Title: State v. Dobbs
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 103820
State: Kansas
Issuer: Kansas Supreme Court
Date: September 20, 2013

1 
 
 
 
 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF KANSAS 
 
No. 103,820 
 
 
STATE OF KANSAS, 
Appellee, 
 
v. 
 
DONNELL A. DOBBS, 
Appellant. 
 
 
SYLLABUS BY THE COURT 
 
1.  
 
A district court's decision to grant a continuance under K.S.A. 22-3402(5) is 
reviewed for an abuse of discretion.  
 
2.  
 
Under K.S.A. 22-3402(5)(c), a district court may grant a continuance if (1) 
material evidence is unavailable, (2) reasonable efforts have been made to procure that 
evidence, and (3) reasonable grounds exist to believe the evidence can be obtained and 
trial can begin within the next 90 days.  
 
3.  
 
Evidence is "material" for purposes of K.S.A. 22-3402(5)(c) when the evidence 
may have a legitimate and effective bearing on the decision of the case, i.e., when the 
evidence has the potential to inculpate or exculpate the defendant. 
 
2 
 
 
 
4.  
 
When a defendant fails to object to an instruction, an appellate court reviews the 
alleged instructional error under the clear-error rule of K.S.A. 22-3414(3).  
 
5.  
 
To determine whether a given instruction was clearly erroneous, an appellate court 
first determines whether the instruction was erroneous. This is a legal question subject to 
de novo review. If error is found, the appellate court determines whether reversal is 
required. Reversal is required only if the reviewing court is firmly convinced the jury 
would have reached a different verdict absent the error. The appellate court exercises 
unlimited review over the reversibility determination and, in doing so, examines the 
entire record as a whole. The defendant bears the burden of establishing clear error under 
K.S.A. 22-3414(3).  
 
6.  
 
A trial court errs when it includes a "degree of certainty" factor among the factors 
to be considered in instructing the jury pursuant to PIK Crim. 3d 52.20 regarding the 
reliability of eyewitness identification.  
 
7.  
 
When the jury is improperly instructed to consider the degree of certainty 
demonstrated by an eyewitness who has identified the accused, an appellate court first 
considers whether the eyewitness' identification was crucial to the State's case and 
whether the witness stated an opinion of certainty. If the answer to either question is no, 
the error does not constitute clear error. If, however, the answer to both questions is yes, 
the appellate court then considers the impact of the jury instruction in light of the entire 
record as a whole and further considers whether other procedural safeguards mitigated 
the effect of the erroneous instruction.  
3 
 
 
 
 
8.  
 
Procedural safeguards mitigating the improper inclusion of the degree of certainty 
factor in an eyewitness identification jury instruction include, but are not limited to, the 
defendant's constitutional right to confront the witnesses against him or her, the 
defendant's constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel who can expose the 
flaws in the eyewitness' testimony during cross-examination and focus the jury's attention 
on the fallibility of such testimony during opening and closing arguments, eyewitness-
specific jury instructions that warn the jury to use care in appraising eyewitness 
identification evidence, and the constitutional requirement that the State prove every 
element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. 
 
Appeal from Wyandotte District Court; J. DEXTER BURDETTE, judge. Opinion filed September 
20, 2013. Affirmed. 
 
Matthew J. Edge, of Kansas Appellate Defender Office, argued the cause and was on the brief for 
appellant.  
 
Jennifer L. Myers, assistant district attorney, argued the cause, and Jerome A. Gorman, district 
attorney, and Derek Schmidt, attorney general, were with her on the brief for appellee. 
 
The opinion of the court was delivered by 
 
MORITZ, J.:  Donnell Dobbs directly appeals his conviction of first-degree 
premeditated murder, attempted first-degree premeditated murder, and criminal 
possession of a firearm. Dobbs contends the district court violated his statutory right to a 
speedy trial in granting the State's request for a continuance. Dobbs also argues he is 
entitled to a new trial because the district court gave a clearly erroneous eyewitness 
identification instruction. We reject both of Dobbs' claims and affirm his convictions. 
4 
 
 
 
 
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND 
 
In 2008, Dobbs walked into TJ's Barbershop at the intersection of 13th Street and 
Washington Boulevard in Kansas City, Kansas, with an assault rifle and opened fire. 
Three men inside the shop ran out the front door and into a nearby wooded area as Dobbs 
followed his apparent targets, Muryel Josenberger and Mario Mitchell, out the back door.  
 
