Opinion ID: 4542749
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: Lorenzo Montoya was charged in the county court for Lancaster County with one count of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, in violation of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,196 (Reissue 2010), by operating or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcoholic liquor or of any drug or when he had “a concentration of eight-hundredths of one gram or more by weight of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of his or her breath,” on or about March 12, 2017. Montoya was also charged with having one or more prior convictions under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,197.02 (Cum. Supp. 2018), having committed one prior offense in November 2008 and another in April 2008. Stop and Arrest At trial, Trooper Michael Thorson of the Nebraska State Patrol testified that he first observed Montoya’s vehicle on March 12, 2017, at approximately 1:50 a.m., traveling in front of him going the same direction. Montoya’s vehicle appeared to be traveling faster than the 35-mile-per-hour speed limit. Thorson also observed the vehicle cross over the center line. According to Thorson, the road was curved, but the weather and road conditions were normal. - 587 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 305 Nebraska Reports STATE v. MONTOYA Cite as 305 Neb. 581 Thorson waited until the vehicle was at a good location for radar detection and used his radar to detect the vehicle’s speed. Thorson testified that he is trained at estimating speeds and is certified in the operation of radar devices. Thorson testified that, as required, he had checked his radar at the beginning of his shift on March 12, 2017, with tuning forks to ensure it was working properly. The radar displayed that the vehicle was traveling at 50 miles per hour. Thorson initiated a traffic stop. Montoya was the driver of the vehicle. There were passengers in the front passenger seat and in the back. When Thorson approached the stopped vehicle, he immediately detected a distinct odor of alcoholic beverage. He noticed that Montoya’s eyes were bloodshot and glossy, which Thorson explained was “typical for someone who’s been drinking.” Thorson asked Montoya to sit in the passenger seat of the police cruiser, where Thorson administered a horizontal gaze nystagmus test. Thorson testified that it is his usual practice to conduct this test inside his police cruiser in order to eliminate outside distractions such as lights. Thorson described that he and Montoya faced each other during the test. Thorson testified that Montoya demonstrated six out of six of the possible clues the test looks for. According to Thorson, observation of four out of the six impairment clues indicates a high probability that the individual “is under the influence of alcohol at a .10 or above.” Observing more clues indicates that the individual has an even higher breath alcohol concentration. Thorson also conducted the walk-and-turn test on Montoya. Thorson testified that Montoya exhibited two out of two of the standardized clues for intoxication during the instructional phase of the test and five out of eight of the clues during the walking phase of the test. According to Thorson, demonstrating only two out of these eight clues is considered failing the test. After conducting the horizontal gaze nystagmus and the walk-and-turn tests, Thorson asked Montoya if he wished to participate in the one-legged stand test. Montoya declined. - 588 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 305 Nebraska Reports STATE v. MONTOYA Cite as 305 Neb. 581 Montoya had initially reported to Thorson during the stop that he had consumed only one “tall boy.” Montoya later reported during the stop that, between 11:30 p.m. and 1:45 a.m., he had consumed three “tall boys,” each containing 24 to 32 ounces of beer. Thorson arrested Montoya and took him to a nearby facility where Montoya’s breath alcohol content could be tested by a DataMaster machine. The DataMaster tests a sample of a person’s breath with an infrared detector to determine a person’s breath alcohol content. The test was conducted approximately 1 hour after Montoya’s last reported drink. Thorson followed the appropriate checklist to ensure proper operation of the test. The test showed that Montoya had a concentration of .134 of a gram of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. Thorson testified that he is trained in driving under the influence investigation and certified in performing a DataMaster test. He has 12 years of experience in which he has conducted approximately 3,000 driving under the influence investigations. Thorson opined that Montoya was under the influence of alcohol when he operated his motor vehicle on March 12, 2017. DataMaster Officer Grant Powell testified at trial that he is the DataMaster maintenance supervisor for Lancaster County. He conducted the inspections and calibration check of the DataMaster that tested Montoya’s breath sample. The purpose of calibration verification is to ensure that the DataMaster machine is accurately reading the alcohol content of breath samples. Rules and regulations of the Department of Health and Human Services, which appear in title 177 of the Nebraska Administrative Code, require that calibration must occur within 40 days prior to the subject sample. Powell described that the process utilized by Lancaster County law enforcement and approved under title 177 involves two tests with wet bath water and alcohol mixtures, one containing a target value of .080 and the other of .150. The solutions produce - 589 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 305 Nebraska Reports STATE v. MONTOYA Cite as 305 Neb. 581 a vapor at the target values when heated to the approximate temperature of exhaled breath. The wet bath simulator solutions used by Lancaster County law enforcement are provided by a company in North Carolina, RepCo Marketing (RepCo). When shipped, the simulator solutions are accompanied by certificates of analysis which contain information required by the regulations, including the name of the person who