARCH 12, 1980.


Summaries of

Rollins v. State

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Feb 20, 1980
267 S.E.2d 262 (Ga. Ct. App. 1980)
Case details for

Rollins v. State

Case Details

Full title:ROLLINS v. THE STATE

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: Feb 20, 1980

Citations

267 S.E.2d 262 (Ga. Ct. App. 1980)
267 S.E.2d 262

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The evidence was sufficient to support the verdict. Accord, Rollins v. State, 153 Ga. App. 848 (1) ( 267…