Opinion ID: 2218193
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: messersmith's motion in limine and trial

Text: Before introduction of evidence at trial, Messersmith filed a motion in limine, based on Neb.Evid.R. 404(2) (admissibility of other acts evidence), Neb.Rev.Stat. § 27-404(2) (Reissue 1989), to preclude testimony from Strayer and Stroh concerning transactions and events involving Messersmith before January 22, 1989, when police found the controlled substances at Messersmith's residence. After an evidential hearing on Messersmith's motion outside the jury's presence, the trial court, pursuant to Neb. Evid.R. 104(1) (preliminary question of admissibility), Neb.Rev.Stat. § 27-104(1) (Reissue 1989), determined that testimony from Strayer and Stroh was admissible under Rule 404(2), but was subject to a cautionary instruction regarding the limited use of other acts evidence admitted under Rule 404(2). At Messersmith's trial, Det. Sgt. Michael Garnett, a witness with special training and experience in investigating narcotics cases, testified that possession of controlled substances, with the presence of many small self-sealing plastic bags, indicates that the drugs were probably being maintained for resale. According to Garnett, other items commonly used for repackaging and sale of controlled substances include accurate scales of the type found in Messersmith's closet; powdered sugar or other substances used to dilute the controlled substance to make the quantity of drug that they have larger; sifters, which are often used to mix the dilutant with the drug; and funnels and scoops that aid in transferring the drug into small plastic bags. Over Messersmith's objection, Strayer and Stroh testified that they purchased controlled substances from Messersmith numerous times during January 1989 and that some of these transactions involved their delivery of stolen property to Messersmith in exchange for drugs. When Strayer and Stroh brought stolen property to Messersmith for the drugs, they told Messersmith that the articles delivered in the exchange were stolen. Immediately after conclusion of Strayer's testimony, the court instructed the jury that Strayer's testimony concerning prior drug transactions with Messersmith was not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show that that person acted in conformity with that character, but was received for the limited purpose of helping you to decide whether [Messersmith] had the knowledge required by Count I of the Information [theft charge] and in helping you ... decide whether [Messersmith] had the intent required by Count II of the Information [drug charge]. You must consider that evidence for that limited purpose and for no other purpose. The foregoing cautionary and restrictive instruction was repeated immediately after Stroh's testimony and, in a substantially similar version, was included among the general instructions given to the jury at the conclusion of all evidence. Over Messersmith's relevance objections, the district court admitted into evidence the shotgun and box of shells which were found in Messersmith's closet and photographs which showed myriad auto parts in the kitchen, dining, and living room areas of Messersmith's home, although none of the depicted items were claimed to be the stolen property which Messersmith received in exchange for drugs delivered to Strayer and Stroh. For instance, the depicted items included: a motorcycle in some state of assembly or disassembly, as the case may be, in Messersmith's dining room, with several motorcycle seats, a fire extinguisher, and a deer's head wearing a straw hat; vehicle wheels with spokes, lying on the dining room floor, which was covered with several boxes of nondescript items; a large air compressor in the living room; assorted metal sanders, drills, gauges, and socket wrenches in Messersmith's kitchen; a mechanic's metal tool chest located in the kitchen; and a cutting torch with its tanks of oxygen and acetylene, also located in the kitchen. In conjunction with admission of the photographs, the court refused to give a limiting instruction, requested by Messersmith, that the photographs showed only the condition of the premises and did not tend to establish that the depicted items were stolen property. Ballou identified his various auto parts which had been incorporated into Messersmith's car and pointed out the distinctive features and approximate value of those parts, which were itemized on a handwritten list prepared by Ballou and received in evidence. Also, under court supervision, the jury collectively viewed Messersmith's car in conjunction with the evidence from Ballou. During his case in chief, Messersmith disclaimed owning the toolbox which contained the amphetamine, methamphetamine, plastic bags, syringes, sifter, and metal funnel and scoop. Also, Messersmith denied that he knew the auto parts were stolen when he received those articles from Strayer and Stroh and further denied trading the auto parts for drugs received by Strayer and Stroh. Messersmith claimed the gun and shells found in his closet were owned by a coworker who left them in Messersmith's home while Messersmith contemplated buying them. During the instruction conference just before summation, Messersmith objected to instructions Nos. 2 and 4, which described the crime of theft by receiving stolen property, namely, Arden Messersmith ... did receive, retain, or dispose of stolen movable property of John Ballou, valued at more than $300 but less than $1,000, knowing or believing that it had been stolen. Messersmith contended that, because the State had been required to file a bill of particulars before trial for designation of stolen auto parts as the property involved in the theft charge, jury instructions, describing theft by receipt of stolen property, should specifically identify the property stolen. The court declined to specify the property included within stolen movable property used in its instructions. The jury returned a guilty verdict on both charges of drug possession and theft by receipt of stolen property.