State v. Ortiz

This decision of the Supreme Court of New Mexico was not selected for publication in
the New Mexico Appellate Reports. Refer to Rule 12-405 NMRA for restrictions on the
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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

Filing Date: July 15, 2021

No. S-1-SC-37673

STATE OF NEW MEXICO,

Plaintiff-Appellant

v.

VICTOR ORTIZ,

Defendant-Appellee

APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF BERNALILLO COUNTY
Cindy Leos, District Judge

Hector H. Balderas, Attorney General
Walter M. Hart III, Assistant Attorney General
Santa Fe, NM

for Appellant

Bennett J. Baur, Chief Public Defender
John Charles Bennett, Assistant Appellate Defender
Santa Fe, NM

for Appellee

DECISION

BACON, Justice.

{1} “Our resolution of this [interlocutory] appeal turns on the standard of review that
applies to a district court’s findings of fact concerning a motion to suppress evidence.”
State v. Martinez, 2018-NMSC-007, ¶ 1, 410 P.3d 186. Under Martinez, we “defer to the
district court’s findings of fact if supported by substantial evidence and . . . view the facts
in the light most favorable to the prevailing party.” Id. ¶ 3; see State v. Jason L., 2000-
NMSC-018, ¶ 10, 129 N.M. 119, 2 P.3d 856.
{2} Defendant Victor Ortiz faces an open charge of murder with a potential sentence
of life imprisonment. On interlocutory appeal from the Second Judicial District, the State
challenges the district court’s grant of Defendant’s motion to suppress all statements
made during his custodial interrogation (“interview”). The State argues that the grant of
Defendant’s motion to suppress constituted clear error and requests this Court to
reverse the district court’s order. The State further argues that the district court lacked
substantial evidence for its factual findings regarding Defendant’s capacity to
understand and waive his Miranda rights and that Defendant made a knowing and
intelligent waiver of those rights.

{3} We reject both of the State’s arguments and affirm the district court’s grant of the
motion to suppress. First, the record demonstrates that substantial evidence supported
each of the district court’s findings and the court properly applied the law to those
findings. Second, the State did not meet its burden on appeal to show a lack of
substantial evidence for the district court’s findings adverse to the State’s arguments.
Because these issues are sufficiently addressed by New Mexico precedent, we exercise
our discretion to resolve this case by way of a non-precedential decision under Rule 12-
405(B)(1) NMRA.

I. BACKGROUND

A. Interview

{4} Defendant was arrested for the July 20, 2017, stabbing death of taxi driver Kahlil
Jabbour. Defendant’s arrest in the early hours of July 21, 2017, followed an
approximately five-hour custodial interview in an Albuquerque Police Department (APD)
substation, conducted primarily by Detective Leah Acata (“Acata”). At detectives’
request, APD psychiatrist Dr. Nils Rosenbaum (“Rosenbaum”) attended the interview
and conducted initial questioning of Defendant “to provide an opinion regarding
Defendant’s capacity to participate in the interview.” The audio-video recording of the
interview was later entered as evidence at the suppression hearing and cited by the
district court in its order.

{5} Before Miranda advisement and questioning began, Defendant told Detective
Terra Juarez, “I’m just going to say a prayer, okay?” and began speaking aloud with
eyes closed and head moving. Though much of Defendant’s recorded speech at this
point is unclear, audible portions include, “Lord Jesus . . . power and wisdom . . . for my
words to come out right . . . you know the truth as well. . . .” Upon entry of Acata and
Rosenbaum, Defendant did not change his demeanor or conduct, and there was no
clear division between his prayer and the ensuing silence.

{6} Eventually Rosenbaum introduced himself and asked Defendant questions “to
get a sense of how [Defendant was] doing and make sure [Defendant] sort of
underst[ood] what[ was] going on.” Asked if he had talked with a psychiatrist before,
Defendant referenced “PTSD issues” and became emotional, describing himself as
“upset” at having been “pushed away” from treatment. Defendant’s emotions and pitch
varied as he then referenced “trust issues [as] . . . I think I was told to go to Regional
Trauma Center . . . memory’s not too . . . memory’s fucked . . . I went there, but it was
closed because it was a Sunday.” Rosenbaum asked whether Defendant had been
hearing voices or wanting to harm himself. Defendant responded yes to both questions
but explained that this had not happened in the previous twenty-four hours. Rosenbaum
then concluded to the detectives, “I think you guys can ask him the questions and I can
just chime in to make sure.”

