Opinion ID: 1231201
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: james bartlett's statements

Text: 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, 437 N.W.2d 134 (1989). When there is some incorrect conduct by a trial court which, on review of the record, did not materially influence the jury in a verdict adverse to a substantial right of the defendant, the error is harmless. Id. 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. Id. at 504, 437 N.W.2d at 140. See, also, State v. Guy, 227 Neb. 610, 419 N.W.2d 152 (1988). Plant claims that the trial court erred when it permitted Sergeant Muldoon to testify, over an objection on the grounds of hearsay and lack of confrontation, that the injured 4-year-old James Bartlett told him that the defendant hit Christopher and that Daddy hates me and Daddy hits me. We first address James' statement that the defendant hit Christopher. The statement does not establish a nexus between the striking of Christopher and the infliction of the fatal injury. However, in light of Cindy's and Gloria Plant's testimony that the defendant hit Christopher, the evidence is cumulative, and any error in admitting the statement was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Next to be considered is whether the admission of James' statements to Sergeant Muldoon that the defendant hated him and had hit the boy constituted error. Dr. Woerth testified that during his medical examination of James Bartlett on May 21, the child made no response when asked if his mother was responsible for his injuries. Without objection, Dr. Woerth also testified that when he asked James if his father caused the injuries, James nodded his head affirmatively. Gloria Plant testified that the defendant broke James' toe with a hammer; that he beat James with his fists, a boot, and a two-by-four; that she observed the defendant kick James in the jaw; and that Plant's mother said that if Plant did not stop abusing the children, she would do something about it. Plant told a neighbor that he kicked James Bartlett off the porch. The defendant told his cellmate, while both were in the Omaha jail, that he, Plant, had broken James' leg when he was correcting the child. Gloria Plant testified that James' leg was hurt when the defendant twisted it. The Plants' babysitter testified she had observed the defendant kick James with such force that the child was airborne. An employee of a neighborhood restaurant observed Plant slam the front seat of a two-door car into James as the child was entering the back seat. The defendant testified that he had kicked James with sufficient force to knock the boy forward on his face, that he had on occasion beaten James, and that he was not particularly fond of the boy because the child would go ... to the bathroom right in his pants right in front of you just for the fun of it. Thus, there was other properly admitted overwhelming evidence upon which the jury could find beyond a reasonable doubt that Thomas Plant was guilty of child abuse and first degree assault of James Bartlett. As a review of the evidence recited above demonstrates, each purported hearsay statement was independently proven by properly admitted evidence. Because any alleged error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, Plant's assignment of error that admission into evidence of either Cindy's or James' statements to Muldoon was erroneous is without merit. The defendant's convictions are affirmed. AFFIRMED.