Opinion ID: 884934
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Admission of the HGN and breathalyzer evidence.

Text: ¶ 16 At trial, Berosik testified that as a boy he was struck in his left eye by a double-bladed axe. Berosik also testified that when he was sixteen, he received flash burns to his eyes from welding. On cross-examination, the State asked Berosik whether he was saying that the HGN test was not valid because of his eye problems, and Berosik responded, yes. The State asked whether Berosik had that childhood injury and those retinal burns in the month of April 1997. Berosik responded that he did. The State requested a side bar and moved to introduce evidence regarding Berosik's scores on the HGN and breathalyser tests during the alleged prior April, 1997 DUI. The District Court concluded that Berosik had opened the door to that evidence in testifying on direct examination about his eye condition. The State then asked Berosik whether it was true that in a matter of months prior to this incident, an HGN test was performed on you at night, showed you to be impaired, and the fact that you were impaired was then confirmed by a breath test? Berosik responded, Yes. ¶ 17 Berosik argues that this evidence violated the District Court's grant of his motion in limine. Berosik argues that the association between his April, 1997 HGN and breathalyzer test results does not prove that his HGN test result in the present case accurately reflected his alcohol consumption. Berosik also argues that admission of the April, 1997 test results violated Rule 404(b), M.R.Evid., which provides in part that [e]vidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes.... Berosik argues further that he did not open the door to evidence of the April, 1997 tests; rather, the State elicited comments from Berosik about the validity of the HGN test. ¶ 18 The State responds that the motion in limine order barred the admission of evidence of the April, 1997 police stop of Berosik only for the purpose of showing that he then gave a false name and birth date to police. The State argues that the evidence of Berosik's April, 1997 HGN and breathalyser tests was admissible to impeach Berosik or to rebut his contention that the HGN test result in the present case was invalid because of his eye injuries. Further, the State contends that evidence of a prior crime or act is admissible under Rule 404(a)(1), M.R.Evid., when a defendant opens the door with an assessment of his nature or character. Rule 404(a)(1) provides in part that [e]vidence of a person's character or a trait of character is not admissible for the purpose of proving action in conformity therewith on a particular occasion, except: ... [e]vidence of a pertinent trait of character offered by an accused.... ¶ 19 We conclude that the District Court abused its discretion in admitting the April, 1997 HGN and breathalyzer results. Even assuming arguendo that Berosik's testimony opened the door to rebuttal of his criticism of the HGN test as applied to him, the April, 1997 test results did not rebut Berosik's suggestion that he scored highly on the HGN because of his eye injuries. The April, 1997 test results are not inconsistent with Berosik's criticism of the HGN test as applied to him. Under Berosik's critique of the HGN test, he could be expected to score significantly on the HGN regardless whether he had consumed alcohol. Thus, the April, 1997 test results had at most a negligible probative value that was substantially outweighed by the risk of confusion of the issues. Rule 403, M.R.Evid. Having concluded that the District Court abused its discretion, we must determine whether the District Court's error prejudiced Berosik's substantive rights. ¶ 20 We have previously concluded that a judgment of conviction will not be reversed unless the error prejudiced or tended to prejudice the substantive rights of the defendant. We have further held that in criminal cases no judgment will be reversed for technical errors or defects which do not affect the substantial rights of the defendant, and when the record is sufficient to establish the guilt of the defendant, a new trial will not be granted, even though there was error, unless it clearly appears that the error complained of actually impaired the defendant's right to a fair trial. State v. Huerta (1997), 285 Mont. 245, 251-52, 947 P.2d 483, 487 (citations omitted). Further, § 46-20-701(2), MCA, provides that [a]ny error, defect, irregularity, or variance that does not affect substantial rights must be disregarded. ¶ 21 We conclude that the District Court's error was harmless. Berosik has not shown that the District Court's error prejudiced any of his substantive rights or that it impaired his right to a fair trial. Even without the April, 1997 HGN and breathalyzer test results, there was overwhelming evidence from which a jury could conclude that Berosik was guilty, including testimony by the arresting officers that Berosik appeared intoxicated and smelled of alcohol and by the booking Sergeant that Berosik appeared intoxicated, Berosik's high HGN score, and Berosik's dubious testimony that he drank two beers before seeing stockcar races, that he drank only soft drinks during the stockcar races, and that he allowed himself one beer around the time of the last race but was bumped, causing him to spill beer on himself. In addition, Berosik admitted that he lied to police about his identity. Compare Brodniak v. State (1989), 239 Mont. 110, 115, 779 P.2d 71, 74 (recognizing the overwhelming evidence rule as one method to ascertain whether there is a reasonable possibility that the inadmissible evidence contributed to the verdict) (citations omitted); State v. Graves (1995), 272 Mont. 451, 460, 901 P.2d 549, 555 (concluding district court's admission of police dispatcher's testimony about 911 call was harmless error in light of other evidence that was properly admitted).