Opinion ID: 4534555
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: Victor Guzman appeals from convictions, pursuant to jury verdict, and sentences for first degree sexual assault and tampering with a witness. Two issues predominate. We again enforce our requirement that assignments of error on direct appeal regarding ineffective assistance of trial counsel must specifically allege deficient performance. And we resolve the State’s uncertainty whether - 379 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 305 Nebraska Reports STATE v. GUZMAN Cite as 305 Neb. 376 sentencing error in a criminal case tried in the district court can or must be raised by a cross-appeal—concluding that generally, a cross-appeal is not permitted. We find no merit to Guzman’s claims regarding a motion to suppress, a motion for a mistrial, insufficiency of the evidence, and an excessive sentence for the sexual assault conviction. But we find plain error in the sentence for witness tampering, which should have been an indeterminate rather than a determinate sentence. We vacate that sentence and remand the cause for resentencing, but we otherwise affirm Guzman’s convictions and the sentence imposed for the sexual assault conviction.