GHERIC BRUCE
having been first duly sworn to speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, then testified as follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION
BY MR. FOGLEMAN:
Q. Will you please state your name and occupation?
A. Gheric Bruce and I am security officer for Federal Express.
Q. Mr. Bruce, back in 1988 what was your employment?
A. I was employed with East Arkansas Juvenile Services in Marion.
Q. What was your position?
A. Well, I was intake officer, probation officer, and parole officer so I would have had several different jobs.
Q. During your employment with the juvenile services office, did you have occasion to come in contact with Jessie Misskelley, Junior?
A. Yes.
Q. I want to show you what's been marked for identification as State's Exhibit Three and ask if you recognize that?
A. Yes, I do.
Q. During your employment and in regard to your contact with Jessie Misskelley, Junior, did you have occasion to advise him of his rights?
A. Yes, I did.
Q. How did you advise him of his rights?
A. Okay, I told him that he had the right to remain silent.
Q. Did you read the form to him?
A. Correct.
Q. After you read the form to him, did you ask him if he would sign it?
A. Before I asked him to sign, I also asked if he understood.
Q. What did he say?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you then ask him to sign the form?
A. Yes.
Q. Did he sign the form?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you use any force, promises, threats or coercion to get him to sign the form?
A. No.
Q. Who else was present when you advised him of his rights?
A. His father.
Q. Anybody else?
A. No.
Q. I saw another name on that.
A. It says his mother. I remember his father.
Q. You didn't remember his mother being there?
A. No.
Q. Did you also sign the form?
A. Yes.
MR. FOGLEMAN: We would offer State's Exhibit Three.
MR. STIDHAM: My only concern would be -- it would appear Mr. Misskelley would have been eleven years old at that time.
MR. CROW: What is the relevance of what he did back -- some -- 1988.
THE COURT: Are you saying he wasn't cognitive at eleven? I'm going to allow it. Overruled.
(STATE'S EXHIBIT THREE IS RECEIVED IN EVIDENCE)
(WITNESS EXCUSED)
