Opinion ID: 1792134
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: Did the trial court err in permitting a police officer to read a record of charges at Hersick's sentencing?

Text: ¶ 66. Hersick contends that the trial court erred by allowing Lambert to read a record of unproven charges at his sentencing. Hersick contends that these charges were a result of his indigency. He claims he was without money to contest them. ¶ 67. Hersick further alleges that his counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the reading of his record. Hersick contends that prior charges not resulting in a conviction were not admissible. ¶ 68. Lambert testified to Hersick's criminal history as follows: MR. MILLER: Mr. Lambert, if you would, please advise the Court of what the criminal history of this defendant is, and what you were able to find out in your investigation. MR. LAMBERT: It took me seven weeks, Your Honor, to find out who this gentleman actually was. I've got 11 different state ID numbers for him, from 11 different states where he had been convicted. MR. HERSICK: The United States is terrorizing me. MR. LAMBERT: He already has three convictions in California for sexual assaults, one child molestation that was reduced to a misdemeanor in regard to him leaving that county. THE COURT: Does he have any felony convictions? MR. LAMBERT: He was charged with felony child molestation, and the county in California reduced it to a misdemeanor on the grounds that he left that county. THE COURT: But he doesn't have any felony convictions anywhere that you know of? MR. LAMBERT: Sir? THE COURT: He does not have any felony convictions anywhere that you know of? MR. LAMBERT: No, Sir. THE COURT: But he has some misdemeanor convictions in California. Where else? MR. LAMBERT: California, Utah. Would it be all right to look at the file? THE COURT: Sure. THE WITNESS: Oregon. These are the states: Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Georgia. And like I say, one is in California. Every one of these there's no conviction of a felony. They was charged as felonies but somehow reduced as misdemeanors. THE COURT: What were the charges? What did he actually get convicted of? MR. LAMBERT: Sexual battery twice in California, assault and battery, assault of a law enforcement officer in California, attempted burglary and sexual assault in California, and also assaulting an officer again. THE COURT: And all of those were reduced to misdemeanors? MR. LAMBERT: Yes, sir. We find no error in this discussion of Hersick's criminal history at sentencing.