Florence Alice Paquet v. United States

Florence Alice Paquet appeals from her convictions in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii of making false statements in applying for a United States passport, unlawfully using such a passport secured by a false statement, and falsely representing herself on two different occasions to be a United States citizen. She contends that her convictions were based on a confession which was coerced from her, and that the confession was improperly admitted into evidence without corroboration. Since the prison sentences on the four counts are concurrent and only the first and second had added fines of $250.00 in each, it is sufficient that we hold that the first two sentences are valid. Cohen v. United States, 9 Cir., 1953, 201 F.2d 386, 389 .

1. Appellant’s Confession of Violating both the First and Second Counts was not Shown to be Coerced.

Appellant contends that her convictions for fraudulently obtaining and then unlawfully using the passport were based on a confession which was coerced from her by use of psychological pressure. She claims she did not have that "mental freedom” which the Supreme Court has said a defendant must possess to make a confession…