Cazares
United States v. Cazares
Opinion
Opinion
MEMORANDUM
A jury convicted defendants Alejandro Martinez, Gilbert Saldaña, Porfirio Avila, and Fernando Cazares of violating 18 U.S.C. § 241 by conspiring to “injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate” African Americans in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. The jury also convicted Saldaña, Avila, and Cazares of killing Kenneth Wilson in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 245 (b).
The evidence at trial included statements that Saldaña gave to the police. Neither party disputes that Saldaña was not told his Miranda rights before, during, or after his interview on May 6, 1999. The disputed issue is whether he was in custody when he made his statements.
The district court denied Saldaña’s motion to suppress his statements, but it made no factual findings regarding whether Saldaña was in custody. “When factual issues are involved in deciding a motion, the court must state its essential findings on the record.” Fed.R.Crim.P. 12(d). We reverse the denial of Saldaña’s motion to suppress and “remand with instructions to the district court to make essential factual findings explaining the basis for its decision.” United States v. Wright, 625 F.3d 583, 604 (9th Cir.2010).