{7} Acata then advised Defendant of his Miranda rights, asking Defendant after each
advisement if he understood the relevant right. Defendant replied “yes” to each while
appearing to keep his eyes closed. Acata twice checked that Defendant was awake.
When asked to explain each right, Defendant restated them but, as the district court
found and the State does not contest, never made an express waiver of his rights.

{8} Over the course of the interview, Defendant focused on topics that were not
obviously relevant to Acata’s questions about the homicide. Defendant raised each of
the following topics multiple times: “[T]he [Mexicans] at Burger King . . . killed two of my
dogs”; “[A]pps on my phone are tracking me . . .”; “[Taxi drivers on walkie-talkies] said
‘Greyhound has already left’ . . . too much of a coincidence”; “How can the [finger]nail
from the girl from Metro PC be in my driveway?”; and “[The Blacks and Mexicans] have
to have a whiz kid to do this. . . . That’s what I mean by the Kirk [neighborhood] is so
organized[.]” Defendant’s commentary included seemingly off-topic references to
Laverne and Shirley, Tupac, Lil Wayne, the NAACP, the Illuminati, demons, devils, Star
Wars, I, Robot, and intruders tampering with his marijuana plants and home stereo.

{9} Over the course of the interview, Acata asked Defendant numerous times, “How
does that tie to tonight?” On multiple other occasions, Defendant noted that he became
“sidetracked” or asked, “where was I?” On multiple occasions when Acata asked
refocusing questions about the homicide itself, Defendant replied “You’re rushing me” or
emphasized that Acata needed instead to see the “bigger picture,” then returned to
seemingly off-topic commentary. Approximately four hours after the interview began,
Acata told Defendant that he “took three hours and told me the same thing over and
over and over,” to which Defendant replied, “did I?”

{10} Over the course of the interview, Defendant exhibited erratic behavior. When
Rosenbaum asked what was making him “sad,” Defendant appeared increasingly
agitated and angry in stating “I said ‘upset’ . . . Don’t twist my words around. Don’t do
that! That’ll trigger me. That’ll trigger me. Don’t do that.” Asked if he needed more water,
Defendant appeared to refer to a pre-interview request for water in saying “they’re like,
‘hold on, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, . . . WAIT!’ Wait for what?! Wait for it’s too
late?!” Subsequently Defendant stated, “my sister hates on me . . .” while crying; stated,
“I asked you for a lawyer, don’t get mad at me!”; appeared to lose his train of thought
and sit silently until prompted; and made unexplained outbursts and comments
including while alone in the room.

{11} At the conclusion of the interview, conducted entirely without counsel, Defendant
was arrested.
B. Suppression Hearing and Order

{12} On November 16, 2018, Defendant filed a motion to suppress all statements
made in the interview due to not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waiving his
Miranda rights.

{13} The State’s evidence at the suppression hearing consisted of the recorded
interview and of Rosenbaum’s testimony that Defendant possessed the capacity to
consent to waive his Miranda rights. The State argued that this evidence met its burden
by a preponderance to show that Defendant’s statements in the interview were given
knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently.

{14} The district court granted the motion, concluding that the State did not meet its
burden. In its written order, the district court found under the totality of the
circumstances that Defendant’s mental condition at the time of the interview “revealed
that he had no awareness of his rights and no awareness of the consequences he faced
by abandoning these rights. Additionally, there was no showing that Defendant actually
waived his rights at any point.”

{15} At the suppression hearing and in its written order, the district court explained at
length the factual findings and reasoning underlying its conclusion. In its written order,
the court’s factual findings regarding capacity included that Defendant “behave[d]
erratically, [wa]s fixated on bizarre topics, [wa]s incapable of answering most, if not all,
of [Acata’s] questions[,] and repeat[ed] himself on a variety of unrelated topics[,] . . .
[n]one of [which we]re remotely related to the conversation [Acata wa]s attempting to
have with Defendant.” The court’s explanation included its analysis of Rosenbaum’s
conclusions, which it found to be “vague, conclusory, and frankly st[anding] in stark
contrast to the [district c]ourt’s observations of Defendant’s conduct and statements in
his interview.”

