Opinion ID: 1197014
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Comment on Huff's Veracity

Text: Huff argues that the trial court committed plain error when it allowed the prosecutor to question the motel owner about his veracity. The question Huff complains about occurred during the prosecutor's redirect examination of the motel owner: Q [Motel owner], just a couple of things. If Mr. Huff were to testify that there were problems with the room, would that be a lie? A Probably, yes. About room in motel? Q Yeah. A That's everything working. And it's impossible whatever happening not problem. He come to office; he explain what happened; my husband, he do everything. It be fixed in five or ten minutes. Huff did not object to the question. Consequently, to secure a reversal of his conviction, he must demonstrate that the trial court committed plain error. A three-part test has been established for determining whether an error may achieve the status of plain error. First, the record must be clear as to the incident which is alleged as error. Second, the party claiming that the error amounted to plain error must demonstrate that a clear and unequivocal rule of law was violated. Finally, that party must prove that a substantial right has been denied him and as a result he has been materially prejudiced. Bradley v. State, 635 P.2d 1161, 1164 (Wyo. 1981); see also Hodgins v. State, 962 P.2d 153, 156 (Wyo.1998); Johnson v. State, 936 P.2d 458, 465 (Wyo.1997). This Court has consistently recognized that it is the jury's duty to resolve the factual issues, judge the credibility of the witnesses, and determine the guilt or innocence of a criminal defendant. Gayler v. State, 957 P.2d 855, 860 (Wyo.1998); Zabel v. State, 765 P.2d 357, 362 (Wyo.1988). A witness may not, therefore, comment on the veracity or truthfulness of another witness. Gayler, 957 P.2d at 860; Curl v. State, 898 P.2d 369, 373-74 (Wyo.1995). Prior cases have demonstrated, however, that we must look carefully at the question asked and the testimony elicited to determine whether a witness actually made an improper comment about another witness' credibility. See, e.g., Newport v. State, 983 P.2d 1213, 1215-17 (Wyo.1999); Brown v. State, 953 P.2d 1170, 1182 (Wyo.1998); Curl, 898 P.2d at 373-74. The prosecutor asked the challenged question during his redirect examination of the motel owner. He asked the question to counter defense counsel's suggestion during his cross-examination of the motel owner that Huff's room was in poor condition. The prosecutor was obviously seeking the motel owner's testimony about the condition of the room; he was not asking about Huff's truthfulness or veracity. Without doubt, the question was not skillfully phrased. It would have been more correct and effective if the prosecutor had simply asked her about the room's condition. Nevertheless, even though the prosecutor's question was not carefully worded, the question did not elicit improper opinion testimony. Additionally, Huff has not demonstrated that he was materially prejudiced by the prosecutor's question. The question was a very small and isolated part of the trial testimony, and the evidence against Huff was quite strong. The trial court did not commit error, much less plain error, by allowing the testimony into evidence. Affirmed.