Dobbs shot both men, killing Josenberger and severely wounding Mitchell, then 
left the scene in a gray or silver Monte Carlo driven by a second man. Mitchell told the 
first police officer who arrived after the shooting that two unknown black men walked 
into the shop and began shooting. Mitchell was transported to Truman Medical Center 
where he was treated for 12 gunshot wounds and remained for about 1 month.  
 
Twelve days after the shooting, Mitchell identified Dobbs as the gunman and 
Casey Ellis as the driver of the getaway car. Two days later, the State filed a joint 
complaint charging Dobbs and Ellis with first-degree premeditated murder and attempted 
first-degree premeditated murder and additionally charging Dobbs with criminal 
possession of a firearm. The following facts were developed at Dobbs and Ellis' joint 
trial.  
 
The barbershop's owner, Anthony Jackson, testified that on the day of the 
shooting, he was facing the back of the shop when he heard Mitchell say, "'[O]h shit,'" 
and saw him run toward the back door. Jackson turned around and saw a man with an 
assault rifle come through the front door and move toward the back of the shop. Another 
barber at the shop, Damon Campbell, also saw a man walk into the shop with a "long 
gun."  
 
5 
 
 
 
Jackson and Campbell testified they ran out the front door of the shop and into a 
nearby wooded area as the gunman moved toward the back of the shop and began 
shooting. At some point, Jackson heard the sounds of screeching tires and a fast-moving 
vehicle. When Jackson and Campbell returned to the shop, they could see that 
Josenberger and Mitchell had been shot and were lying on the ground outside the back 
door.  
  
Jackson and Campbell both testified the gunman wore a hat and had a bandana or 
scarf over his face covering the area under the gunman's eyes. Jackson did not recall the 
color of the hat or scarf, but Campbell testified they were both blue. Sometime after the 
shooting, Jackson and Campbell each viewed several photographs of potential suspects, 
but neither man could identify the gunman.  
 
Diana Union testified she was driving toward the intersection of 13th Street and 
Washington Boulevard when she saw two men running into a wooded area to the west of 
TJ's Barbershop. As Union approached the barbershop parking lot, a gray Monte Carlo 
exiting the parking lot nearly collided with Union's vehicle. Union could see a man 
holding a gun out the passenger-side window. Union described the gun as black with 
"holes in it around the barrel part of it . . . [t]he way machine guns look." Union stopped 
at a nearby friend's home where her friend called 911 and reported the incident.  
 
Bobbie Montiel testified she was in her front yard near 14th Street and 
Washington Boulevard when she heard screaming and gunshots. Montiel grabbed her 
children and ran to the side of her house where she watched "a silver Impala looking car" 
or Monte Carlo going westbound on Washington. Montiel heard between 12 and 15 
gunshots and assumed the gunfire originated from the silver car because the passenger 
door was open as the car drove by. Montiel saw two black men inside the car, but she 
could not identify either man. Montiel immediately called 911.  
6 
 
 
 
 
  
 
The first officer to respond, Officer Glenn Jay Carter, found Mitchell and 
Josenberger lying on the ground outside the barbershop. Josenberger was dead and 
Mitchell was screaming. In response to questioning from Carter, Mitchell said he was 
getting a haircut when two guys came in and started shooting. However, Mitchell told 
Carter he did not know who shot him. According to Carter, Mitchell was coherent but 
was primarily concerned with getting medical attention. 
 
Mitchell testified at trial regarding his prior relationship with Dobbs and his 
recollection of the shooting and events following the shooting. Mitchell, who was 23 
years old at the time of trial in 2009, testified he went to high school with Dobbs and 
Ellis and had known them since the ninth or tenth grade. Mitchell identified both 
defendants in the courtroom and said he had been "cool" with Ellis in high school until 
Ellis began a friendship with Dobbs.  
 
Mitchell testified he was sitting in a chair at TJ's Barbershop getting a haircut 
when he saw Dobbs walk through the door. Mitchell testified Dobbs wore a hat on his 
head and a bandana on his face and Mitchell could see only the space around his eyes. 
Mitchell could not recall the color of the hat or the bandana, nor could he recall the 
clothing worn by Dobbs. According to Mitchell, Dobbs carried some kind of assault rifle, 
probably an AK-47 or AR-15.  
 