{16} The State filed a motion to reconsider, which was denied. The State then filed for
interlocutory appeal of the grant of the motion to suppress. See State v. Smallwood,
2007-NMSC-005, ¶ 10, 141 N.M. 178, 152 P.3d 821 (“[I]t is clear to us that the
[L]egislature conferred this Court with jurisdiction over a criminal defendant’s
interlocutory appeal in cases where a sentence of life imprisonment or death could
be imposed.”). The State asks this Court to reverse the district court’s order granting
Defendant’s motion to suppress all statements made in the interview.

II. DISCUSSION

{17} The State argues that the district court committed clear error in making findings
of fact not supported by substantial evidence and that Defendant made a knowing and
intelligent waiver of his constitutional rights.
A. Standard of Review and Applicable Law

{18} “‘Appellate review of a motion to suppress presents a mixed question of law and
fact.’” Martinez, 2018-NMSC-007, ¶ 8 (quoting State v. Ketelson, 2011-NMSC-023, ¶
9, 150 N.M. 137, 257 P.3d 957).

{19} “‘First, we look for substantial evidence to support the district court’s factual
finding[s], with deference to the district court’s review of the testimony and other
evidence presented.’” Id. (alteration omitted) (quoting State v. Yazzie, 2016-NMSC-
026, ¶ 15, 376 P.3d 858). “Substantial evidence is such relevant evidence as a
reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” State v. Filemon
V., 2018-NMSC-011, ¶ 17, 412 P.3d 1089. “Conflicts in the evidence, even within the
testimony of a witness, are to be resolved by the fact finder at trial.” Jason L., 2000-
NMSC-018, ¶ 10 (citing State v. Bloom, 1977-NMSC-016, ¶ 5, 90 N.M. 192, 561 P.2d
465).

{20} “‘We then review the application of the law to those facts,’” Martinez, 2018-
NMSC-007, ¶ 8 (quoting Yazzie, 2016-NMSC-026, ¶ 15), “viewing the facts ‘in a manner
most favorable to the prevailing party,’” Filemon V., 2018-NMSC-011, ¶ 17 (quoting
Jason L., 2000-NMSC-018, ¶ 10). “The district court’s application of the law to the facts
is a question of law that we review de novo.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citation
omitted).

{21} The right against self-incrimination arises from the Fifth Amendment to the United
States Constitution and is applied to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment. Id.
¶ 18. In order to protect this right, law enforcement officials conducting a custodial
interrogation must advise a suspect “that he or she has a right to remain silent, that any
statement he or she does make may be used as evidence against him or her, and that
he or she has a right to the presence of an attorney, either retained or appointed.” State
v. Martinez, 1999-NMSC-018, ¶ 13, 127 N.M. 207, 979 P.2d 718 (alterations omitted)
(quoting Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 444 (1966)). “Prior to questioning the
individual, the police must first obtain a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary waiver of
these rights.” Id. (citing Miranda, 384 U.S. at 444). The inquiry into whether an accused
has voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently waived his Miranda rights has “two distinct
dimensions.” State v. Fekete, 1995-NMSC-049, ¶ 49, 120 N.M. 290, 901 P.2d 708
(quoting Moran v. Burbine, 475 U.S. 412, 421 (1986)).

First, the relinquishment of the right must have been voluntary in the
sense that it was the product of a free and deliberate choice rather than
intimidation, coercion, or deception. Second, the waiver must have been
made with a full awareness of both the nature of the right being
abandoned and the consequences of the decision to abandon it.

Id. (emphasis added).

{22} “In response to a defendant’s motion to suppress a statement made to police
during a custodial interrogation, the State must demonstrate by a preponderance of
evidence that [the] defendant knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived his or her
constitutional rights under Miranda.” State v. Barrera, 2001-NMSC-014, ¶ 22, 130 N.M.
227, 22 P.3d 1177. “Courts evaluate the totality of the circumstances and the particular
facts, including consideration of the mental and physical condition, background,
experience, and conduct of the accused, as well as the conduct of the police, in
determining whether the State has successfully carried its burden[.]” Martinez, 1999-
NMSC-018, ¶ 14 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). “Every reasonable
presumption against waiver is indulged.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citation
omitted).

{23} In sum, our standard of review requires the State to demonstrate that the district
court, applying the totality of the circumstances, committed clear error in making the
factual findings upon which it based its conclusion that the State failed to prove by a
preponderance of the evidence that Defendant made a knowing and intelligent waiver.

