Opinion ID: 1788509
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether percy latiker was prejudicially identified in court as an alleged suspect.

Text: ¶ 13. Latiker argues that the trial court erred by allowing Agent Ragan to identify him at trial as the man from whom he bought the crack cocaine. However, Latiker did not properly preserve the error regarding this issue for appeal. When the State asked Agent Ragan if the person from whom he bought the crack cocaine was present in the courtroom, Latiker's attorney objected by stating: Your Honor, we would object. It is obvious the Defendant is the one that's accused. He is sitting here, and he is the only one here. Latiker's broad objection lacks the specificity required to preserve an issue for appeal. See Irby v. State, 893 So.2d 1042, 1047 (Miss.2004). General objections to testimony are not sufficient to preserve an error. Crawford v. State, 787 So.2d 1236, 1246 (Miss.2001). The party must object with a degree of specificity as to the grounds on which the objection is made, and failure to articulate the grounds is a waiver of the alleged error. Scott v. State, 796 So.2d 959, 964 (Miss.2001). Latiker's objection did not state a recognized legal basis; and therefore, he waived his right to appeal the alleged error. ¶ 14. Notwithstanding this procedural bar, Latiker's appeal on this issue is without merit. He argues that the incourt identification violated his due process rights under the Fifth Amendment and his right to a jury trial under the Sixth Amendment. Latiker also acknowledges that his objection at trial was not specific enough to preserve the error, but argues that this Court should review Ragan's identification under the plain error rule. If a contemporaneous objection is not made, an appellant must rely on the plain error rule to raise the unpreserved argument on appeal. Watts v. State, 733 So.2d 214, 233 (Miss.1999). The plain error doctrine requires that there be an error and that the error must have resulted in a manifest miscarriage of justice. Williams v. State, 794 So.2d 181, 187 (Miss.2001) (citing Gray v. State, 549 So.2d 1316, 1321 (Miss.1989)). We apply the plain error rule only when the error affects a defendant's fundamental rights. Id. ¶ 15. The United States Supreme Court has held that an in-court identification made pursuant to an impermissibly suggestive out-of-court identification violates a defendant's rights and is inadmissible. See Simmons v. United States, 390 U.S. 377, 88 S.Ct. 967, 19 L.Ed.2d 1247 (1968). Further, in order for an identification to be admissible in court, it must pass a two-step test. See Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. 188, 93 S.Ct. 375, 34 L.Ed.2d 401 (1972). A court must first determine whether the identification process was unduly suggestive. Id. at 198, 93 S.Ct. 375. And even if it was, the court has the right to admit the identification if it determines that the out-of-court identification was nevertheless so reliable that no substantial likelihood of misidentification existed. Id. In Biggers, the United States Supreme Court laid out five factors to determine an identification's reliability: (1) the opportunity of the witness to view the criminal at the time of the crime; (2) the witness's degree of attention; (3) the accuracy of the witness's prior description of the criminal; (4) the level of certainty demonstrated by the witness at the confrontation; and (5) the length of time between the crime and the confrontation. Id. at 199-200, 93 S.Ct. 375. See also McDowell v. State, 807 So.2d 413, 418-19 (Miss.2001). We find no evidence that Agent Ragan's identification of Latiker was impermissibly suggestive or unreliable. According to the record, Ragan had an unobstructed view of Latiker from a distance of two feet during the daytime. Ragan is a Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics agent trained to observe individuals suspected of criminal activity so that he may later describe them and testify in court. The description that Ragan gave of Latiker, while not perfect, was quite close. Latiker is now arguing minor details of his description including a difference of three inches in height, five years in age and the fact that he is completely bald as opposed to balding. Further, Ragan's description was relayed to other agents of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and recorded on the same day and within minutes of the transaction. The above factors indicate a high degree of reliability of Agent Ragan's identification; and therefore, Latiker's second assertion of error is without merit.