Judge Sandra Feuerstein
Eduard Munteanu sought to suppress self-incriminating statements made by him to law enforcement agents on the grounds that he was subjected to custodial interrogation without being provided warnings in compliance with Miranda v. Arizona. Munteanu was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute five hundred grams or more of a substance containing cocaine. Munteanu argued that a pretrial evidentiary hearing was required to determine whether prior to the commencement of his custodial interrogation, agents advised him of his Miranda warnings. The prosecution asserted that agents provided Munteanu with his Miranda rights, which he initially refused to waive and that the incriminating statements the prosecution intended to use as evidence at trial were made after Munteanu voluntarily initiated conversation with a detective. The court found that there was a factual dispute as to whether the detective had provided Munteanu with Miranda warnings and whether his self-incriminating statements were admissible at trial. Thus the court ruled that it would hold an evidentiary hearing to determine whether the prosecution obtained Munteanu's self-incriminating statements in violation of Miranda.
