Opinion ID: 1819674
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: , ii., and iii.

Text: Jones urges three alleged errors pertaining to the admission of L.K.'s and L.P.'s videorecorded testimony at trial. (1) He was denied his constitutional right to confront adverse witnesses. (2) SDCL 23A-12-9, [2] which permits admission of videorecorded testimony, is unconstitutional. (3) There was insufficient basis upon which to find that L.K.'s and L.P.'s testimony at trial would be substantially detrimental to their well-being. We are unable to reach the merits of Jones' contentions for the following reasons. First, it appears that Jones failed to specifically object at trial regarding the court's decision to utilize videorecorded testimonies of L.K. and L.P. [3] His Motion in Opposition made before trial is insufficient to preserve the issue for appeal. See State v. Olson, 408 N.W.2d 748, 751-52 (S.D. 1987); SDCL 19-9-3. Relatedly, we note that the settled record does not include a trial transcript. Thus, we are unable to ascertain what transpired when State sought to admit the videorecorded testimonies into evidence. Jones, as the party claiming error, had the responsibility to insure that a record was made. Olson, 408 N.W.2d at 752; State v. Hall, 272 N.W.2d 308, 311 (S.D.1978); Schurman v. Schurman, 60 S.D. 489, 492, 245 N.W. 39, 40 (1932). See also State v. Garton, 390 N.W. 2d 61, 63 (S.D.1986); State v. Wilson, 297 N.W.2d 477, 482 (S.D.1980). The settled record is the sole evidence of the circuit court's proceedings and, when confronted with an incomplete record, our presumption is that the circuit court acted properly. Garton, 390 N.W.2d at 63; Wilson, 297 N.W.2d at 482; Hall, 272 N.W.2d at 311; Schurman, 60 S.D. at 492, 245 N.W. at 40. Secondly, although Jones contends he was denied his constitutional right to confront adverse witnesses, he never argues his case in the medium of videorecorded testimony. Nor does he address the reality that he was on notice that videorecorded testimony may be admitted at trial and that he did, in fact, cross-examine L.K. and L.P. at the preliminary hearing. In sum, Jones cites no authority supporting his proposition and ignores rulings from other jurisdictions where videorecorded testimony was found to not violate a defendant's right to confront adverse witnesses. See, e.g., State v. Twist, 528 A.2d 1250 (Me.1987); State v. Cooper, 291 S.C. 351, 353 S.E.2d 451 (1987); People v. Johnson, 146 Ill.App.3d 640, 100 Ill.Dec. 330, 497 N.E.2d 308 (1986); State v. Sheppard, 197 N.J.Super. 411, 484 A.2d 1330 (1984). See also State v. Tafoya, 105 N.M. 117, 729 P.2d 1371 (1986), cert. denied, 105 N.M. 94, 728 P.2d 845 (1986); State v. A.D.M., 701 P.2d 999 (Mont. 1985). Essentially, we treat these arguments as waived.