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Rounds v. State
Citations: 303 S.E.2d 543; 166 Ga. App. 212; 1983 Ga. App. LEXIS 3217Docket: 65444
Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia; April 6, 1983; Georgia; State Appellate Court
Appellant Rounds was convicted of one count of arson and three counts of burglary, including two burglaries of churches in Vidalia, Georgia. On appeal, Rounds argued that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a directed verdict of acquittal concerning the church burglaries and in admitting his confession related to the third burglary and arson. The court found that Rounds' confession corroborated the testimony of his accomplice, Lawler, which was sufficient to support the conviction. As such, the denial of the motion for acquittal was appropriate. The court also upheld the denial of the motion for a new trial on similar grounds. Regarding the confession, Rounds, who was 17 at the time, argued that it was improperly admitted because he was promised a "hope of reward" for cooperating. During a Jackson-Denno hearing, Detective Varnadore testified that Rounds was informed of his Miranda rights and that cooperation would be noted in court. However, the court ruled that age alone does not determine the ability to waive rights and that Rounds' confession was voluntary. The court referred to precedents indicating that similar statements by law enforcement did not constitute an improper inducement. Ultimately, the appellate court affirmed the trial court's judgment, determining that the confession was not coerced and that the trial court's findings were not clearly erroneous.