State v. Costner

734 P.2d 1144, 241 Kan. 148, 1987 Kan. LEXIS 318
CourtSupreme Court of Kansas
DecidedMarch 27, 1987
DocketNo. 59,624
StatusPublished

This text of 734 P.2d 1144 (State v. Costner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court 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. Costner, 734 P.2d 1144, 241 Kan. 148, 1987 Kan. LEXIS 318 (kan 1987).

Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Herd, J.:

The State appeals upon questions reserved and from the dismissal of criminal charges against Michael D. Costner pursuant to K.S.A. 1986 Supp. 22-3602(b)(l) and (3).

On January 21,1986, Costner was charged with three counts of the sale of marijuana, K.S.A. 1986 Supp. 65-4127b(b)(3), and one count of possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, K.S.A. 1986 Supp. 65-4127b(b)(3).

At Costner’s February 13, 1986, preliminary hearing, the only witness to testify was Officer Stanley Cutliff, the undercover police detective who made the three purchases of marijuana and who was present at the time of Costner’s arrest. Officer Cutliff testified he purchased marijuana from Costner on three occasions — December 20, 1985, January 6, 1986, and January 14, 1986. On this last date, the officer’s purchases were part of a pre-planned “buy-bust” operation coordinated with other police officers. According to plan, when Officer Cutliff paid Costner $600 for a large baggie of marijuana, other officers entered the appellee’s residence and the appellee was arrested.

During cross-examination of Officer Cutliff, Costner attempted [149]*149to inquire about a previous uncharged incident during which Officer Cutliff had been present at the appellee’s home. The State objected on the grounds a response to the question might require the witness to divulge the identity of a confidential informant. This objection was overruled and the witness was permitted to state that he was previously present at the appellee’s home on December 5, 1985. However, when appellee continued this line of questioning by asking who was present at appellee’s home on December 5, 1985, the State again objected on the grounds the witness’s response would reveal a confidential informant. The trial court responded to this objection by stating, “You can’t have a confidential informant who is present at a transaction. That’s not possible.” However, the judge concluded that if the State could prove to him that “there is some law that clothes the identity of persons present at someone’s house with another known person with a cloak of confidentiality” then the judge would not require that the identity of the informant be disclosed.

During continued cross-examination the following colloquy occurred between the appellee and Officer Cutliff:

“Q (By Mr. Howard) Okay. Let’s go then forward to December 20th. You stated that you pulled up to the — Mr. Costner’s residence there at 953 Coolidge; is that correct—
“A Yes.
“Q —Officer?
“A Yes.
“Q And you then knocked on the door, and Mr. Costner opened up the door; and what did you say to him at that time?
“A I told him, ‘Hello,’ asked how he was doing.
“Q And what did Mr. Costner than say?
“A He didn’t quite remember me. I gave him my name. Then he asked me what I was interested in.
“Q Well, did you — When you told him your name, did you tell him that you’d been over there at a previous occasion?
“A Yes.
“Q Did you name a person that you’d been over there with on a previous occasion?
“A A first name.
“Q What was that first name?
“MR. SLOAN: Your Honor, I’ll object as calling for confidential informant.
“THE COURT: Oh, nonsense, Mr. Sloan. It’s a part of the conversation in the transaction. Overruled.
[150]*150“Q (By Mr. Howard) I ask you again: What was the name that you gave Mr. Costner?
“A I believe it was Rick.
“Q You believe, or are you sure?
“A I believe that’s what the name was I gave him, yes.
“Q Are you sure, or do you believe that?
“A Yes.
“Q Are you sure?
“A I am sure.”

No further information was elicited regarding the identity of the confidential informant or what the informant had said or done during the December 5, 1985, meeting. The witness did testify, however, that besides himself, the only parties present in the appellee’s home on the dates the charged incidents occurred were the appellee, the appellee’s wife, and an unknown female (who was present only on January 6, 1986).

At the end of the preliminary hearing, the judge ruled there was probable cause to believe the appellee committed the offenses with which he was charged. When the prosecutor requested the court to clarify its ruling regarding the confidential informant issue, the court stated:

“THE COURT: I’ve ruled that your characterization of the individual as a confidential informant is incorrect. He is not a confidential informant. He’s just another person that was present at some transaction. And that the theory that I’ve heard before that you can somehow say somebody be present face-to-face with someone and have them then be considered to be a confidential informant is a contradiction in terms, and that they are not covered by any theory or rule which protects confidentiality of informants. I have not ordered you to do anything, if you choose to do what you’re allowed to do under the law with this case, because that’s solely your decision; but you’ll have to make the choice.”

The State then asked the court for additional time to produce a slip opinion in the case of State v. Schilling, 238 Kan. 593, 712 P.2d 1233 (1986). The court agreed to recess until later than afternoon. When the proceedings continued that afternoon, the court discussed its interpretation of the Schilling case:

“Now, all I’ve really said is the Supreme Court has said that what — in January 17th [in State v. Schilling], unbeknownst to me, that what I said and firmly believe to be the case is not a true definition of an informer. And they’ve clearly said that, and we’re all bound by that. So, I’ve got to go on that; and I don’t think it’s necessary for me to make any further rulings. I’ve made my order. And I noticed in the Schilling case the Supreme Court never told Judge Deer that he [151]*151couldn’t impose any sanction. They just said that he had to impose the least onerous sanction. And, as I recall, and if there’s any question about it I’ll reiterate it, I said you’re under a duty to disclose the name of that individual to Mr. Howard. That’s what I said. Is that correct or incorrect?”

The trial judge made no provision in his order for the imposition of sanctions if the State failed to obey the disclosure order, so appellee subsequently filed a motion requesting dismissal of the case.

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Related

Roviaro v. United States
353 U.S. 53 (Supreme Court, 1957)
State v. Pink
696 P.2d 358 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1985)
State v. Schilling
712 P.2d 1233 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1986)
State v. Knox
603 P.2d 199 (Court of Appeals of Kansas, 1979)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
734 P.2d 1144, 241 Kan. 148, 1987 Kan. LEXIS 318, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-costner-kan-1987.