B. The State does not meet its burden to show that the district court
committed clear error in making its factual findings

{24} The State alleges clear error in four aspects of the district court’s factual findings
upon which the court based its conclusion that Defendant lacked the requisite
awareness to make a knowing and intelligent waiver. The State claims that the district
court erroneously found that Defendant’s religious behavior and beliefs constituted
“bizarre” and “striking” behavior; that Defendant had very recently sought but been
turned away from treatment for PTSD; that on the night of the events in question and at
the time of the interview, Defendant had been hearing voices when no one was around;
and that Defendant was “fixated on bizarre topics” that were not “remotely related to the
conversation” with Acata. We address these claims in turn.

1. The State does not demonstrate that the district court erroneously found
that Defendant’s religious behavior and beliefs constituted “bizarre” and
“striking” behavior

{25} The State first argues that Defendant’s “statements relative to his religious beliefs
. . . appear[] to have [been] interpreted” by the district court “as supporting Defendant’s
irrationality and inability knowingly and intelligently to waive his constitutional rights.”
The State claims that the district court concluded that “Defendant’s religious behavior
and beliefs constituted ‘bizarre’ and ‘striking’ behavior.” The State argues that a view of
religious beliefs as irrational should not be applied in finding a lack of capacity to waive
one’s rights.

{26} The State points to the district court’s characterization at the suppression hearing
of Defendant’s initial prayer as “mumbling, unintelligibl[e] mumbling” that continues
when Acata enters with Rosenbaum “as if no one has entered the room, which is
striking[, and e]veryone sits in there sort of quietly until [D]efendant stops mumbling.”
(emphasis added). The State similarly points to the district court’s references in its
written order to Defendant “mumbling and behaving in a bizarre fashion in the interview
room alone” and “continuing to mumble to himself” when Acata and Rosenbaum enter.
(emphasis added). In addition, the State cites to the written order to claim that the
district court “found Defendant’s belief in and references to the ‘Devil’ to be a ‘bizarre
topic.’” (emphasis added).

{27} The State’s argument here fails for three reasons. First, the district court made
no reference at the hearing or in the written order to the content, religious or otherwise,
of Defendant’s perceived “mumbling” during the first minutes of the interview. To the
contrary, the court’s perception of “unintelligible mumbling” indicates its inability to
understand that content and thus refutes the State’s argument that the court drew
adverse conclusions based on that content. We judicially notice that portions of
Defendant’s comments at this point in the recording were marginally intelligible. In this
regard, the district court’s characterization of Defendant’s “mumbling” indicates that the
court did not draw adverse inferences from its content, and any error in the district
court’s transcription is de minimis.

{28} Second, the record does not support an inference that the district court based its
finding of “bizarre” and “striking” behavior on Defendant’s religious beliefs. At the
hearing, as discussed above, the court described as “striking” the fact that Defendant
“continu[ed] to mumble to himself as if no one ha[d] entered the room” when Acata and
Rosenbaum entered. The district court’s order noted Defendant “behaving in a bizarre
fashion in the interview room alone” without reference to religion. In its subsequent non-
exclusive list of Defendant’s “bizarre . . . unrelated topics,” the court’s order includes
“demons” and “devils” along with eleven secular topics, which provides minimal support
for the State’s claim. In its reply brief, the State acknowledges that the district court “did
not expressly reference Defendant’s religious beliefs as the basis for its ruling,” but
asserts that the conclusion otherwise is “inescapable.” However, the State offers no
further evidence to support this claim. In sum, the record indicates that the district
court’s characterization of Defendant’s behavior as “bizarre” and “striking” neither
focuses nor relies on his religious beliefs and conduct.

{29} Third, the State provides no other support for an inference that the district court
viewed Defendant’s religious beliefs negatively or drew adverse conclusions from those
beliefs. Without more and under deferential review, we hold that the State has not met
its burden to show that the district court’s conclusions were based on an improper or
erroneous factual finding regarding Defendant’s religious beliefs or conduct.

2. The State does not demonstrate that the district court erroneously found
that Defendant had very recently sought but been turned away from
treatment for PTSD

{30} The State argues that the suppression order included the erroneous finding that
Defendant “had recently unsuccessfully sought treatment for his PTSD and had been
recently turned away from such treatment.” The State alleges that Defendant actually
stated that he had sought such treatment “at some unknown time in the past . . . on ‘a
Sunday’” rather than on the most recent Sunday.1 The State argues that the district

1We take judicial notice that July 20, 2017, was a Thursday.
court committed clear error by applying this alleged finding in reaching its “determination
that Defendant did not knowingly and intelligently waive his constitutional rights.”