Upon seeing the gun, Mitchell took off running and told Josenberger to run. 
Mitchell followed Josenberger out the back door of the barbershop. Mitchell heard 12 or 
13 shots and was shot at least once before stumbling out the door. Outside, Mitchell saw 
Josenberger lying on the ground and ran past his body before being "shot some more" 
and falling to the ground. 
 
7 
 
 
 
Dobbs then approached Mitchell, stood over him, and attempted to shoot him 
again. Mitchell heard a "click, click, click," and he assumed Dobbs' gun was empty. 
Mitchell testified that by that point, the bandana had fallen from Dobbs' face and Mitchell 
got a good look at Dobbs as he stood over him. Mitchell testified he had "[n]o doubt" that 
Dobbs was the gunman.  
 
After Mitchell heard the gun click, he closed his eyes so Dobbs would believe he 
was dead. When Dobbs ran off, Mitchell opened his eyes and saw Dobbs get into a 
Monte Carlo that Mitchell recognized as belonging to Dobbs' brother. Mitchell could see 
Casey Ellis driving the Monte Carlo, and he watched it go west on Washington 
Boulevard.  
 
Mitchell recalled talking to an officer about 5 minutes after the Monte Carlo drove 
off and asking for an ambulance. However, he could not recall telling the officer that two 
men entered the shop and started shooting. Mitchell also testified he identified Dobbs and 
Ellis from two separate photo lineups during a subsequent interview with detectives.  
 
On cross-examination, defense counsel attempted to impeach Mitchell's 
identification of Dobbs and Ellis, pointing out that Mitchell made various statements to 
detectives explaining how he had been able to identify Dobbs and that he used uncertain 
language in his identifications, including indicating the gunman "looked like" Dobbs. 
Defense counsel also emphasized that Mitchell made inconsistent statements regarding 
whether Dobbs wore a hat on the day of the shooting and about whether the bandana 
covered Dobbs' nose. Finally, in response to defense counsel's questioning regarding 
prior convictions involving truth or veracity, Mitchell conceded he had two juvenile 
adjudications, one for burglary and one for theft.  
 
8 
 
 
 
On redirect, Mitchell clarified that although he used various statements to describe 
how he knew or recognized Dobbs and Ellis, he did not intend to imply that he was 
uncertain about his identification of either defendant.  
 
Claude Harper, a crime scene investigator, processed and videotaped the crime 
scene, took photographs, and collected evidence. Harper identified a photograph of a 
blood smear on the sidewalk in front of the barbershop and two swabs taken from that 
blood smear. Harper also identified other evidence found at the scene, including a bloody 
earring, several fired cartridges, a bullet fragment, and a live .223 caliber Remington 
PMC cartridge. Harper testified that based on his training and experience, all of the 
cartridges discovered at the scene were consistent with ammunition used in a military-
type rifle such as an AR-15 or M-16.  
  
Detective Bryan Block testified he obtained DNA samples from Dobbs, Mitchell, 
and Josenberger, but that testing of the samples did not link Dobbs to the crime scene. 
Testing revealed that Mitchell's blood matched the blood smear on the sidewalk in front 
of the barbershop and the blood on the earring found at the scene. 
 
 
Based on witness reports, Block located the vehicle used in the homicide and 
identified the owner of the vehicle as Dobbs' brother, Dion Dobbs. Block testified 
officers found some type of "magazine pouch" in the Monte Carlo and that the pouch 
could be used to hold a gun magazine.  
 
Block interviewed Mitchell at the hospital 12 days after the shooting. According to 
Block, although Mitchell was in pain and on medication, he was coherent and able to 
talk. During the interview, Mitchell identified Dobbs as the gunman and Ellis as the 
driver, and he seemed certain about both identifications.  
 
9 
 
 
 
Regarding the firearm charge, Dobbs stipulated he had a prior felony conviction 
and was prohibited from possessing a firearm on the date of the shooting. 
 
During the instruction conference, the State objected to the eyewitness 
identification instruction, arguing it was unnecessary and inappropriate because Mitchell 
knew both defendants. The court disagreed, reasoning that Mitchell initially told police 
he did not know the men involved in the shooting. The court asked defense counsel for 
any comments, additions, or deletions to the instructions, to which defense counsel 
responded:  "We're satisfied with these instructions."  
 
