Opinion ID: 2184885
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Testimony Regarding Police Involvement

Text: For their sixth argument on appeal, the Robinsons argue that the trial court erred in allowing testimony that a police officer, Lacey Robertson, had informed the Robinsons that the Gillums had left the police station on the night of the shooting and were going home. The Robinsons argue that reference to Robertson's presence at the police station, the fact that Tony turned himself in to Robertson, and that Robertson was Rose Robinson's business accountant was prejudicial and highly speculative under Ark. R. Evid. 403, thus making the references at trial reversible error. The State responds that it does not understand the Robinsons' argument and, regardless, there was no objection below, and the argument is not supported by any legal authority or relevant argument. We will not consider this argument because there was no objection raised by the defense at trial to any of this evidence, and because the defense has failed on appeal to cite any legal authority, other than a statement that this evidence was highly prejudicial under Ark. R. Evid. 403, to warrant reversal. The law is well settled that to preserve an issue for appeal a defendant must object at the first opportunity. Pyle v. State, 340 Ark. 53, 8 S.W.3d 491 (2000); Vaughn v. State, 338 Ark. 220, 992 S.W.2d 785 (1999); Smallwood v. State, 326 Ark. 813, 935 S.W.2d 530 (1996); Hill v. State, 285 Ark. 77, 685 S.W.2d 495 (1985). Furthermore, failure to cite authority or make a convincing argument is sufficient reason for affirmance. Ayers v. State, 334 Ark. 258, 975 S.W.2d 88 (1998); Williams v. State, 329 Ark. 8, 946 S.W.2d 678 (1997). It is certainly not apparent without further research that appellant's argument is well-taken. Roberts v. State, 324 Ark. 68, 919 S.W.2d 192 (1996).