IMPORTANT NOTICE NOT TO BE PUBLISHED OPINION
THIS OPINION IS DESIGNATED “NOT TO BE PUBLISHED.” PURSUANT TO THE RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE PROMULGATED BY THE SUPREME COURT, CR 76.28(4)(C), THIS OPINION IS NOT TO BE PUBLISHED AND SHALL NOT BE CITED OR USED AS BINDING PRECEDENT IN ANY OTHER CASE IN ANY COURT OF THIS STATE; HOWEVER, UNPUBLISHED KENTUCKY APPELLATE DECISIONS, RENDERED AFTER JANUARY 1, 2003, MAY BE CITED FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COURT IF THERE IS NO PUBLISHED OPINION THAT WOULD ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE ISSUE BEFORE THE COURT. OPINIONS CITED FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COURT SHALL BE SET OUT AS AN UNPUBLISHED DECISION IN THE FILED DOCUMENT AND A COPY OF THE ENTIRE DECISION SHALL BE TENDERED ALONG WITH THE DOCUMENT TO THE COURT AND ALL PARTIES TO THE ACTION. RENDERED: DECEMBER 17, 2020 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
Supreme Court of Kentucky 2019-SC-0350-MR
BRANDON KRAATZ APPELLANT
ON APPEAL FROM JEFFERSON CIRCUIT COURT V. HONORABLE ANGELA MCCORMICK BISIG, JUDGE NO. 16-CR-002809
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY APPELLEE
MEMORANDUM OPINION OF THE COURT
AFFIRMING
The circuit court jury convicted Brandon Kraatz of murder and fixed
punishment at imprisonment for 25 years, and the trial court entered
judgment accordingly. Kraatz appeals from the judgment as a matter of right,1
seeking reversal upon palpable-error review of a single issue arising at trial and
unpreserved without contemporaneous objection: the Commonwealth
introduced improper impeachment evidence of a key defense witness’s prior
inconsistent statements. Finding to the contrary that the witness’s prior
statements qualified as admissible inconsistent statements, we reject Kraatz’s
claim of error and affirm the judgment.
1 Ky. Const. § 110(2)(b).
1 I. BACKGROUND
The jury convicted Kraatz of shooting and killing David House in a
convenience store parking lot. Kraatz asserted he was was acting in self-
defense. At trial, the defense called Kraatz’s girlfriend, Emily Grissett, to testify
as an eyewitness to the shooting. Grissett testified she and Kraatz arrived at
the convenience store. David House was in the car parked next to theirs.
According to Grissett, House was fidgeting and talking to himself erratically.
She said Kraatz commented that House appeared to be “high” and warned her
to lock the doors while he was inside the store. She further testified Kraatz
exited their vehicle and went into the store. As he exited the store, House
inquired of him, “Are you Levi?,” and the two began talking. Grissett then
testified she saw House grab something and Kraatz shot him.
Grissett was interviewed after the shooting by Detective Speaks, and the
Commonwealth cross-examined Grissett concerning the statements she made
during that interview while cross-examining her. The relevant portions of the
cross-examination follow:
Commonwealth: How much did you and [Kraatz] talk about what happened? Grissett: Not much at all. Commonwealth: You told Detective Speaks that when [Kraatz] took his hand out of his pocket you heard House say, “Oh you want to do something like that?’” Grissett: No, he said, “Is that for me?” and he said, “No well I got something for you.” And that’s when Mr. House had reached over to grab something. Commonwealth: “Is that for me?” What was that last part? Grissett: He said, “Is that for me?” That is what Mr. House said and [Kraatz] says, “No.” Then he had asked, “Well I have something for you.” Commonwealth: You never told that statement to Detective Speaks. Grissett: No, I did. Commonwealth: You did. Grissett: I did.
2 Later in the trial, the Commonwealth called Detective Speaks to testify in
rebuttal to impeach Grissett’s trial testimony with statements from her initial
interview. Detective Speaks testified that during the interview Grissett stated
when House saw the gun, he said, “Oh, you want to do something like that?”
Although Kraatz made no contemporaneous objection to this testimony
at trial, he argues in this appeal that Grissett’s statements are not inconsistent
and, therefore, were improperly admitted for the implication that Grissett was
lying. Kraatz argues this is palpable error mandating reversal of the judgment.
The Commonwealth argues these statements are inconsistent because they
lead to different conclusions and were properly used as impeachment evidence
of Grissett’s testimony on direct. For reasons explained below, we find no error
occurred because the statements were inconsistent and properly used as
impeachment evidence.
II. ANALYSIS
A. Standard of Review.
Unpreserved trial errors are reviewable for palpable error.2 Under such
review, this Court will reverse the judgment only if the error resulted in a
manifest injustice. To rise to the level of manifest injustice, the error must
have likely affected the outcome of the proceeding or fundamentally tainted the
defendant’s right to due process of law.
The Commonwealth urges us to avoid review altogether because the
claimed error could not have affected the defendant’s constitutional rights.