During closing arguments, the prosecutor acknowledged that identity was a 
disputed issue. She also reminded the jury that Mitchell was the only person who had the 
opportunity to see Dobbs' face and that Mitchell knew both defendants from high school. 
Finally, the prosecutor pointed out that other witnesses corroborated various aspects of 
Mitchell's testimony.  
 
Counsel for both defendants emphasized in closing arguments that Mitchell was 
the only person who identified the defendants, pointed out inconsistencies in Mitchell's 
testimony, and challenged Mitchell's credibility. Ellis' counsel specifically reminded the 
jury of the factors identified in the eyewitness identification instruction.  
 
In rebuttal, the prosecutor reminded the jury that Detective Block testified 
Mitchell seemed certain in his identification of the defendants. The prosecutor cautioned 
the jury against singling out the eyewitness identification instruction and urged them 
instead to read all of the instructions together. The prosecutor noted, again, that Mitchell 
had known both defendants for years, and argued this case presented a "different 
situation" than those in which a witness identified a stranger.  
 
10 
 
 
 
At some point after deliberations began, the jury asked:  "What is 'Truth & 
Veracity'? How is it different from purgery [sic]?" The court responded by asking the 
jury to be more specific, and the jury then explained: "We were told that [Mitchell] had 
been convicted with counts against him of 'truth and verasity [sic].' This could help us 
understand the character of the witness if we could better understand this conviction." 
After consultation with all parties, the court called the jurors into the courtroom and 
advised as follows:  "[Mitchell] was convicted as a juvenile of burglary in 2000 and 
misdemeanor theft in 2001."  
 
Ultimately, the jury acquitted Ellis of all charges but found Dobbs guilty of first-
degree premeditated murder, attempted first-degree premeditated murder, and criminal 
possession of a firearm. At sentencing, the district court denied Dobbs' motion for a new 
trial and imposed a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for 25 
years for the first-degree murder conviction and a consecutive controlling prison sentence 
of 155 months for the other two convictions.  
 
Our jurisdiction over Dobbs' direct appeal arises under K.S.A. 22-3601(b)(1) 
(maximum sentence of life imprisonment and conviction of off-grid crime). 
  
DISCUSSION 
 
The district court did not abuse its discretion in granting the State's request for a 
continuance under K.S.A. 22-3402(5)(c).  
 
Dobbs claims the district court abused its discretion in granting the State's request 
for a continuance under K.S.A. 22-3402(5)(c) to obtain reports from the KBI regarding 
several pieces of evidence submitted for forensic analysis. Dobbs argues the delay caused 
by the improper continuance resulted in a violation of his statutory right to a speedy trial, 
and he seeks discharge from liability for his crimes under K.S.A. 22-3402(1).  
11 
 
 
 
 
Standard of Review 
 
When reviewing a district court's decision to grant a continuance under K.S.A. 22-
3402(5), we apply the abuse of discretion standard. State v. Beaman, 295 Kan. 853, 862-
63, 286 P.3d 876 (2012); State v. Cook, 281 Kan. 961, 986, 135 P.3d 1147 (2006). A 
judicial action constitutes an abuse of discretion if the action (1) is arbitrary, fanciful, or 
unreasonable; (2) is based on an error of law; or (3) is based on an error of fact. State v. 
Ward, 292 Kan. 541, 550, 256 P.3d 801 (2011), cert. denied 132 S. Ct. 1594 (2012). 
Dobbs bears the burden of establishing that an abuse of discretion occurred. See State v. 
McCullough, 293 Kan. 970, 996, 270 P.3d 1142 (2012).  
 
Analysis 
 
The State has a statutory duty to bring a defendant to trial within 90 days of 
arraignment if the defendant is being held in custody solely on the charges related to the 
trial. K.S.A. 22-3402(1); State v. Breedlove, 295 Kan. 481, 486, 286 P.3d 1123 (2012). If 
the State fails to bring the defendant to trial within the 90-day period, the defendant may 
be entitled to be discharged from liability for the crimes charged. K.S.A. 22-3402(1).  
 
But delays attributable to court-ordered continuances authorized under K.S.A. 22-
3402(5) are not counted against the State in computing the 90-day period. K.S.A. 22-
3402(1); State v. Edwards, 291 Kan. 532, 538, 243 P.3d 683 (2010); State v. Hines, 269 
Kan. 698, 703, 7 P.3d 1237 (2000). A district court may grant a continuance if (1) 
material evidence is unavailable, (2) reasonable efforts have been made to procure that 
evidence, and (3) reasonable grounds exist to believe the evidence can be obtained and 
trial can begin within the succeeding 90 days. K.S.A. 22-3402(5)(c).  
 