{31} The State’s sole evidence for the district court’s alleged finding is a single
sentence in the suppression order: “Defendant is upset, accuses [Rosenbaum] of
twisting his words around, continues to behave erratically, talks about hearing voices,
not sleeping[,] and attempting to be admitted to the ‘Regional Trauma Center’ for his
[PTSD] issues but not being admitted as they were closed on Sunday.” The State does
not show that the district court found that Defendant had referred to the most recent
Sunday rather than to Sundays generally, nor that recency of PTSD treatment was
dispositive to the district court’s finding under the totality of the circumstances. Without
more, this isolated reference does not support a claim of clear error regarding the
district court’s alleged finding of recency of treatment for Defendant’s PTSD. For the
foregoing reasons, the State’s argument here fails.

3. The State does not demonstrate that the district court erroneously found
that on the night of the events in question and at the time of the interview
Defendant had been hearing voices when no one was around

{32} The State argues that the district court made an erroneous factual finding that
Defendant had been hearing voices “on the night of the events in question and at the
time of the interview.” The State argues that Defendant actually stated that “it’s been a
while” and that he had not heard voices in the prior twenty-four hours. The State
appears to argue, as with its PTSD claim, that the court committed clear error by
applying this alleged finding in reaching its determination that Defendant did not
knowingly and intelligently waive his constitutional rights.

{33} The State’s sole evidence for the district court’s alleged finding is the court’s
description at the suppression hearing of Defendant “talk[ing] about hearing voices[,]
and then the detectives go right into his Miranda rights, despite the fact that [D]efendant
is behaving in a very unusual way.” (emphasis added). Without further evidence, the
State asserts that the district court’s “factual inference that Defendant had been hearing
voices at the time of the interview or even recently [was] not supported by substantial
evidence.” The State’s assertion suggests that the district court inferred that
Defendant’s unusual behavior at that point in the interview reflected his currently or
recently hearing voices.

{34} The State does not show that the district court made such an inference, much
less that such an inference was dispositive to the court’s conclusion regarding
competency. At the suppression hearing, the district court made no other references to
Defendant hearing voices but made numerous other references to Defendant’s unusual
behavior. The court’s written order refers only once to Defendant hearing voices, within
the sentence discussed above regarding PTSD, whereas the order refers multiple times
to Defendant’s bizarre or erratic behavior. Without more, the State’s citation to this
isolated reference does not support a claim of clear error. For the foregoing reasons,
the State’s argument here fails.
4. The State does not demonstrate that the district court erroneously found
that Defendant was “fixated on bizarre” and “unrelated topics” that were
not “remotely related to the conversation” with Acata

{35} The State argues that the district court committed clear error in finding “that
Defendant’s discussion of a number of subjects and topics was bizarre and non-
contextual.” The State argues to the contrary that “everything Defendant discussed fit
into a rational (albeit paranoid) explanation of the events leading to his stabbing the
[decedent].” In support, the State offers an explanation for how each of the following
topics “were not ‘bizarre’ and did not provide substantial evidence” for the district court’s
finding: the “big picture” of gang organization in his neighborhood; the Illuminati; Star
Wars; the NAACP; Burger King; his neighbor’s Lil Wayne tattoos; Tupac; T-Mobile;
Metro PCS; a fingernail found in his driveway; and the bag of the decedent’s
possessions. The State argues that “each of these so-called ‘bizarre topics’ arose
rationally and reasonably in the course of Defendant’s interview and provide[s] no
substantial evidence of any inability of Defendant knowingly and intelligently to waive
his constitutional rights.”

{36} As a preliminary matter, we note that the State’s position here, even if proven,
does not challenge all of the district court’s factual findings upon which the court based
its conclusion that Defendant lacked the requisite awareness to make a knowing and
intelligent waiver. As discussed above, the court’s factual findings in its written order
included that throughout the interview Defendant “behave[d] erratically, [wa]s fixated on
bizarre topics, [wa]s incapable of answering most, if not all, of [Acata’s] questions[,] and
repeat[ed] himself on a variety of unrelated topics[,] . . . [n]one of [which we]re remotely
related to the conversation [Acata wa]s attempting to have with Defendant.” The alleged
rationality and reasonableness of the topics specified by the State, as discussed below,
bear only on portions of the district court’s findings. Accordingly, we presume the validity
of the remainder of the district court’s factual findings as entitled to our deference.

