Opinion ID: 1653080
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: evidential questions

Text: Lonnecker argues that evidence of the pit bull incident in the kitchen is irrelevant or, if relevant, should have been excluded, since its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. As Lonnecker characterizes the situation, the evidence concerning the dog and the weapons had no probative value, and the only thing the State accomplished by adducing the evidence was to cast [Lonnecker] as a vicious person who owned a vicious dog and surrounded himself with loaded weapons. Brief for appellant at 6. Relevant evidence means evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence. Neb.Evid.R. 401, Neb.Rev.Stat. § 27-401 (Reissue 1989). Neb.Evid.R. 402 permits the admission of relevant evidence only. State v. Robertson, 219 Neb. 782, 366 N.W.2d 429 (1985). To be relevant, evidence must be rationally related to an issue by a likelihood, not a mere possibility, of proving or disproving an issue to be decided. State v. Baltimore, 236 Neb. 736, 463 N.W.2d 808 (1990); State v. Robertson, supra . Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence. Neb.Evid.R. 403, Neb.Rev.Stat. § 27-403 (Reissue 1989). A ruling pursuant to Neb. Evid.R. 403 for exclusion of relevant evidence will be upheld on appeal unless the ruling is an abuse of discretion. State v. Baltimore, supra . In the context of Neb. Evid.R. 403, unfair prejudice means an undue tendency to suggest a decision on an improper basis. Lincoln Grain v. Coopers & Lybrand, 216 Neb. 433, 345 N.W.2d 300 (1984). An issue in Lonnecker's case is his relationship to or association with the house where the marijuana cultivation was located. The actions of Brau's pit bull outside the house displayed the dog's reaction toward intruders into its territory. When the dog entered the house, Lonnecker's intervention and ability to calm the pit bull as it was about to attack the deputies indicate Lonnecker's established and amicable relationship with the riled dog. Without that relationship through prior contact with the pit bull, it is improbable that Lonnecker would have risked coming between the deputies and the dog and, moreover, highly unlikely that Lonnecker would have been able to handle the dog as he did. The canine episode reflected Lonnecker's tie with a dog which was associated with the premises. In Lonnecker's case, reactions by man's best friend tended to provide some information for an answer to the question concerning Lonnecker's presence and connection with the premises. Hence, we are unable to conclude that the pit bull incident lacked a rational relationship as proof to establish Lonnecker's involvement or connection with the premises where deputies found the cultivated marijuana. Also, the danger of unfair prejudice did not substantially outweigh the probative value of the evidence. Hence, there was no abuse of discretion in the trial court's refusal to exclude the evidence in question. However, we are unable to discern any probative value in the State's evidence concerning the firearms found inside the house. Because the State's firearm evidence lacks probative value, that evidence is irrelevant, see Neb.Evid.R. 401, and, consequently, is inadmissible, see Neb.Evid.R. 402. In a jury trial of a criminal case, whether an error in admitting or excluding evidence reaches a constitutional dimension or not, an erroneous evidential ruling results in prejudice to a defendant unless the State demonstrates that the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Cox, 231 Neb. 495, 504, 437 N.W.2d 134, 140 (1989). See, also, State v. Baltimore, supra ; State v. Watkins, 227 Neb. 677, 419 N.W.2d 660 (1988). Error in admitting the State's firearm evidence was rendered harmless through Brau's acknowledgment that he owned the firearms and his explanation for the presence of the firearms. We conclude that the State's firearm evidence, although erroneously admitted, was, nevertheless, harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.