12 
 
 
 
Dobbs was arraigned on January 13, 2009, and his trial was scheduled for April 6, 
2009. In March 2009, the State filed a written motion for a continuance under K.S.A. 22-
3402(5)(c). The State indicated it had submitted "physical evidence" to the KBI in 
October 2008 for DNA, firearm, and toolmark analysis, but the testing would not be 
completed for at least 30-60 days due to a KBI lab backlog. Further, the State alleged 
reasonable grounds existed to believe the evidence would be available within the next 90 
days. 
 
At the March 31, 2009, hearing on the State's motion, David Morales, an 
investigator from the district attorney's office, testified about the KBI's backlog of cases 
requiring laboratory testing and indicated the prosecution had submitted the evidence in 
this case to the KBI in October 2008. Morales testified he had spoken with Barbara Crim-
Swanson at the KBI regarding the status of the testing in this case and had learned that 
the testing should be completed within the next 60 days.  
 
Following Morales' testimony, the prosecutor asserted the unavailable evidence 
was "material," arguing:  
 
"[T]he evidence that we're talking about consists of in excess of 40 shell casings from the 
scene, some physical evidence that—that could be connected to one of the defendants, 
including an earring and a pouch—I want to say a pouch. I'm not entirely sure if that's a 
correct description. But this other—this is all physical evidence from the scene. It's 
material both to the identity—excuse me—of the shooter as well as to the manner of 
death of Muryel Josenberger and the cause of the injuries to Mario Mitchell."  
 
Defense counsel objected to the continuance, noting Dobbs had been in custody 
for over 5 months, and urged the court to reconsider the amount of Dobbs' bond if it 
granted the continuance. The court granted the continuance, stating: 
 
13 
 
 
 
 
"[T]he State has presented a case that appears to match the requirements of the 
K.S.A. 22-3402 Subsection 5(c). This is material evidence which is unavailable. 
Reasonable efforts have been made to procure such evidence. There [are] reasonable 
grounds to believe the evidence can be obtained [and] trial commenced within the next 
succeeding 90 days.  
 
"Based upon that and the testimony of the investigator, the State's motion to 
continue the matter is granted. You've got 90 days, but the condition is that as soon as 
you obtain the material, you notify the parties and the Court and we'll see if we could get 
these fellows scheduled . . . as soon as possible . . . within the 90 days."  
 
Only 77 days elapsed from Dobbs' arraignment to the district court's decision to 
grant the continuance. An 83-day delay resulted from the continuance, and Dobbs' trial 
commenced 160 days after arraignment.  
 
On appeal, Dobbs argues the district court abused its discretion in granting the 
continuance because the State failed to establish the materiality of the evidence at issue 
and, consequently, the continuance violated his statutory right to a speedy trial. 
Specifically, Dobbs argues (1) Morales referred only to DNA testing and not to the 
testing of the shell casings; therefore, the State failed to prove the KBI backlog affected 
the testing of the shell casings, and (2) the State failed to establish the materiality of the 
earring and magazine pouch, which were subjected to DNA testing, because the 
prosecution "never explained its basis for connecting these objects to the gunman, or why 
these objects might yield DNA evidence that would identify him."  
 
Dobbs relies on Smith v. Deppish, 248 Kan. 217, 807 P.2d 144 (1991), and State v. 
Brown, 266 Kan. 563, 973 P.2d 773 (1999), to support his suggestion that the State must 
establish the materiality of unavailable evidence by demonstrating some connection 
between the defendant and the evidence submitted for testing before a continuance is 
warranted under K.S.A. 22-3402(5)(c).  
14 
 
 
 
 
Neither of the cited cases supports Dobbs' position. The primary issue in Smith 
was whether the State made a reasonable effort to timely submit samples for testing. In 
affirming the trial court's grant of a continuance, the Smith court implicitly approved the 
trial court's reasoning that the continuance should be granted because the tested evidence 
could be material, not because the materiality of the evidence had been conclusively 
established before the court granted the continuance. See 248 Kan. at 223 (citing trial 
court's reasoning that "if the evidence was tested, the test results could produce either 
exculpatory evidence material to the defense or evidence material to the identity of the 
defendant as the murderer").   
 
