Opinion ID: 887283
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Did the District Court err in denying Long's motion for a mistrial because during a second re-direct examination of a witness, a prejudicial statement concerning prior offenses was made before the jury?

Text: ¶ 16 As the last witness during the State's case in chief, informant Erickson was examined by the prosecution and cross-examined by counsel for Long. Re-examination and re-cross examination were also conducted. On the conclusion of the re-cross examination the prosecutor moved the District Court for permission to again re-open the direct examination of Erickson for the stated purpose of asking questions on a subject defense counsel brought up. After inquiry by the District Court concerning why this was necessary, counsel and the District Court had a conversation off of the record at the bench. Thereafter, defense counsel objected to the further questioning. The objection was overruled and the District Court allowed the State to re-open its direct examination and granted the defense a continuing objection to further questions asked of the witness. ¶ 17 During the continued questioning of the witness Erickson, the following exchange took place: [By Ms. Perry, (for the prosecution)] Q And on any occasion did you ever discuss drugs with the Defendant before May 23rd? A Yes. Q And could you tell us just the substance of those conversations? Mr. Oldenburg [defense counsel]: Your Honor, I believe it asks for hearsay, and I object on that basis. Ms. Perry: Your Honor, it will be the statements of the Defendant. I believe that's an exception. The Court: Can you tell us the gist of the discussions without reiterating what the Defendant said? Witness Erickson: I don't really know how to say that without referring to my written statement. I don't really know how to put that without saying  I can say it in two sentences, but I don't know how to word it exactly. The Court: Make a stab at it. I will let you know, somebody will let you know . . . . . . . . Witness Erickson: All right. Just that with  by law enforcement picking on her she doesn't sell to children and just basically that's  Mr. Oldenburg: Objection, Your Honor. Your Honor, I would like to make a motion outside the presence of the jury. ¶ 18 The District Court took a recess. Defendant made a motion for a mistrial arguing that it was procedurally improper for the District Court to allow the State to re-open direct examination of Erickson after it had already examined her on direct and re-direct, and that allowing such examination resulted in an improper, unnoticed statement of prior bad acts. The State argues that the District Court acted within its discretion when allowing the State to reopen its re-direct, that it did not intend to elicit the improper testimony and that any error could be cured by the court's cautionary instruction to the jury. ¶ 19 The District Court had the reporter read back the witness's statement, and listened to the tape recording of the statement. The District Court found as a matter of fact that there was no prejudice to the Defendant that could not be cured by a cautionary instruction. The District Court also found that it was not the intention of either counsel or the District Court to elicit the statement that was made. Defendant's motion for a mistrial was denied. Defense counsel was given the option of asking further questions of the witness, but declined to do so. The trial was reconvened and the jury was instructed that they were to disregard the statement set forth above. The State then rested. Defendant presented no witnesses, but based her defense on the lack of credibility of the State's witnesses, including Erickson, and entrapment. The jury then retired to deliberate, and returned verdicts of guilty on two counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. ¶ 20 Montana Rule of Evidence 611(d) provides: Re-examination and recall. A witness may be re-examined as to the same matters to which the witness testified only in the discretion of the court, but without exception the witness may be re-examined as to any new matter brought out during cross-examination. After the examination of the witness has been concluded by all the parties to the action, that witness may be recalled only in the discretion of the court. ¶ 21 Beyond the bare assertion that the District Court abused its discretion, Long failed to cite any authority supporting her assertion that it was an abuse of discretion to allow the prosecutor to ask further questions of the witness. Under these facts, allowing the State to reopen its re-direct examination was within the discretion of the District Court, and no abuse of that discretion is shown. ¶ 22 Long next argues that the District Court erred in not granting her motion for a mistrial based on witness Erickson's statement she doesn't sell to