State v. Bennett

980 P.2d 597, 26 Kan. App. 2d 157, 1999 Kan. App. LEXIS 240
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kansas
DecidedMay 14, 1999
DocketNo. 81,726
StatusPublished

This text of 980 P.2d 597 (State v. Bennett) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Bennett, 980 P.2d 597, 26 Kan. App. 2d 157, 1999 Kan. App. LEXIS 240 (kanctapp 1999).

Opinion

Wahl, J.:

Charles Bennett was charged with mistreatment of a dependent adult in violation of K.S.A. 21-3437(a)(l) for allegedly mistreating his mother, Ruby Willmon. Prior to trial, Bennett filed a motion in limine asking the district court to prohibit the State from introducing evidence of physical injuries sustained by Willmon. The district court granted the motion and the State timely filed this interlocutory appeal.

Ruby Willmon suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. Because of her condition, she had difficulty controlling her balance and would occasionally fall down. Willmon lived with her son, Charles Bennett, his wife, Sue Bennett, and his stepdaughter, Peggy Sue Rosa. In November 1997, Sue Bennett called the police after allegedly hearing Bennett slap Willmon, and Bennett was subsequently charged. The State’s Information charged in relevant [158]*158part: “Charles Bennett did unlawfully, knowingly and intentionally inflict physical injury upon a dependent adult, to-wit: Ruby Willmon, in violation of K.S.A. 21-3437.”

A preliminary hearing was held in February 1998 before Judge Ernest Johnson. Janet Chase, Willmon’s home health-care nurse, Sue Bennett, and Peggy Sue Rosa testified at the hearing. The State introduced several pictures of Willmon into evidence, depicting a cut or scratch on Willmon’s nose and one above her eye. Testimony indicated that it was unknown what caused the marks, but they were on her face before the November incident. No other evidence relating to the cause of the injuries was offered.

Rosa testified she had witnessed Bennett slap Willmon in the past and described an incident when she observed Bennett “smacking [Willmon] back and forth” for having wet her bed. Rosa stated Willmon had a black eye the day after the incident. She testified Bennett would grab Willmon by the back of the neck and wrist and push her into her bedroom whenever she attempted to enter the living room. She also stated Bennett would get upset and yell at his mother when she lost control of her bowels. Rosa testified Bennett and Sue locked Willmon in her room on at least one occasion.

Judge Johnson concluded the State failed to meet its burden of proof regarding the physical injury element of the crime charged. He noted, however, that he was required to bind a defendant over for trial on any crime that was shown at a preliminaiy hearing. He concluded there was probable cause to bind Bennett over on the theory he inflicted cruel punishment on his mother. The State accordingly amended the Information to read: “Charles Bennett did unlawfully, knowingly and intentionally inflict cruel punishment upon a dependent adult, to-wit: Ruby Willmon, in violation of K.S.A. 21-3437.”

Bennett filed a motion in limine, asking the district court to prohibit the State from introducing physical injury evidence at trial. Judge Dexter Burdette heard arguments from both parties at the start of trial and granted Bennett’s motion. In doing so, Judge Burdette stated the infliction of physical injury and the use of cruel punishment were separate and distinct acts. He stated the district [159]*159court’s ruling at the preliminary hearing limited the State’s claim to mistreatment by cruel punishment and the probative value of physical injury evidence was outweighed by its prejudicial effect on the juiy. The State’s subsequent motion for a continuance pending this interlocutory appeal was granted.

K.S.A. 21-3437 governs the offense of mistreatment of a dependent adult and provides in relevant part: “(a) Mistreatment of a dependent adult is knowingly and intentionally committing one or more of the following acts: (1) Infliction of physical injury, unreasonable confinement or cruel punishment upon a dependent adult.”

The State argues the district court erred in finding the definition of cruel punishment was distinct from physical injury. It claims the common meaning of cruel punishment includes actions that cause pain, suffering, rough handling, or mistreatment. The State asserts it wanted to introduce evidence of slapping, smacking, and rough handling, and the district court’s ruling precluded it from doing so. It claims Judge Burdette ruled such evidence rose to the level of physical injury and, thus, was excluded.

In making his ruling, Judge Burdette concluded the State was prohibited from introducing evidence of physical injury but was permitted to introduce evidence relating to cruel punishment. It is unclear whether Judge Burdette’s decision prohibited evidence of slapping and other physical contact. Judge Burdette did not expressly state what evidence constituted physical injury or cruel punishment and the record does not contain a written order.

The Kansas Supreme Court has commented on the importance of the trial judge’s specifically stating what evidence is to be excluded pursuant to a motion in limine:

“It is important that a proper written motion be filed to pinpoint the material or evidence to be protected against. This is necessary together with an order of the court setting forth the specific basis for exclusion or admission. A mistrial or reversible error on appeal may be avoided by having a proper motion and order drawn and filed. [Citation omitted.] We repeat, it is important for the motion to state the specific matter that the movant believes to be inadmissible and prejudicial. The motion should not be general in scope.” State v. Quick, 226 Kan. 308, 312, 597 P.2d 1108 (1979), disapproved on other grounds State v. Jackson, 244 Kan. 621, 624, 772 P.2d 747 (1989).

[160]*160Neither the motion nor the district court’s order properly pinpointed what evidence was to be excluded.

In his motion, Bennett alleged the State sought to introduce testimony and evidence “of the physical injury in spite of the results of the preliminary hearing” and that the probative value of the evidence was outweighed by its prejudicial effect. Bennett orally argued the State should be precluded from presenting the photographs or testimony of other physical injuries at trial. He also argued the State should not be able to offer “testimony about [Bennett’s] care of his mother and nothing about slapping, nothing about bruises, nothing about him having physical contact with his mother because that was found not to have been sufficient even at the preliminary hearing level.”

On appeal, Bennett states:

“The Court’s ruling does not preclude the Appellant from presenting evidence pertaining to how the Defendant took care of his dependent mother, victim. The only real effect of the ruling is that the highly prejudicial evidence which failed to meet the test of probable cause will not be allowed to be given to the jury.”

This statement is contrary to the argument made by Bennett to the district court and does not explain whether Bennett construed the preliminary hearing ruling to exclude evidence of slapping or rough handling.

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Bluebook (online)
980 P.2d 597, 26 Kan. App. 2d 157, 1999 Kan. App. LEXIS 240, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-bennett-kanctapp-1999.