Similarly, in Brown this court affirmed the trial court's decision to grant a 
continuance when a connection between the evidence submitted for testing and the victim 
was possible, but not conclusively established. There, the victim's body had not been 
recovered, and the State sought a continuance to obtain DNA testing on bone and teeth 
fragments found in a salvage yard where the victim had purportedly been cremated by the 
defendant. As in Smith, the defendant in Brown did not challenge the materiality of the 
evidence. Yet, in affirming the continuance, the Brown court noted the State was "entitled 
to attempt to match the bones and teeth fragments found at the crime scene to the victim's 
DNA." (Emphasis added.) Brown, 266 Kan. at 572. The Brown court further noted that 
the materiality of the evidence "did not change when the testing or lack of it did not result 
in admissible evidence." 266 Kan. at 571. 
 
We have not previously defined "material evidence" in the context of a 
continuance under K.S.A. 22-3402(5)(c). See State v. Jackson, 280 Kan. 16, 25, 118 P.3d 
1238 (2005) ("We have previously upheld continuances of up to 120 days for DNA 
testing in murder cases without specifically analyzing whether the DNA evidence was 
material."), cert. denied 546 U.S. 1184 (2006). In other contexts, we have explained that 
15 
 
 
 
"[m]aterial evidence is evidence that '"has a legitimate and effective bearing on the 
decision of the case and is in dispute."' State v. Garcia, 285 Kan. 1, 14, 169 P.3d 1069 
(2007)." State v. Preston, 294 Kan. 27, 32, 272 P.3d 1275 (2012).  
 
But both Brown and Smith support the proposition that evidence is "material" for 
purposes of K.S.A. 22-3402(5)(c) when the evidence may have a legitimate and effective 
bearing on the decision of the case, i.e., when the evidence has the potential to inculpate 
or exculpate the defendant. See also Jackson, 280 Kan. at 25 (rejecting defendant's 
argument "DNA evidence from the multiple crime scenes" was not sufficiently material 
to support State's request for continuance under prior version of the statute and reasoning 
"[e]ven though the DNA evidence did not directly implicate Jackson, it implicated his 
codefendants and corroborated" other testimony). Consequently, we reject Dobbs' 
position that the State must demonstrate a definitive connection between the defendant or 
the victim and the evidence submitted for testing before that evidence can be considered 
material for purposes of granting a continuance under K.S.A. 22-3402(5)(c).  
 
  
Here, the record supports the district court's determination that the evidence was 
material for purposes of granting the continuance. Morales testified that evidence was 
submitted for DNA testing in October 2008 and would not be tested before trial due to 
the KBI's backlog. Although Morales offered no specifics about the evidence submitted 
for testing, the prosecutor informed the court that the evidence consisted of over 40 shell 
casings, a bloody earring, and some type of pouch. The prosecutor further informed the 
court that the evidence found at the crime scene could be material to the identity of the 
gunman and to the manner of death and injury of the victims.  
 
Accordingly, we conclude the district court did not abuse its discretion in granting 
the continuance under K.S.A. 22-3402(5)(c). Further, because the 83-day delay 
attributable to the continuance does not count against the State, the district court did not 
16 
 
 
 
violate Dobbs' statutory right to a speedy trial, and he is not entitled to a discharge from 
liability for his crimes under K.S.A. 22-3402(1). 
 
The district court did not commit clear error in giving the jury an eyewitness 
identification instruction.  
 
Consistent with PIK Crim. 3d 52.20, the district court instructed the jury, in 
relevant part, that "[i]n weighing the reliability of eyewitness identification testimony" 
the jury should consider "[t]he degree of certainty demonstrated by the witness at the 
time of any identification of the accused." Dobbs claims he is entitled to a new trial 
because the district court's instruction on eyewitness identification included the degree of 
certainty factor that he contends this court disapproved in State v. Hunt, 275 Kan. 811, 69 
P.3d 571 (2003). The State argues the district court did not err in including the factor in 
light of State v. Trammel, 278 Kan. 265, 269-70, 92 P.3d 1101 (2004).  
 