{37} Under our standard of review, the State here bears the burden to show an
absence of substantial evidence for the district court’s finding that Defendant’s varied
topics in response to Acata’s questions were “bizarre” and unrelated to her questions.
To demonstrate the rationality and reasonableness of the specified topics, the State
points to Defendant’s discussing that “the big picture” included neighborhood gangs
having workers driving taxi cabs and working at Burger King, McDonald’s, and Metro
PCS; that the Illuminati were a gang in his neighborhood affiliated with the Bloods; that
“Star Wars” referred to a high level of computer technology that is imminent; that the
NAACP president was his mentor; that his visits to Burger King were a basis for people
in his neighborhood to know he had money; that Lil Wayne’s tattoos were similar to
those on his neighbor who allegedly had been watching him for the gang, and which
reminded him of the title of Tupac’s biopic All Eyez On Me; that a particular employee at
the Metro PCS T-Mobile store was affiliated with the gang and had been to his
residence, based on his finding one of her distinctive fingernails in his driveway; and
that a bag containing the decedent’s burglary tools, gloves, and GPS monitors was
associated with the people who Defendant believed had been breaking into his house.
{38} Applying deferential review, we find sufficient evidence to support the district
court’s finding that Defendant’s various topics were bizarre and unrelated to Acata’s
questions. Merriam-Webster defines “bizarre” as “strikingly out of the ordinary: such as
(a): odd, extravagant, or eccentric in style or mode; . . . (b): involving sensational
contrasts or incongruities.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bizarre (last
visited April 30, 2021). Under this definition, the district court was reasonable in
deeming Defendant’s discussion topics bizarre, regardless of whether they seemed
relevant to Defendant. We find the district court did not commit error in finding these
topics strikingly out of the ordinary or odd or incongruous in relation to Acata’s inquiry
into the circumstances of the homicide. The State argues that these topics fit into a
rational explanation of events leading to the events of that night, but the record
demonstrates that Defendant repeatedly discussed these topics to the exclusion of
directly answering Acata’s questions about the facts and circumstances of the homicide.
The State’s position is further undercut by Rosenbaum’s acknowledgement on cross-
examination that Defendant’s varied topics raised with Acata were presumptively
“irrational.”

{39} For the foregoing reasons, we find that the district court’s factual finding under
the totality of the circumstances did not constitute clear error.

5. The affirmed factual findings provide sufficient support for the district
court’s conclusions of law

{40} The foregoing factual findings being affirmed, we find that the record provides
sufficient evidence to reach the district court’s conclusions of law: the State did not meet
its burden to show a knowing and intelligent waiver, and Defendant lacked awareness
of his rights and of the consequences he faced by abandoning those rights. First,
Defendant did not make an express waiver, as the State does not contest. Second,
Defendant’s erratic behavior, his inability to answer Acata’s direct questions about the
circumstances of the homicide, and his repetition of off-topic subjects raise serious
concerns as to his mental state under the totality of the circumstances. These concerns
weigh against finding a valid waiver. Third, we indulge every reasonable presumption
against waiver, see Martinez, 1999-NMSC-018, ¶ 14, including that Defendant was too
fixated on off-topic subjects to intelligently consider his rights and the consequences of
waiving them. Thus, we affirm the district court’s conclusions of law.

C. The State’s claim that Defendant made a knowing and intelligent waiver is
precluded by our affirmance of the district court’s conclusions

{41} The State also argues that the Defendant made a “knowing, intelligent voluntary
waiver of rights[.]” The State cites to Martinez, 1999-NMSC-018, ¶ 19, for the
proposition that a valid waiver “need not be express, but may be determined implicitly
from an evaluation of the facts and circumstances of the interrogation.”

{42} However, our foregoing analysis affirms the district court’s conclusion that
Defendant lacked the requisite awareness to make a valid waiver under Fekete, 1995-
NMSC-049, ¶ 49 (citing Moran, 475 U.S. at 421). Defendant’s lack of “full awareness of
both the nature of the right being abandoned and the consequences of the decision to
abandon it” is dispositive, precluding the knowing and intelligent waiver claimed by the
State. See id.

III. CONCLUSION

{43} For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the district court’s order suppressing
Defendant’s statements to law enforcement in the custodial interview.

{44} IT IS SO ORDERED.

C. SHANNON BACON, Justice

WE CONCUR:

MICHAEL E. VIGIL, Chief Justice

BARBARA J. VIGIL, Justice

DAVID K. THOMSON, Justice