prepared, tested, and supplied the solution. Powell conducted an inspection of the DataMaster subsequently used to test Montoya’s breath alcohol content within the required 40-day period. The digital display, operational lights, operational condition, and printer all passed their required testing. Powell testified that the DataMaster machine used to test Montoya’s breath sample was calibrated within the required 40-day period and that it passed both the internal check and the wet bath solution check. Powell signed a certification so reflecting. Powell elaborated that the DataMaster in question was calibrated using simulator solutions from lots 16801 and 16104, which were accompanied by certificates of analysis from RepCo certifying that the solutions were accurate for their target values. The certificates of analysis originally accompanying the simulator solutions stated that a RepCo employee, Alma Palmer, had prepared, tested, and supplied the simulator solutions contained in those lots. On April 19, 2018, Powell became aware that the person who had tested the solutions in lots 16801 and 16104 was not the person whose name appeared on the certificates of analysis. On May 7, RepCo sent amended certificates of analysis for those lots stating that a RepCo employee, Colby Hale, not Palmer, was the person who had prepared, tested, and supplied the simulator solutions. The amended certificates were created to put the person’s name on them who had actually tested those solutions. Nothing else in the amended certificates was different from the original certificates of analysis. - 590 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 305 Nebraska Reports STATE v. MONTOYA Cite as 305 Neb. 581 Powell testified that he had no concerns about the accuracy of the target values for the simulator solutions in lots 16801 and 16104 or about whether the solutions were working correctly when he conducted the relevant calibration of the DataMaster used to conduct the test on Montoya’s breath sample. Powell noted that the solutions were tested not just at RepCo, but also by a separate company. Further, the solutions were run through four different DataMaster machines, each with their own unique internal reference standards, and the solutions did not test outside of the 5-percent margin of error on any of the four machines. Powell noted that the “test card” for Montoya’s breath sample showed a normal breath flow rate, a successful blank test and internal standard check, two analyses of the breath sample without any noted errors, and then another successful blank test. Powell testified that in his professional opinion the DataMaster utilized to test Montoya’s breath alcohol content was in proper working order on the date of the test, March 12, 2017. Motion to Suppress Evidence Obtained as Result of Stop Before trial, on October 31, 2017, Montoya had moved to suppress all fruits of the stop of his vehicle that was allegedly without reasonable suspicion or probable cause, in violation of the 4th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, article 1, section 7, of the Nebraska Constitution; and Nebraska statutes. Thorson’s testimony at the pretrial hearing on the motion largely mirrored that given at trial. He testified in more detail regarding his training in the operation of the radar and how the radar in his police cruiser works. He described the annual, more sophisticated calibration test of his radar. Thorson testified at the pretrial hearing that Montoya’s vehicle was 300 to 500 feet ahead of him when he first saw it. Thorson was traveling the speed limit and saw the vehicle getting further and further away from him. There were no - 591 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 305 Nebraska Reports STATE v. MONTOYA Cite as 305 Neb. 581 other vehicles in the area. Thorson testified that it was his usual practice to visualize the speed of a vehicle before taking a Doppler reading and to put that in his report. Thorson noted that “[f]or whatever reason,” he did not include his visual estimation of Montoya’s speed in his report, and that therefore, “I’m not going to sit up here and speculate as to what my visual estimation was at the time.” Thorson testified that a “good Doppler tone” is a consistent high-pitched noise, which indicates that there are no outside influences such as obstacles or bad weather interfering with the device’s readings. There was a good Doppler tone when he took the radar reading of Montoya’s vehicle. The court overruled the pretrial motion to suppress. At the beginning of trial, Montoya asked for a standing objection based on an alleged lack of reasonable suspicion for the stop, which the court granted. Also, during Thorson’s testimony at trial, Montoya renewed his objection to any admission of evidence derived from the stop. The trial court overruled the renewed objections. Motion to Suppress Evidence Obtained as Result of Arrest Montoya had also moved before trial to suppress all evidence resulting from his warrantless arrest, because law enforcement lacked probable cause and, therefore, the arrest violated Montoya’s rights under the 4th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution; article 1, § 7, of the Nebraska Constitution; and Nebraska statutes. At the pretrial hearing on the motion, Thorson did not dispute defense counsel’s assertion that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration training manual specifies that the horizontal gaze nystagmus test shall be conducted while the subject is standing. Thorson testified, however, that during his training course he was told it would not negatively impact the validity of the test if the subject was seated rather than standing. - 592 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 305 Nebraska Reports STATE v. MONTOYA Cite as 305 Neb. 581 Thorson further testified at the pretrial hearing that after Montoya failed the horizontal gaze nystagmus test and the walk-and-turn test, he had Montoya sit in his vehicle for a 15-minute observation period before administering a preliminary breath test. Thorson checked Montoya’s mouth both at the beginning and at the conclusion of the observation