Opinion ID: 2520727
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Statements of the Prosecution

Text: [¶ 26] Finally, Adams asserts the prosecution committed plain error when it elicited testimony and thereafter inferred in closing argument that the Leibees and Hartmann had been convicted of offenses arising out of the same circumstances for which Adams had been charged. Thus Adams claims that the State improperly suggested that the jury could infer that Adams was guilty of the crimes alleged against him because an accomplice/co-conspirator of his was guilty. In support of this contention, Adams cites the case of Kwallek v. State, 596 P.2d 1372 (Wyo.1979) and subsequent cases addressing the same subject. [¶ 27] In Urrutia v. State, 924 P.2d at 969, we recognized: Appellant relies upon Kwallek v. State, 596 P.2d 1372 (Wyo.1979), in making his argument that admitting his co-conspirators' testimony was a prejudicial error which mandates a reversal. In that case, this Court ruled that, when two persons are indicted for separate offenses growing out of the same circumstances, the fact that one has pleaded guilty is inadmissible against the other. 596 P.2d at 1375. [E]vidence of a witness' guilt for an offense which arose out of a circumstance leading to the defendant's trial implies that the defendant is also guilty. Such an implication violates a defendant's right to have a trial on its own merits. Wells v. State, 846 P.2d 589, 595 (Wyo.1992), denial of habeas corpus aff'd sub. nom. Wells v. Shillinger, 37 F.3d 1510 (10th Cir.1994). See also Porth v. State, 868 P.2d 236 (Wyo. 1994); Grable v. State, 601 P.2d 1001 (Wyo.1979). The defendant in Kwallek presented appropriate and timely objections to the testimony which was given about his co-conspirator's guilty plea. 596 P.2d at 1376. The Court determined that the trial court's admission of the guilty plea evidence amounted to a prejudicial error. Id. [¶ 28] In this case, as was the case in Urrutia, Adams did not object to the statements by the prosecutor that he now claims were made in error. Applying a plain error analysis, review of the record reveals that Benjamin testified that he had been convicted of delivering marijuana after authorities conducted a controlled buy at his residence. Similarly, both Brooke and Hartmann testified that they had been convicted of delivering controlled substances. Brooke stated that she was convicted of delivering both marijuana and methamphetamine, while Hartmann testified she was convicted of delivering methamphetamine. The prosecutor then made comments concerning these circumstances during closing argument. Specifically, the prosecutor stated: What makes sense? I'm going to ask you to use your common sense. I mean if what he's [Adam's] telling you is true, that everybody else is lying, then why would everybody else lie? The ones that are in jail, the ones that have been convicted said, I did something. I did it. Who did you do it with? Marty. Why would they do that? ... And I talked a little bit in jury selection about my witnesses being drug dealers, drug users.... I hope you don't hold it against the State that some of my star witnesses are people that came in here in handcuffs. People that deal drugs, buy drugs are criminals. They are criminals. They are in jail. They are criminals. They are convicted felons. And Marty Adams was involved in it, and he is right along with them. Therefore, it is clear that the first prong of the plain error test was satisfied. In addition, a clear and unequivocal rule of law was violated as Kwallek and its progeny dictate. [¶ 29] However, Adams has not shown that he suffered material prejudice as a result of the statements made by the prosecutor. In applying the factors set forth in Mazurek v. State, 10 P.3d 531, 539 (Wyo. 2000), we do not recognize that the prosecutor's remarks had any significant tendency to mislead the jury and prejudice the accused. [4] Further, the prosecutor's remarks were not extensive. As we have already explained, substantial evidence existed for Adams' convictions. Additionally, we find that absent the remarks made by the prosecutor, the strength of the evidence used to establish Adams' guilt was substantial. [¶ 30] We also recognize, as this court did in Urrutia, 924 P.2d at 970, that, because the jury's attention was not inordinately directed to the improper statements, this case is distinguishable from Kwallek. In Kwallek, the defendant was prejudiced, in part, because the trial court twice overruled the defendant's objections and the jury may have been improperly left with the intent of the judge by these rulings. Such did not occur in this case as no objections were made by Adams. See also Black v. State , at ¶¶ 44-45. [¶ 31] Further, in this case the defense upon cross-examination questioned the Leibees about the circumstances surrounding their respective convictions in an effort to discredit their testimony. Indeed, Adams' trial strategy was to assert that it was the Leibees who sold methamphetamine and that Adams merely bought drugs from them for his own personal use. Adams further stated that he made trips to Sheridan primarily to see his girlfriend, Andrea Weber, a cousin of the Leibees, and to buy methamphetamine from the Leibees for his own personal use. In addition, Adams testified that he merely gave Benjamin a syringe in the bathroom in May of 2001 so that Benjamin could inject the methamphetamine that Benjamin had brought with him. Adams also claimed that he purchased the stereo speakers from Cherry for cash. Accordingly, it appears that the statements made by the prosecutor may have served, in actuality, to benefit Adams' defense and the theory proffered by him at trial. Therefore, additional support exists for our finding that plain error did not occur in this instance. [¶ 32] Benjamin's conviction stemmed from the drug marijuana, while Brooke was convicted of delivering both marijuana and methamphetamine. Hartmann was convicted of delivering methamphetamine. However, no connection was ever established that these convictions even remotely stemmed from the same circumstances which acted as the foundation of the crimes alleged against Adams. Moreover, this court has recognized the principle that the State may properly introduce evidence of a witness' prior felony conviction on direct examination to lessen the sting of such an attack on cross-examination by the defense. Gentry v. State, 806 P.2d 1269, 1272 (Wyo. 1991). [¶ 33] Thus, we hold that no plain error occurred with respect to the actions of the prosecutor when she elicited testimony and thereafter inferred in closing argument that the Leibees and Hartmann had been convicted of offenses arising out of the same circumstances for which Adams had been charged.