Indeed, Kraatz has not identified a constitutional violation in any specific way,
2 Martin v. Commonwealth, 207 S.W.3d 1, 3 (Ky. 2006). 3 and the Commonwealth argues that defendants must cite the violation of a
specific substantial right as a prerequisite to palpable-error review. Our
criminal rules and case law establish that the defendant must show us a
“probability of a different result or [an] error so fundamental as to threaten a
defendant's entitlement to due process of law.”3 And with that standard in
mind, we proceed to review this case for palpable error.
B. The trial court did not err when it admitted evidence of Grissett’s prior statements to the detective.
No error occurred in the Commonwealth’s introduction of Grissett’s
previous statement. A trial witness’s credibility may be impeached through a
prior inconsistent statement.4 Under Kentucky Rule of Evidence (KRE)
801A(a)(1), a prior inconsistent statement may be admitted against a declarant
so long as a foundation is laid, and the statement is inconsistent with the
declarant’s testimony. Statements that may be considered inconsistent with
one another include any statements previously made by the declarant and
those made during the declarant’s testimony.5
This Court has found that statements are inconsistent and admissible
when the proffered statement and the witness’s testimony lead to different
conclusions based on incompatible beliefs.6 Overall, statements are
inconsistent when the conclusions reached by each could not be true at the
3Kentucky Rule of Criminal Procedure (RCr) 10.26; Allen v. Commonwealth, 286 S.W.3d 221, 226 (Ky. 2009) (quoting Martin, 207 S.W.3d at 3). 4 Mounce v. Commonwealth, 795 S.W.2d 375, 378 (Ky. 1990); KRE 801A(a)(1). 5 KRE 801A(a)(1). 6 Porter v. Commonwealth, 892 S.W.2d 594, 596 (Ky. 1995) (quoting
Commonwealth v. Jackson, 281 S.W.2d 891, 896 (Ky. 1955)). 4 same time.7 As a general rule, any doubt as to admissibility of the prior
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IMPORTANT NOTICE NOT TO BE PUBLISHED OPINION
THIS OPINION IS DESIGNATED “NOT TO BE PUBLISHED.” PURSUANT TO THE RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE PROMULGATED BY THE SUPREME COURT, CR 76.28(4)(C), THIS OPINION IS NOT TO BE PUBLISHED AND SHALL NOT BE CITED OR USED AS BINDING PRECEDENT IN ANY OTHER CASE IN ANY COURT OF THIS STATE; HOWEVER, UNPUBLISHED KENTUCKY APPELLATE DECISIONS, RENDERED AFTER JANUARY 1, 2003, MAY BE CITED FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COURT IF THERE IS NO PUBLISHED OPINION THAT WOULD ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE ISSUE BEFORE THE COURT. OPINIONS CITED FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COURT SHALL BE SET OUT AS AN UNPUBLISHED DECISION IN THE FILED DOCUMENT AND A COPY OF THE ENTIRE DECISION SHALL BE TENDERED ALONG WITH THE DOCUMENT TO THE COURT AND ALL PARTIES TO THE ACTION. RENDERED: DECEMBER 17, 2020 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
Supreme Court of Kentucky 2019-SC-0350-MR
BRANDON KRAATZ APPELLANT
ON APPEAL FROM JEFFERSON CIRCUIT COURT V. HONORABLE ANGELA MCCORMICK BISIG, JUDGE NO. 16-CR-002809
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY APPELLEE
MEMORANDUM OPINION OF THE COURT
AFFIRMING
The circuit court jury convicted Brandon Kraatz of murder and fixed
punishment at imprisonment for 25 years, and the trial court entered
judgment accordingly. Kraatz appeals from the judgment as a matter of right,1
seeking reversal upon palpable-error review of a single issue arising at trial and
unpreserved without contemporaneous objection: the Commonwealth
introduced improper impeachment evidence of a key defense witness’s prior
inconsistent statements. Finding to the contrary that the witness’s prior
statements qualified as admissible inconsistent statements, we reject Kraatz’s
claim of error and affirm the judgment.
1 Ky. Const. § 110(2)(b).
1 I. BACKGROUND
The jury convicted Kraatz of shooting and killing David House in a
convenience store parking lot. Kraatz asserted he was was acting in self-
defense. At trial, the defense called Kraatz’s girlfriend, Emily Grissett, to testify
as an eyewitness to the shooting. Grissett testified she and Kraatz arrived at
the convenience store. David House was in the car parked next to theirs.
According to Grissett, House was fidgeting and talking to himself erratically.
She said Kraatz commented that House appeared to be “high” and warned her
to lock the doors while he was inside the store. She further testified Kraatz
exited their vehicle and went into the store. As he exited the store, House
inquired of him, “Are you Levi?,” and the two began talking. Grissett then
testified she saw House grab something and Kraatz shot him.