Standard of Review 
 
 
Because Dobbs failed to object to the instruction, we apply the clear-error rule. 
See K.S.A. 22-3414(3); State v. Marshall, 294 Kan. 850, 867, 281 P.3d 1112 (2012). To 
determine whether a given instruction was clearly erroneous, we first determine whether 
the instruction was erroneous. This is a legal question subject to de novo review. If we 
find error, we then determine whether reversal is required. Reversal is required only if we 
are firmly convinced the jury would have reached a different verdict absent the error. We 
have unlimited review over the reversibility determination and, in conducting that review, 
we examine the entire record as a whole. The defendant bears the burden of establishing 
clear error under K.S.A. 22-3414(3). State v. Williams, 295 Kan. 506, 515-16, 286 P.3d 
195 (2012). 
 
17 
 
 
 
Analysis 
 
We recently issued two decisions impacting our analysis of the instructional issue 
in this case:  Marshall, 294 Kan. 850, and State v. Mitchell, 294 Kan. 469, 275 P.3d 905 
(2012).  
 
In Mitchell, we reaffirmed that a trial court should issue a cautionary eyewitness 
identification instruction when "an eyewitness identification is a critical part of the 
prosecution's case and there is [a] serious question about that identification's reliability." 
Mitchell, 294 Kan. at 479. But we also held that it is error to instruct the jury on the 
degree of certainty factor that is included in PIK Crim. 3d 52.20. See Mitchell, 294 Kan. 
at 481 (concluding instruction, as written, "prompts the jury to conclude that an 
eyewitness identification is more reliable when the witness expresses greater certainty, 
which places undue weight on eyewitness certainty evidence"). Thus, the district court 
erred in instructing the jury on the degree of certainty factor in this case. The only 
remaining question is whether this error requires reversal.  
 
We begin by considering whether the eyewitness identification was crucial to the 
State's case and whether the witness stated an opinion of certainty. See Marshall, 294 
Kan. at 867-68; Mitchell, 294 Kan. at 481-83. "[I]f the answer to either question is 'no,' 
then the inclusion of the degree of certainty factor would not have actually affected the 
verdict," and, accordingly, would not constitute clear error. (Emphasis added.) Marshall, 
294 Kan. at 868. 
 
If, however, the answer to both questions is yes, the next step is to "consider the 
impact of the jury instruction in light of the entire record and additional considerations." 
Marshall, 294 Kan. at 868. At this stage, "[t]he appropriate appellate consideration is 
18 
 
 
 
whether 'other procedural safeguards mitigated' the deficiency in the eyewitness 
instruction." 294 Kan. at 868.  
 
Those safeguards include, but are not limited to, the defendant's constitutional 
right to confront the witnesses against him or her; the defendant's constitutional right to 
effective assistance of counsel "'who can expose the flaws in the eyewitness' testimony 
during cross-examination and focus the jury's attention on the fallibility of such 
testimony during opening and closing arguments'"; eyewitness-specific jury instructions 
that "'warn the jury to take care in appraising identification evidence'"; and the 
constitutional requirement that the State prove every element of the crime beyond a 
reasonable doubt. Marshall, 294 Kan. at 868-69 (quoting Perry v. New Hampshire, 565 
U.S. ___, 132 S. Ct. 716, 728-29, 181 L. Ed. 2d 694 [2012]). 
 
In this case, the answer to both initial questions is "yes." First, Mitchell's 
identification of Dobbs was crucial to the State's case because Mitchell was the only 
witness who identified Dobbs as the gunman and there was no physical evidence placing 
Dobbs at the crime scene. See Marshall, 294 Kan. at 868 (finding witness' identification 
critical when charges "rested almost entirely on" witness' identification of defendant); 
Mitchell, 294 Kan. at 482 (finding witness' identification critical when it was only 
evidence connecting defendant to crime). Further, the prosecutor emphasized the 
importance of Mitchell's testimony in closing argument when she characterized Mitchell 
as the "star witness" on the issue of identity.  
 
Second, the jury heard both Mitchell and Detective Block express certainty as to 
Mitchell's identification of Dobbs as the gunman. Mitchell, after being thoroughly cross-
examined about discrepancies in his statements, clarified that although he used various 
statements to describe how he knew or recognized the defendants, he did not intend to 
imply uncertainty about his identification of either defendant. And Block testified that 
19 
 
 
 
when he interviewed Mitchell in the hospital, Mitchell expressed no uncertainty in 
identifying Dobbs as the shooter.  
 
