Opinion ID: 2174525
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Testimony beyond the scope of the minutes of testimony.

Text: The trial information filed against Braun included minutes of testimony expected at trial. It stated that Calvin Rayburn or designee would testify that the Intoxilyzer Model 4011A measures the alcohol concentration of the person being tested and has a margin of error of plus or minus five percent. Rayburn or his designee would also testify regarding the operation and certification of the Intoxilyzer. On June 25, 1991, the assistant county attorney filed with the associate district court a Notice of Additional Minutes of Testimony. It stated that Michael Rehberg, as designee of Rayburn, would also testify regarding the effect of alcohol on the human body and the factors affecting a person's alcohol concentration, and give his expert opinion of Braun's alcohol concentration on March 23, 1991, at the time he was alleged to have been operating a motor vehicle. June 25 was the original date of trial, but when Braun arrived at the courthouse, a clerk informed him that the trial had been moved to July 10. He was then handed the Notice of Additional Minutes of Testimony, which stated it was written and filed pursuant to Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 18(2). On July 11, 1991, the second day of trial, the trial court entered an order entitled Motion for Continuance which stated that counsel for the defendant, upon acknowledging receipt of the additional minutes of testimony on June 25, had requested a continuance of the trial for sufficient time to allow a deposition of the witness listed in the additional minutes. The order noted that the record did not contain a written document indicating a continuance at the defendant's request, therefore the court entered the order granting the continuance after the fact. Braun responded by filing a resistance to the Motion for Continuance. It stated that the defendant did not request the court to continue the matter because of the filing of the Notice of Additional Minutes of Testimony on June 25, 1991. Braun argued that notice for amendment of minutes of testimony must comply with Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 4(8)(a) and (b), not rule 18(2). Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 5(3) requires the prosecuting attorney at the time of filing an information to also file written minutes of evidence of the witnesses supporting that information. These minutes must state the name, place of residence and occupation of each witness upon whose testimony the information is based, and a full and fair statement of the witness' expected testimony at trial. Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 5(5) states that [t]he term `indictment' embraces the trial information, and all provisions of law applied to prosecutions on indictments apply also to informations, except where otherwise provided for by statute or in these rules, or when the context requires otherwise. We have a rule which governs the amendment of an indictment, but no corresponding rule for an information. We therefore look to the rule for amendment of an indictment. Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 4(8)(a) provides that the court may, on motion of the State, amend an indictment to correct errors or omissions in matters of form or substance. When the amendment is proposed before trial, subsection b requires the application and proposed amendment be served upon the defendant or the defendant's attorney of record, and an opportunity be given to the defendant to resist the application. Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 4(8)(e) states minutes may be amended in the same manner and to the same extent that an indictment may be amended. Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 18(2) states that a witness may testify for the State if the witness' identity and a minute of the witness' evidence has been given to the court and defendant pursuant to these rules. An exception is provided which states that: [ a ] dditional witnesses in support of the indictment or trial information may be presented by the prosecuting attorney if he or she has given the defendant's attorney of record ... a minute of such witness' evidence, as defined in R.Cr.P. 4(6) a or 5(3), at least ten days before the commencement of the trial. Iowa R.Crim.P. 18(2) (emphasis added). Application of the procedures provided in Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 18(2) and (3) is limited to those situations in which the State attempts to use witnesses in addition to those endorsed on the information. See State v. Smith, 282 N.W.2d 138, 140-41 (Iowa 1979); State v. Nebinger, 412 N.W.2d 180, 191 (Iowa App.1987). Rule 18(2) provides a ten-day notice provision for additional witnesses in support of a trial information, and rule 18(3) governs situations in which the prosecuting attorney does not give notice to the defendant of all prosecution witnesses (except rebuttal witnesses) at least ten days before trial.... (emphasis added). Rehberg was not an additional witness within the meaning of these rules. Rehberg was the designee of Calvin Rayburn, who was endorsed as a witness on the trial information. Braun received this minute of testimony. An amendment to minutes of testimony previously given on a trial information is therefore governed by rule 4(8)(e) and the procedures provided in rule 4(8). Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 4(8)(a) allows the court to order an amendment to the minutes unless substantial rights of the defendant are prejudiced by the amendment, or if a wholly new and different offense is charged. In this case, there was no prejudice to the defendant. Braun and his attorney were given notice upon the filing of the trial information that the State would present the testimony of an individual regarding the Intoxilyzer test as it relates to intoxication. The State gave actual written notice to Braun and his attorney of additional testimony relating to intoxication on June 25. Although trial had been scheduled for that date, the trial had been continued earlier that day. The continuance gave Braun adequate time to request an additional continuance to depose Rehberg or to request a hearing to resist the additional testimony. Braun did neither. We find that, although the court erroneously applied Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 18(2) because Rehberg was not an additional witness, the defendant received actual notice and an opportunity to prepare or resist. The defendant was not prejudiced by the procedures followed. We generally will not reverse on the ground of technical defects in procedure unless it appears in some way to have prejudiced the complaining party or deprived him or her of full opportunity to make defense to the charge presented in the indictment or information. Smith, 282 N.W.2d at 141; State v. Rank, 214 N.W.2d 136, 138 (Iowa 1974). This includes defects relating to minutes of testimony. Smith, 282 N.W.2d at 141. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting Rehberg's testimony. State v. Florie, 411 N.W.2d 689, 697 (Iowa 1987).