Opinion ID: 2218193
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: relevance of shotgun, shells, and photographs

Text: Messersmith next argues that the shotgun and shells found in his bedroom closet, and the photographs depicting numerous tools and auto parts which were not included in the theft charge against him, were irrelevant and, therefore, improperly admitted. 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. Evidence which is not relevant is not admissible. Neb.Evid.R. 402. There are two components to relevant evidence: materiality and probative value. Materiality looks to the relation between the propositions for which the evidence is offered and the issues in the case. If the evidence is offered to help prove a proposition which is not a matter in issue, the evidence is immaterial. What is `in issue,' that is, within the range of the litigated controversy, is determined mainly by the pleadings, read in the light of the rules of pleading and controlled by the substantive law.... The second aspect of relevance is probative value, the tendency of evidence to establish the proposition that it is offered to prove.... State v. Baltimore, supra 236 Neb. at 740, 463 N.W.2d at 812 (quoting McCormick on Evidence § 185 (E. Cleary 3d ed. 1984)). 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. Lonnecker, supra 237 Neb. at 210, 465 N.W.2d at 740-41. Accord State v. Baltimore, supra . As previously mentioned, the main issues in Messersmith's case were his knowledge that the auto parts were stolen and his intent to deliver controlled substances found in his home. We cannot see how the shotgun and shells found in Messersmith's closet relate to, or tend to prove, essential elements of the charges against him. Cf. State v. Lonnecker, supra . Hence, the shotgun and shells lacked probative value, were irrelevant, and, therefore, were inadmissible. See Neb.Evid.R. 401 and 402. Similarly, the photographs depicting auto parts which were not the subject of the theft charge against Messersmith were irrelevant to any element in either the theft or drug charge against Messersmith. Regarding the photographs, no witness designated the depicted items as stolen property. The condition of the premises was not an issue and provided no information to help the jury to resolve any question placed before them. Consequently, the photographs were irrelevant and should have been excluded. 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). Accord, State v. Lonnecker, supra ; State v. Watkins, 227 Neb. 677, 419 N.W.2d 660 (1988). Erroneous admission of evidence is harmless error and does not require reversal if the evidence erroneously admitted is cumulative and other relevant evidence, properly admitted, or admitted without objection, supports the finding by the trier of fact. State v. Cox, supra 231 Neb. at 504, 437 N.W.2d at 140. Accord State v. Twohig, 238 Neb. 92, 469 N.W.2d 344 (1991). See, also, Neb.Evid.R. 103(1), Neb.Rev.Stat. § 27-103(1) (Reissue 1989) ([e]rror may not be predicated upon a ruling which admits or excludes evidence unless a substantial right of the party is affected); Neb. Rev.Stat. § 29-2308 (Reissue 1989). After a review of the record, we find that although the shotgun, shells, and photographs were irrelevant and should have been excluded, other evidence negatived prejudice from error in admitting that irrelevant evidence; for instance, the stolen auto parts identified in Messersmith's car; Strayer's and Stroh's testimony that they informed Messersmith that the parts, incorporated into Messersmith's car, were stolen from Ballou; items found in Messersmith's bedroom closet, such as several containers of methamphetamine and amphetamine, small self-sealing plastic bags, a triple-beam balance scale, sifter, funnel, scoop, and powdered sugar, all items commonly used for repackaging and sale of controlled substances; $1,255 cash in Messersmith's wallet; a list of names and monetary amounts related to those names; and a metric conversion chart. The shotgun and shells, more or less, were swallowed by all the other admissible evidence. The photographs of the interior of the Messersmith residence, including what can best be characterized as a curious collection of household bric-a-brac and novel knickknacks, although irrelevant, were rendered harmless error by Ballou's meticulous testimony accompanied by a laundry list of auto parts stolen from Ballou. When we keep in mind that circumstantial evidence may support a finding that a defendant intended to distribute, deliver, or dispense a controlled substance in the defendant's possession, State v. Zitterkopf, 236 Neb. 743, 748, 463 N.W.2d 616, 620 (1990), and that circumstantial evidence may include `the quantity of the substance, the equipment and supplies found with it; the place it was found; the manner of packaging; and the testimony of witnesses experienced and knowledgeable in the field,' id. and State v. Oldfield, 236 Neb. 433, 461 N.W.2d 554 (1990), relevant evidence, properly admitted in Messersmith's case, dispels prejudice and supports the convictions on the charges against Messersmith. We note that the State has expressed the proposition The admission or exclusion of evidence is a matter within the discretion of the trial court. Brief for appellee at 20. The preceding proposition, although previously expressed by this court, is, nonetheless, an admittedly and recognized incorrect expression in reference to the Nebraska Evidence Rules. In State v. Juhl, 234 Neb. 33, 42, 449 N.W.2d 202, 209 (1989), we stated: [R]elevancy of offered evidence and exclusion of relevant evidence involve a trial court's discretion. Thus, whether a particular item of evidence has probative value and is, therefore, relevant, see Neb.Evid.R. 401 (Neb.Rev.Stat. § 27-401 (Reissue 1985)), or whether an item of evidence, although relevant, is excludable on account of the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of issues, misleading the jury, undue delay in the proceedings, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence, see Neb.Evid.R. 403 (Neb.Rev.Stat. § 27-403 (Reissue 1985)), may depend on a trial court's exercise of judicial discretion. See, also, State v. Reynolds, 235 Neb. 662, 457 N.W.2d 405 (1990) (relevance of offered evidence, otherwise admissible, involves the discretion of a trial court, whose ruling on relevance will be upheld on appeal unless the trial court abused its discretion); State v. Baltimore, 236 Neb. 736, 463 N.W.2d 808 (1990) (a trial court's ruling on the relevancy of evidence will not be disturbed on appeal unless there has been an abuse of discretion); State v. Porter, 235 Neb. 476, 455 N.W.2d 787 (1990). Hence, in all proceedings where the Nebraska Evidence Rules apply, admissibility of evidence is controlled by the Nebraska Evidence Rules, not judicial discretion, except in those instances under the Nebraska Evidence Rules when judicial discretion is a factor involved in admissibility of evidence; for example, see, Rule 106(2) (remainder of related writings or recorded statements), Rule 201 (judicial notice of adjudicative facts), Rule 608(2) (cross-examination on specific instances of conduct), Rule 611(2) (scope of cross-examination), and Rule 706(3) (court-appointed expert disclosed to jury). Although the word discretion, in one form or another, does not appear in either Rule 401 or Rule 403, nevertheless, judicial discretion, as a factor in admissibility, is implicit in Rule 401, concerning the admission of relevant evidence, and Rule 403, regarding exclusion of relevant evidence. Consequently, one might correctly conclude that we expressly disapprove of the all-inclusive and categorically unrestricted evidential proposition. The admission or exclusion of evidence is a matter within the discretion of the trial court, notwithstanding this court's previous use of that expression.