Opinion ID: 1292205
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Companion criminal proceedings

Text: Olivero was charged in separate criminal proceedings with misdemeanor assault and battery. He contends that a review of the companion criminal proceedings against him by the district court deprived him of a fair trial. However, it was Olivero's attorney who first made reference to the criminal proceedings: Q. [Peccole] Sir, you [Olivero] testified thatwere you charged with anything as a result of this incident? A. [Olivero] Yes. I was charged with, I think assault and battery and aiming a weapon. Q. And what were the results of those charges? A. They were dismissed and I wasI had to pay a thousand dollar donation. It was only after Olivero's response, which Lowe argues was not accurate, that the district court elected to review the entire criminal record. After viewing the record, the district court determined that all evidence in regard to Olivero's criminal case would be stricken. We conclude that Olivero was not harmed by the review of the companion criminal proceedings. In a jury trial, the judge's withdrawal of evidence coupled with a cautionary instruction would have cured any error. See State v. Heisdorffer, 164 N.W.2d 173, 176 (Iowa 1969). In the absence of a jury, the district judge was certainly able to resolve the matter without considering the excluded criminal record.