Opinion ID: 1807431
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 22

Heading: Zogg Testimony

Text: Boppre's next claim is that the district court erred in permitting Zogg to testify, over Boppre's hearsay and improper opinion objections, that because Valdez did not know Boppre, Valdez at first would not let Boppre enter Valdez' house, but that after a certain period of time, Valdez would allow Boppre to enter the house and buy the drugs himself. Boppre urges that Zogg was not qualified to give an opinion of Richard Valdez's actions and that the answer contains hearsay. Brief for appellant at 39. Zogg's testimony is based upon his personal observations rather than upon anything Valdez said and thus is not hearsay. Furthermore, Zogg's lay conclusion as to the relationship between Valdez and Boppre is rationally based upon his perception and was helpful to the jury in understanding how Boppre came to know and buy drugs from Valdez and, thus, is admissible under § 27-701 as set forth in a preceding discussion. Moreover, Boppre has not shown how the introduction of this evidence was prejudicial to him in any way. Boppre himself testified that he bought drugs from Valdez at Valdez' house on many occasions. A conviction will not be set aside in the absence of a showing that an error prejudiced the defendant. State v. Rowland, 234 Neb. 846, 452 N.W.2d 758 (1990); State v. Chapman, 234 Neb. 369, 451 N.W.2d 263 (1990). Improper admission of evidence constitutes harmless error where the evidence is cumulative and there is other competent evidence to support the conviction. Rowland, supra ; Chapman, supra .