Grissett was interviewed after the shooting by Detective Speaks, and the
Commonwealth cross-examined Grissett concerning the statements she made
during that interview while cross-examining her. The relevant portions of the
cross-examination follow:
Commonwealth: How much did you and [Kraatz] talk about what happened? Grissett: Not much at all. Commonwealth: You told Detective Speaks that when [Kraatz] took his hand out of his pocket you heard House say, “Oh you want to do something like that?’” Grissett: No, he said, “Is that for me?” and he said, “No well I got something for you.” And that’s when Mr. House had reached over to grab something. Commonwealth: “Is that for me?” What was that last part? Grissett: He said, “Is that for me?” That is what Mr. House said and [Kraatz] says, “No.” Then he had asked, “Well I have something for you.” Commonwealth: You never told that statement to Detective Speaks. Grissett: No, I did. Commonwealth: You did. Grissett: I did.
2 Later in the trial, the Commonwealth called Detective Speaks to testify in
rebuttal to impeach Grissett’s trial testimony with statements from her initial
interview. Detective Speaks testified that during the interview Grissett stated
when House saw the gun, he said, “Oh, you want to do something like that?”
Although Kraatz made no contemporaneous objection to this testimony
at trial, he argues in this appeal that Grissett’s statements are not inconsistent
and, therefore, were improperly admitted for the implication that Grissett was
lying. Kraatz argues this is palpable error mandating reversal of the judgment.
The Commonwealth argues these statements are inconsistent because they
lead to different conclusions and were properly used as impeachment evidence
of Grissett’s testimony on direct. For reasons explained below, we find no error
occurred because the statements were inconsistent and properly used as
impeachment evidence.
II. ANALYSIS
A. Standard of Review.
Unpreserved trial errors are reviewable for palpable error.2 Under such
review, this Court will reverse the judgment only if the error resulted in a
manifest injustice. To rise to the level of manifest injustice, the error must
have likely affected the outcome of the proceeding or fundamentally tainted the
defendant’s right to due process of law.
The Commonwealth urges us to avoid review altogether because the
claimed error could not have affected the defendant’s constitutional rights.
Indeed, Kraatz has not identified a constitutional violation in any specific way,
2 Martin v. Commonwealth, 207 S.W.3d 1, 3 (Ky. 2006). 3 and the Commonwealth argues that defendants must cite the violation of a
specific substantial right as a prerequisite to palpable-error review. Our
criminal rules and case law establish that the defendant must show us a
“probability of a different result or [an] error so fundamental as to threaten a
defendant's entitlement to due process of law.”3 And with that standard in
mind, we proceed to review this case for palpable error.
B. The trial court did not err when it admitted evidence of Grissett’s prior statements to the detective.
No error occurred in the Commonwealth’s introduction of Grissett’s
previous statement. A trial witness’s credibility may be impeached through a
prior inconsistent statement.4 Under Kentucky Rule of Evidence (KRE)
801A(a)(1), a prior inconsistent statement may be admitted against a declarant
so long as a foundation is laid, and the statement is inconsistent with the
declarant’s testimony. Statements that may be considered inconsistent with
one another include any statements previously made by the declarant and
those made during the declarant’s testimony.5
This Court has found that statements are inconsistent and admissible
when the proffered statement and the witness’s testimony lead to different
conclusions based on incompatible beliefs.6 Overall, statements are
inconsistent when the conclusions reached by each could not be true at the
3Kentucky Rule of Criminal Procedure (RCr) 10.26; Allen v. Commonwealth, 286 S.W.3d 221, 226 (Ky. 2009) (quoting Martin, 207 S.W.3d at 3). 4 Mounce v. Commonwealth, 795 S.W.2d 375, 378 (Ky. 1990); KRE 801A(a)(1). 5 KRE 801A(a)(1). 6 Porter v. Commonwealth, 892 S.W.2d 594, 596 (Ky. 1995) (quoting
Commonwealth v. Jackson, 281 S.W.2d 891, 896 (Ky. 1955)). 4 same time.7 As a general rule, any doubt as to admissibility of the prior
statement should be resolved in favor of admission over exclusion.8
Here, Grissett’s statements lead to different conclusions and were
properly admitted as inconsistent statements. Grissett’s trial statement was
that House told Kraatz he “had something” for him. This may imply a threat by
House to Kraatz. In contrast, Grissett’s prior statement to Detective Speaks
omitted this portion of the conversation and may imply there was no need for
Kraatz to act in self-defense.
Grissett’s testimony that House made an extra statement to Kraatz was
an expression at least arguably incompatible with her earlier statements to
Detective Speaks, which did not suggest that House threatened Kraatz.
Grissett’s trial testimony that House uttered the additional statement is
certainly incompatible with her initial interview statement that Kraatz showed
a weapon to House and House replied, “Oh, you want to do something like
that?” These statements are inconsistent and were properly allowed into
evidence to impeach Grissett’s trial testimony.
III. CONCLUSION
We find no merit in Kraatz’s claim of error and affirm the judgment.
All sitting. All concur.
7 Commonwealth v. Jackson, 281 S.W.2d 891, 896 (Ky. 1955); L. Abramson, 9 Ky. Prac. Crim. Crim. Prac. & Proc. SECTION 27:190 (2011–2012). 8 Porter, at 596. 5 COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT:
Adam Meyer Department of Public Advocacy
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE:
Daniel Jay Cameron Attorney General of Kentucky
Perry Thomas Ryan Assistant Attorney General