Opinion ID: 1654062
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Counsel's cross-examination of the sheriff bolstered the State's case.

Text: ¶ 15. Davis next argues that Shaddock's cross-examination of Sheriff Miller bolstered the State's case, supplementing his argument that Shaddock should have filed a motion to suppress a good bit of what Miller testified to, and adding that a motion to suppress would have resulted in a pretrial hearing, which could have served as a kind of dry run on Miller's cross-examination. Shaddock's cross-examination went over Miller's taking Davis into custody, Davis's statements to Miller, Miller's initial search of Davis's house and of Linda Hillman's trailer, and Miller's contacting outside help when the nature of the crime became apparent. The testimony showed that Sheriff Miller had gone about his investigation slowly and carefully and had not exceeded his expertise. Shaddock was able to first raise the inference during this cross-examination that Davis had been under the influence of cocaine and/or other drugs at the time of the murder and at the time of his statements, and also introduced evidence of drug availability/use at the Hillman trailer. He introduced evidence that Davis had gotten $200 from Hillman for drugs just before the murder, setting up an argument that there was no need for him to get additional money, and got Miller to admit that he had not verified Hillman's boyfriend's alibi for the time of the murder. Davis does not say that Shaddock's cross-examination of Miller should have been shorter, or longer, and should have covered different subjects. The cross-examination did not bolster the State's case, and this issue is without merit.