period. At the conclusion of the observation period, Thorson asked Montoya if he had regurgitated any stomach fluid, belched, eaten anything, or put anything into his mouth while Thorson was not looking. Montoya responded that he had burped. Thorson asked Montoya if he had regurgitated “any type of stomach fluid whatsoever” when he burped, and Montoya answered that he had not. Thorson then administered the preliminary breach test, which showed a breath alcohol content of .176. Thorson explained that it is not part of the mandatory protocol for the observation period to ask whether the subject has regurgitated stomach fluid or belched. Thorson explained that it was his understanding based on consultations with others in law enforcement that burping without regurgitating stomach fluid does not affect the test. Thorson agreed with defense counsel, however, that it could impact the test if the subject burped up something that was not solid like vomit or regurgitation, and which contained alcohol. Thorson testified that if the subject in any way indicates that something may have come up out of the subject’s stomach, then he restarts the observation time. Defense counsel argued that the results of the horizontal gaze nystagmus test could not support probable cause because Montoya was not standing during the test. Further, recorded conversation in the video, wherein Thorson asked Montoya to “[t]ry to straighten your head out,” indicated there were issues with Montoya’s being positioned correctly for the test. Defense counsel also argued that the preliminary breath test could not create probable cause because Montoya had burped. Though Montoya had indicated upon Thorson’s questioning that he had - 593 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 305 Nebraska Reports STATE v. MONTOYA Cite as 305 Neb. 581 not “regurgitated in his mouth,” Montoya had elaborated that he would have let it out and not swallowed it, had he done so. According to defense counsel, this exchange did not eliminate the possibility that something had come up into Montoya’s mouth that could have impacted the test. According to defense counsel, without the results of the preliminary breath test and the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, the remaining indicia of impairment observed by Thorson would be insufficient to establish probable cause. The court overruled the pretrial motion to suppress. At trial, Montoya did not renew the motion to suppress the fruits of the arrest for an alleged lack of probable cause. Motion to Suppress Datamaster Results for Lack of Foundation In a separate motion, Montoya had also moved before trial to suppress the results of the DataMaster breath test for the reason that the test was administered without proper compliance with Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 27-104 and 29-822 (Reissue 2016) and 60-6,201 (Reissue 2010), as well as title 177. The pretrial motion specifically challenged the DataMaster results on the ground that the 40-day check of the DataMaster was conducted without valid certificates of analysis for either lot 16801 or lot 16104, because the certificates of analysis falsely listed Palmer as the person who tested the solutions. The evidence presented at the pretrial hearing was similar to that at trial. The court overruled the motion. At the beginning of trial, Montoya asked for a standing objection based on the failure of the certificates of analysis to comply with title 177, which was granted. Montoya renewed his objection at trial during the admission of the results of Montoya’s breath test, on the grounds that (1) the DataMaster test was out of compliance with title 177, (2) the amended certificates contained inadmissible hearsay and were not business records because they were not created near the time of the event, and (3) the failure to have Hale available for - 594 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 305 Nebraska Reports STATE v. MONTOYA Cite as 305 Neb. 581 cross-examination violated the Confrontation Clause. The court again overruled the motion. Verdict and Sentence Montoya was found guilty. At the sentencing hearing, the court found that Montoya had two prior convictions of driving under the influence, making this his third offense. The State noted at sentencing that Montoya had been arrested twice since March 12, 2017, the date of the underlying offense; once for driving under the influence and the other time for driving during revocation and false reporting. Defense counsel brought to the court’s attention the fact that Montoya had recently received a diagnosis of “alcohol use disorder” and that he had an upcoming job interview. Defense counsel also pointed out that Montoya had not yet been convicted of the charged crimes relating to the arrests occurring after March 12. The trial court noted that it was giving “consideration” to the charges Montoya was currently facing, “which certainly you haven’t been convicted of.” The court sentenced Montoya to a jail term of 180 days, a fine of $1,000, and a 15-year license revocation with the ability to apply for an interlock device permit. Appeal to District Court Montoya appealed to the district court, assigning that the county court erred in overruling his three motions to suppress, in finding the evidence sufficient to support the jury’s verdict, and by imposing an excessive sentence. The district court affirmed the conviction and sentence. Montoya appealed to the Nebraska Court of Appeals, and we moved the case to our docket. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR Montoya assigns that the district court erred by (1) affirming the county court’s order that denied his motion to suppress fruits of the stop, (2) affirming the county court’s order that - 595 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 305 Nebraska Reports STATE v. MONTOYA Cite as 305 Neb. 581 denied his motion to suppress fruits of his arrest, (3) affirming the county court’s order that denied his motion to suppress the DataMaster results for lack of foundation, (4) finding sufficient evidence to support Montoya’s conviction, and (5) finding that Montoya’s sentence was not excessive.