Opinion ID: 1859752
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Appellants' Joint Issues on Appeal

Text: Appellants assert that there are overlapping issues presented in this matter. In his brief, Pyle attempts to incorporate three of Tunnicliff's points for reversal: (1) the reverse-buy operation amounted to entrapment as a matter of law; (2) it was illegal for law enforcement officers to use real drugs during the sting operation; and (3) the confidential informant should not have been allowed to testify. During the trial of this matter, however, Pyle never attempted to argue any of these points. He never asserted the affirmative defense of entrapment or sought a jury instruction on that defense. Pyle also failed to object to the law enforcement officers' use of real drugs during the reverse buy. Our law is well settled that we will not consider an argument raised for the first time on appeal. Ayers v. State, 334 Ark. 258, 975 S.W.2d 88 (1998); McGhee v. State, 330 Ark. 38, 954 S.W.2d 206 (1997). A party cannot change the grounds for an objection or motion on appeal, but is bound by the scope and nature of the arguments made at trial. Ayers, 334 Ark. 258, 975 S.W.2d 88; Henderson v. State, 329 Ark. 526, 953 S.W.2d 26 (1997). Pyle's failure to raise the arguments relating to the reverse buy and the use of real drugs in that buy precludes our review of those points as applicable to his appeal. As to the issue whether the confidential informant should have been allowed to testify, Tunnicliff and Pyle argue that it was illegal for the State to drop the DWI charge pending against the informant in exchange for his cooperation because Arkansas law provides that no such charges shall be reduced. See Ark.Code Ann. § 5-65-107 (Repl.1977). It is their contention that such action is tantamount to bribery, and thus, the informant should not have been allowed to testify. Their argument fails because neither Tunnicliff nor Pyle ever objected to the informant testifying. In fact, they made no objections to any of the statements he made while on the witness stand. Only Tunnicliff raised the issue at all, but not until the close of the State's case. The law is well settled that to preserve an issue for appeal a defendant must object at the first opportunity. Vaughan v. State, 338 Ark. 220, 992 S.W.2d 785 (1999); Smallwood v. State, 326 Ark. 813, 935 S.W.2d 530 (1996); Hill v. State, 285 Ark. 77, 685 S.W.2d 495 (1985). In Marts v. State, 332 Ark. 628, 968 S.W.2d 41 (1998), this court stated that a party who does not object to the introduction of evidence at the first opportunity waives such an argument on appeal. The policy reason behind this rule is that a trial court should be given an opportunity to correct any error early in the trial, perhaps before any prejudice occurs. Id. Thus, their failure to object to the informant's testimony at the first opportunity bars them from arguing this point on appeal. We turn next to those issues raised solely by Tunnicliff.