Opinion ID: 1276352
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Extent of Cross-Examination Permitted of State's Only Witness.

Text: In one count of the information with which defendant was charged, the crime of theft in the first degree was alleged to have been committed by a series of acts in which defendant, with intent to defraud, concealed or disposed of cattle and hogs exceeding $5000 in value in which the Iowa State Bank of Algona, Iowa had a security interest. Another count contained a separate charge of theft in the first degree alleging that the defendant, by a series of acts, obtained loans and loan extensions from the Iowa State Bank by misrepresenting his financial condition. The only witness for the State was Gary Norcross, vice president and agricultural representative of the Iowa State Bank, who had dealt directly with defendant with respect to the loan and security transactions involved in the criminal charges made against him. Norcross testified in support of the charges that defendant had disposed of the bank's collateral on certain loans and had obtained the loans and renewals thereof based upon false representation as to his financial condition. The defendant attempted to cross-examine Norcross with respect to: (1) whether it would have been foolish for the defendant to write on a deposit slip the exact amount of the proceeds of livestock converted if defendant was trying to hide something; (2) whether Norcross expected that certain crimes would be charged against defendant as a result of the facts to which he testified; (3) whether Norcross knew it was a crime to commit certain specified acts; (4) whether criminal charges would have been brought against defendant if defendant's father had guaranteed payment of the loans; and (5) the reason why the bank did not make objection to defendant's discharge in bankruptcy as to the loan obligations involved. Cross-examination, within the trial court's discretion, may be restricted to matters raised during direct examination. State v. Cuevas, 288 N.W.2d 525, 530 (Iowa 1980). In addition, parties should not be permitted to cross-examine witnesses concerning issues of law or mixed questions of law and fact, Peterson v. Taylor, 316 N.W.2d 869, 874 (Iowa 1982), such as a criminal defendant's guilt or innocence. In applying these principles to the trial court's rulings in the present case, we believe that all of the questions on cross-examination to which objections were sustained were in fact improper either as to substance or form. The defendant asserts that he was attempting to develop through this line of inquiry facts which would indicate that the bank was not in fact misled with respect to any representations by defendant and that it acquiesced in the disposal of its collateral. If this was the intention of the controverted cross-examination, it does not appear on the face of the questions which were asked. Defendant also asserts that this line of questioning was designed to establish that the bank had neglected to object to defendant's discharge in bankruptcy and therefore had a financial interest in the criminal charge because of the possibility of courtordered restitution in the criminal case. Although the record is not clear, for purposes of decision, we will assume a discharge order had been entered in the bankruptcy proceeding. Again, we believe that the clear answer to this contention with respect to any claim of trial court error is that the questions to which objections were sustained did not inquire directly with respect to such matters. Moreover, no offer of proof was made by the defendant following any of the court's rulings which would serve to illuminate the purpose of the cross-examination. We find no abuse of discretion in any of the trial court's rulings.