 
These expressions of certainty may have affected the jury's deliberations. See 
Marshall, 294 Kan. at 868 (citing similar "certainty" testimony presented at the 
defendant's trial); Mitchell, 294 Kan. at 482 (noting that trial evidence indicated witness 
was "100 percent certain" when he identified defendant from photo lineup). 
 
Because the district court erroneously instructed the jury to consider Mitchell's 
degree of certainty and because we have affirmatively answered both initial inquiries of 
our analysis, we next determine whether "other procedural safeguards mitigated any 
deficiency in the cautionary instruction." Mitchell, 294 Kan. at 482; accord Marshall, 294 
Kan. at 868.  
 
 
Here, Dobbs fully exercised his right to confront Mitchell at trial, and defense 
counsel for both defendants thoroughly cross-examined Mitchell about inconsistencies in 
his descriptions of the gunman and his identification of Dobbs. Ellis' counsel elicited 
testimony indicating Mitchell had previous "incidents" or "fights" with Dobbs and later 
argued Mitchell may have implicated Dobbs to "settle old scores." Ellis' counsel also 
elicited testimony that Mitchell had prior juvenile adjudications for burglary and theft 
which implicated Mitchell's "truth or veracity." 
 
Further, both counsel utilized closing arguments to remind the jury of 
inconsistencies and discrepancies in Mitchell's testimony, the factors to consider in 
weighing the credibility of an eyewitness' identification, and the State's burden of proof. 
Specifically, Dobbs' counsel suggested Mitchell's identification of Dobbs was suspect 
because Mitchell initially told police he couldn't identify the shooter but 2 weeks later 
Mitchell identified the gunman as Dobbs and couched his identification in ambiguous 
20 
 
 
 
language, i.e., saying the gunman "looked like to me Donnell Dobbs." Similarly, Ellis' 
counsel emphasized that Mitchell initially told police he could not identify the gunman or 
the getaway driver but later told detectives Dobbs and Ellis committed the crimes.  
 
 
Under these unique circumstances, we conclude the procedural safeguards 
sufficiently counteracted the erroneous instruction. This conclusion seems particularly 
appropriate here, where Dobbs was not a stranger to Mitchell. As we noted in Mitchell, 
the "normal concerns about eyewitness reliability" may not be present when the witness 
is personally familiar with the defendant. See Mitchell, 294 Kan. at 482 (discussing 
caselaw suggesting it is unnecessary to give cautionary eyewitness identification 
instruction when witness is personally familiar with defendant). Here, Mitchell testified 
he had known Dobbs since high school and that is why Mitchell recognized Dobbs as he 
stood over him with a gun.  
 
Finally, we note that even though Mitchell's identification of Dobbs was the State's 
strongest evidence implicating Dobbs, it was not the only evidence. See Marshall, 294 
Kan. at 870 (noting State's strongest evidence was witness' identification of defendant, 
but other circumstantial evidence linked defendant to crime). Here, Mitchell identified 
the getaway car as a gray Monte Carlo he recognized as belonging to Dobbs' brother, 
Dion. Two other witnesses, Montiel and Union, also testified they saw a gray or silver 
Monte Carlo or Impala leaving the barbershop after the shooting. Further, both witnesses 
identified photographs of Dion's Monte Carlo as the car they saw leaving the barbershop. 
Finally, Campbell's and Jackson's accounts of the shooting were consistent with 
Mitchell's trial testimony. All three men testified that a lone gunman wearing a hat and a 
bandana over his face walked into the barbershop with a "long gun" or assault rifle and 
began shooting. Thus, as the prosecutor argued, other witnesses corroborated several 
aspects of Mitchell's testimony.  
 
 
 
21 
 
 
 
In conclusion, we hold the trial court erred in giving an eyewitness identification 
instruction which included the degree of certainty factor disapproved of by this court in 
Mitchell. But other procedural safeguards in this case sufficiently counteracted that 
instruction. Specifically, through cross-examination and closing argument, the jury was 
thoroughly exposed to the facts and circumstances both in favor of and against the 
accuracy of Mitchell's identification of Dobbs as the gunman. See Marshall, 294 Kan. at 
870; Mitchell, 294 Kan. at 483. Further, other witnesses corroborated aspects of 
Mitchell's testimony. 
 
We conclude under these circumstances that there is no reasonable possibility the 
jury would have rendered a different verdict absent the error; thus, reversal is not 
required. 
 
Affirmed.