Robert Matthew Caldwell v. Commonwealth of Virginia

Court of Appeals of Virginia·Decided October 21, 2025·No. 1099243·Published

Opinion

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: Judges Malveaux, Athey and Senior Judge Humphreys PUBLISHED

Argued at Lexington, Virginia

ROBERT MATTHEW CALDWELL

OPINION BY

v. Record No. 1099-24-3 JUDGE MARY BENNETT MALVEAUX OCTOBER 21, 2025

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY Colin R. Gibb, Judge Designate

Jessiah S. Hulle (Naomi R. Huntington; Huntington, Huntington & Huntington, on brief), for appellant.

Kelly L. Sturman, Assistant Attorney General (Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.

Following a bench trial, the trial court convicted Robert Matthew Caldwell (“appellant”) of driving under the influence of drugs, third or subsequent offense within ten years, in violation of Code §§ 18.2-266 and -270. On appeal, he argues that the trial court erred by overruling his objection to the identification of Kelly Patteson as a nurse who was qualified to withdraw blood pursuant to Code § 18.2-268.5. Appellant also contends that the court erred by admitting a certificate of analysis without the testimony of Patteson, the person who performed the blood draw.

For the following reasons, we affirm.

I. BACKGROUND

At around 1:00 a.m., Lieutenant Donald J. Kirker, Jr. of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office saw a car driving erratically on one road before pulling off onto the side of another road. Kirker checked the car’s registration and found that it had expired. He then

conducted a traffic stop and discovered that the driver, appellant, had an outstanding warrant for a probation violation and was driving on a revoked license.

When Kirker questioned appellant about drugs, appellant admitted that he was in possession of methamphetamine. During a search of appellant, Kirker found a pack of cigarettes containing a bag of white crystals, consistent with methamphetamine, inside appellant’s left pocket. Appellant also admitted that there was more methamphetamine inside his car and explained to Kirker that he sometimes sold “a little” methamphetamine to support his own use. In the car, Kirker found a baggie containing suspected methamphetamine along with a smoking device, two cellphones, multiple scales in multiple bags, and multiple syringes in multiple bags. Appellant told Kirker that he had used methamphetamine the previous evening.

Kirker had appellant perform field sobriety tests. On the Modified Romberg Test, which is designed to “detect stimulants such as methamphetamine,” appellant’s demeanor indicated “a sped up perception of time consistent with methamphetamine use.” Kirker arrested appellant for driving under the influence and drove him to a hospital to obtain a blood draw.

Pursuant to Code §§ 19.2-187 and -187.1, the Commonwealth filed a pretrial notice that it intended to offer into evidence a certificate of analysis pertaining to the blood draw. In response, appellant filed a motion, pursuant to Code § 19.2-187.1, objecting to the admission of the certificate of analysis.

At trial, Kirker related the circumstances regarding his roadside encounter with appellant.

The Commonwealth then asked Kirker, “And who was the nurse that did the blood draw?” Counsel for appellant objected, arguing that Kirker “can’t say whether or not she’s a nurse. He has no . . . idea about her qualifications and if they are they’re hearsay.” The Commonwealth offered to lay a foundation for the testimony, asking Kirker, “When you went to the hospital, who did . . . you meet there?” Kirker responded, without objection, “Kelly Patteson.” When

asked what Patteson was wearing, Kirker stated, “She appeared that she worked there. I don’t know exactly what she was wearing.” The trial court then admitted into evidence a Montgomery County Circuit Court order listing the names of technicians or nurses that were designated to withdraw blood samples pursuant to Code § 18.2-268.5. Kelly Patteson’s name was included in the order.

Kirker testified that he observed Patteson conduct the blood draw. He also testified that, due to his training and experience, he was familiar with a Virginia Department of Forensic Science (“DFS”) “kit.” He stated that he was “a DUI instructor” that had arrested multiple people in DUI drug cases and that he “used the exact same kits in every single one of” those cases. He testified that Patteson used the items from the DFS kit to perform the blood draw. Kirker received two vials of appellant’s blood, sealed by Patteson, and then submitted them to the lab for analysis.

The Commonwealth moved to admit the certificate of analysis regarding appellant’s blood draw. Appellant objected, arguing that it was necessary to have the person who had conducted the blood draw testify at trial in order to admit the certificate of analysis into evidence. The trial court overruled the objection and admitted the certificate of analysis.

The certificate of analysis contained the conclusion of Dr. Ashton Lesiak, the DFS toxicologist who had performed the analysis, that appellant’s blood contained methamphetamine at 1.6 milligrams per liter +/- 0.2 milligram per liter. Lesiak later testified at trial, stating that the level of methamphetamine in appellant’s blood was “high” and that it was “possible that at this level there might be effects that could cause incoordination and more risk taking behavior.”

The certificate of analysis also included a blood withdrawal certificate affixed onto the first page of the certificate. This certificate included appellant’s name, Kirker’s name, and the date and time of the blood draw. The certificate also included the language, “I certify that the

blood in the vial to which this Certificate is attached was withdrawn from the above named accused. I am qualified pursuant to [Code] § 18.2-268.5 to withdraw blood & the blood was taken in compliance with [Code] § 18.2-268.5.” Patteson’s signed name appeared beneath this statement.

After the Commonwealth rested, counsel for appellant again argued to the trial court that the certificate of analysis was inadmissible. After overruling the objection, the trial court took the matter under advisement for counsel to submit additional briefs on the issue.

In appellant’s memorandum in support of excluding the blood draw results, he argued that the certificate of analysis was a type of testimonial evidence subject to the Confrontation Clause and that because appellant “was unable to cross-examine Ms. Patteson regarding her qualifications, the procedures she used, the use of the instrument to draw the blood, whether or not she used soap or some other chemical to perform the blood draw, and to explore other issues,” the blood test results were inadmissible. He also argued that “[t]he record of who drew the blood is akin to an affidavit (i.e. certificate of analysis) and must be tested by cross examination.” In response, the Commonwealth argued that the Supreme Court’s decision in Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, 557 U.S. 305 (2009), did not extend the Confrontation Clause to the individual who extracts a blood sample. It further argued that there was no evidence of noncompliance with the statutory requirements for blood draws.

After receiving additional briefing, the trial court again rejected appellant’s argument that the certificate of analysis was inadmissible and convicted appellant of driving under the influence of drugs, third or subsequent offense within ten years.

This appeal followed.

ANALYSIS

I. Personal Knowledge

Appellant first argues that the trial court erred by admitting into evidence Lieutenant Kirker’s identification of Kelly Patteson as a nurse who was qualified to draw blood pursuant to Code § 18.2-268.5, because Patteson was not present to testify and Kirker did not have personal knowledge of her identity or qualifications.

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