children. Long argues this comment constitutes evidence of prior crimes, and was improper as no notice was given as required by § 46-13-109, MCA; State v. Just (1979), 184 Mont. 262, 273-74, 602 P.2d 957, 963-64 modified by State v. Matt (1991), 249 Mont. 136, 142, 814 P.2d 52, 56. ¶ 23 The modified Just rule allows admission of evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts under Rule 404(b), M.R.Evid., only upon the observation of certain procedural protections. One such procedural protection is a notice requirement whereby the prosecution must notify the defense of its intent to use such evidence. Matt, 249 Mont. at 142-43, 814 P.2d at 56. Long claims that no notice was provided here and therefore she is entitled to a mistrial based upon the witness's statement. The State argues that the comments were unsolicited and unintended thus it could not provide the notice required. ¶ 24 A mistrial is appropriate when a reasonable possibility exists that inadmissible evidence may have contributed to the conviction. State v. Brady, 2000 MT 282, ¶ 14, 302 Mont. 174, ¶ 14, 13 P.3d 941, ¶ 14. The strength of the evidence against the defendant together with the prejudicial influence of the inadmissible evidence and whether a cautionary, jury instruction could cure any prejudice must be considered in determining whether a prohibited statement contributed to the conviction. A mistrial should be denied, however, for technical errors or defects that do not affect the substantial rights of the defendant and the record is sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt. [Internal citations omitted]. State v. Brady , ¶ 14. ¶ 25 The facts here are analogous to those before this Court in State v. Brush (1987), 228 Mont. 247, 741 P.2d 1333. In Brush, the defendant was charged with multiple counts of sexual assault. The counts were severed for trial. At the trial, on count one an officer testified as to his investigation into the charges and specifically his conversations with an alleged victim of the severed count two. The officer responded by asserting that one of the children had indicated that the defendant had tried to touch both of them in their private parts. The defense objected, the objection was sustained, and the court directed the jury to disregard any testimony concerning any other alleged offense. At the close of the State's case the defense moved for a mistrial arguing that these comments were evidence of prior crimes and violated the modified Just rule because the county attorney failed to give notice. The trial court denied this motion finding that the officer's testimony had not been purposely drawn out by the county attorney. Brush, 228 Mont. at 249-51, 741 P.2d at 1334-36. On appeal we affirmed stating: We fail to see how Just applies to a case where the county attorney never intended to introduce evidence of defendant's other crimes and where the testimony was an unintentional response to a non-suggestive question as occurred here. Therefore, we conclude that no Just notice was required under these circumstances. Brush, 228 Mont. at 250, 741 P.2d at 1335. We also noted that the general rule is that where the trial judge withdraws or strikes improper testimony from the record with an accompanying cautionary instruction to the jury, any error committed by its introduction is presumed cured. Brush, 228 Mont. at 251, 741 P.2d at 1335; State v. Smith (1986), 220 Mont. 364, 375-76, 715 P.2d 1301, 1308; State v. Freeman (1979), 183 Mont. 334, 345, 599 P.2d 368, 374. Further, as we discussed in Freeman, the jury cannot be presumed to ignore their duties to respect the instructions of the court and to decide a case based only upon the evidence admitted. Freeman, 183 Mont. at 345-46, 599 P.2d at 374-75. ¶ 26 Like the District Court in Brush, the District Court here found that it was not the intent of counsel nor of the court to elicit the statement complained of. Further, as in Brush, procedural protections were followed to safeguard defendant's right to a fair trial: the defense objected and moved to make a motion outside the presence of the jury, the court entertained the defense's motion and denied it finding that a curative instruction would suffice to cure any prejudice, and the court so instructed the jury to disregard the last statement made by the witness. ¶ 27 Because the trial court is in the best position to observe the jurors and determine the effect of questionable testimony, it is given a latitude of discretion in its rulings on prejudicial evidence. Brush, 228 Mont. at 252-53, 741 P.2d at 1336. Any prejudicial effect the statement may have had was promptly cured by the court's cautionary instructions to the jury. See Brush, 228 Mont. at 253, 741 P.2d at 1336. We conclude, based on the record of this case, that the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in denying the Defendant's motion for a mistrial.