Opinion ID: 889496
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Did the District Court err in affirming the Trial Court's admission of evidence of Benware's automobile accident on the night of the incident?

Text: ¶ 18 Miller sought to exclude mention at trial of the automobile accident Benware had minutes before Miller told the KPD dispatcher that Benware was with her at the bar. Miller argued to the District Court and to this Court on appeal that the accident was not relevant to the criminal charge against her and that it prejudiced the jury against her. She asserts that because Benware's accident had already occurred by the time she spoke with the dispatcher, the two incidents were unrelated and mention of the accident had no probative value. ¶ 19 The City counters that the accident establishes that Benware was a danger to herself that night; therefore, Dumke's call was neither a hoax nor unfounded. Kalispell submits that Miller's untruthful call obstructed the police from continuing to conduct a needed welfare check on Benware. ¶ 20 Section 45-7-302(1), MCA, imposes criminal liability for obstructing an officer and states: A person commits the offense of obstructing a peace officer or public servant if the person knowingly obstructs, impairs, or hinders the enforcement of the criminal law, the preservation of the peace, or the performance of a governmental function, including service of process. Knowingly is defined in this context at § 45-2-101(35), MCA, as when the person is aware of the person's own conduct. ¶ 21 It cannot be disputed that Miller knowingly placed the call to the KPD dispatcher and reported that Benware was fine and with her at the bar. It is reasonable to conclude from that call that Miller intended to mislead officers as to Benware's location and to prevent the officers from investigating Benware's whereabouts and condition. The evidence of Benware's automobile accident proves that Miller provided untruthful information to the KPD. Therefore, we cannot conclude that admission of this evidence was an abuse of discretion.