Com. v. Gause, A.

Superior Court of Pennsylvania·Decided May 5, 2016·No. 151 MDA 2015·Unpublished

Opinion

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Appellee

v.

ARTEE LINARD MAURICE GAUSE Appellant No. 151 MDA 2015

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence December 2, 2014 In the Court of Common Pleas of York County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-67-CR-0008850-2013

BEFORE: PANELLA, J., LAZARUS, J., and PLATT, J.* MEMORANDUM BY PANELLA, J. FILED MAY 05, 2016 Appellant, Artee Linard Maurice Gause, appeals from the judgment of sentence entered December 2, 2014, in the Court of Common Pleas of York County, following his convictions of Driving Under the Influence (“DUI”) – General Impairment, DUI – Controlled Substance, and Period for Requiring Lighted Lamps.1 After careful review, we affirm.

The trial court summarized the facts of this case as follows.

[O]n September 25, 2013, at around 1:20 in the morning (Notes of Testimony, 10/9/14, at 64), Officer [Erika] Eiker encountered a vehicle lacking illuminated taillights. ([Id.] at 65-

66). During the ensuing stop, the officer asked the Appellant for his license and registration and questioned where Appellant was coming from. ([Id.] at 67.) The Appellant provided the

*

Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.

1 75 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 3802(a)(1); 3802(d)(2); and 4302(a)(1), respectively.

requested items without any fumbling ([id.] at 87) and informed the officer that he was traveling from a friend’s home[.] ([Id.] at 67). Officer Eiker smelled alcohol and the Appellant stated that he had consumed one 12 ounce can of beer. ([Id.] at 67.) The Appellant then completed field sobriety tests with varying levels of success. ([Id.] at 67-73.) On cross examination, defense counsel elicited from Officer Eiker that during the encounter she neither smelled nor saw marijuana. ([Id.] at 88.) Moreover, the officer testified that Appellant’s speech was not slurred and that, outside of the field sobriety tests, Appellant’s balance and coordination were fine. ([Id.] at 90). Officer Eiker went on to testify that she gives the Romberg Test when she suspects marijuana usage because she associates eyelid tremors, as in this case, with marijuana usage. ([Id.] at 103.) … [T]hough the Appellant submitted himself to a drug recognition evaluation, he refused chemical testing. ([Id.] at 73-75.)

Trial Court Opinion, 4/16/15 at 5-6.

Following a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of the aforementioned charges. The trial court merged the DUI convictions for sentencing purposes and sentenced Appellant to a term of 5 years of Intermediate Punishment, including 45 days to be served in county prison and 90 days of house arrest, and imposed a $1,500 fine, plus costs of prosecution. On the summary offense of Period for Requiring Lighted Lamps, the court imposed a $25 fine, plus the costs of prosecution. Appellant filed post-sentence motions, which the trial court denied. This timely appeal followed.

Appellant raises the following issues for our review.

1. Whether Officer Eiker’s opinion testimony that body tremors and eyelid tremors are indicative of marijuana impairment should have been excluded?

2. Whether Officer Eiker should have been denied the ability to testify as to her opinion that body tremors and eyelid tremors are indicative of marijuana impairment when the trial court

ruled prior to the beginning of trial that the Commonwealth’s witnesses could not render an opinion?

3. Whether Officer Eiker’s and Officer George’s testimony regarding eyelid and body tremors should have been excluded even if they did not render an opinion because the testimony was irrelevant without their opinion?

4. Whether there was insufficient evidence to support the [j]ury’s finding of guilt on count 1, DUI, General Impairment, when Officer George testified that he had excluded alcohol as a factor of impairment?

5. Whether the verdict as to count 1 is against the weight of the evidence when Officer George had specifically excluded alcohol impairment?

6. Whether there was insufficient evidence to support the [j]ury’s finding of guilt on count 2, DUI, Controlled Substance, because the Commonwealth failed to present sufficient evidence that Mr. Gause was incapable of safely operating an automobile because of drug consumption?

7. Whether the [j]ury’s verdict as to count 2 is against the weight of the evidence when there was no testimony as to the drug(s) that Mr. Gause was supposedly impaired by?

Appellant’s Brief at 6-7 (renumbered for ease of disposition).

Appellant first argues that the trial court committed reversible error when it permitted Officer Eiker to offer her opinion that body and eyelid tremors are indicative of marijuana impairment. See Appellant’s Brief at 15- 22. Prior to trial, Appellant filed a motion in limine to preclude Officer Eiker’s opinion testimony regarding factors indicative of marijuana impairment. The trial court granted Appellant’s motion to exclude such opinion testimony. During trial, however, the trial court sua sponte reversed its earlier decision and, over defense objection, permitted Officer Eiker to attribute Appellant’s body and eyelid tremors to marijuana impairment. See N.T., Trial, 10/9/14

at 76-77; 103. Appellant argues that the opinion offered by Officer Eiker regarding his alleged marijuana impairment was beyond the purview of permissible lay witness opinion.2 We disagree.

“[T]he admission of evidence is within the sound discretion of the trial court and will be reversed only upon a showing that the trial court clearly abused its discretion.” Commonwealth v. Fransen, 42 A.3d 1100, 1106 (Pa. Super. 2012) (internal citations omitted).

Pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Evidence 701, Opinion Testimony by Lay Witness, lay witness testimony in the form of an opinion is limited to one that is:

(a) rationally based on the witness's perception

(b) helpful to clearly understanding the witness's testimony or to determining a fact in issue; and

(c) not based on scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge within the scope of Rule 702.

Pa.R.E. 701. “A lay person may testify to distinct facts observed by him concerning the apparent physical condition or appearance of another.” Commonwealth v. Counterman, 719 A.2d 284, 301 (Pa. 1998) (citation omitted).

2 We note that Appellant only contests the admissibility of Officer Eiker’s opinion testimony as it relates to marijuana impairment. Therefore, we restrict our analysis of the admissibility of the testimony only as it pertains to marijuana impairment, and not alcohol impairment.

This Court has long recognized that where the proper foundation is laid, lay opinion as to whether a person is under the influence of narcotics is admissible. See Commonwealth v. Yedinak, 676 A.2d 1217, 1221 (Pa. Super. 1996) (“Although this Court has never addressed whether lay opinion testimony is admissible to prove drug-induced intoxication, we find no basis upon which to distinguish opinion testimony of drug-induced intoxication from opinion testimony of alcohol-induced intoxication where the witness is personally familiar with the effects of narcotics.”). Opinion testimony of drug-induced intoxication will not be distinguished from opinion testimony of alcohol-induced intoxication where the witness is personally familiar with the effects of narcotics. See Commonwealth v. Davies, 811 A.2d 600, 603 (Pa. Super. 2002).

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