State v. Gilmore

456 P.2d 344, 76 Wash. 2d 293, 1969 Wash. LEXIS 649
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedJune 19, 1969
Docket40327
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 456 P.2d 344 (State v. Gilmore) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Gilmore, 456 P.2d 344, 76 Wash. 2d 293, 1969 Wash. LEXIS 649 (Wash. 1969).

Opinion

*294 Ennis, J.

Nor val Houston Gilmore, an osteopathic physician, was convicted by a jury of 12 counts of obtaining a narcotic drug by fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, or subterfuge in violation of the Uniform Narcotic Drug Act. (RCW 69.33) From entry of the judgment and sentence he has appealed.

The facts, as established from the trial record, are that during the period from August, 1966 to January, 1967, several pharmacists received prescriptions for narcotic drugs which were prepared and presented by appellant. Two of the pharmacists who filled several prescriptions testified that although they could not remember the specific details of each incident, they could recall from consulting the particular prescriptions in their files that the prescriptions were prepared and presented by appellant personally. They had continued dealings with appellant and knew him by sight. Three of the pharmacists specifically remember appellant as the doctor who prepared and presented prescriptions to them in each instance. All of the prescriptions were introduced into evidence. Without going into detail, the patient’s name listed on the various prescriptions either did not exist at the address given, or did exist but had not received the drugs obtained by the prescriptions prepared by appellant.

Appellant first assigns error to the trial court’s failure to grant a motion to dismiss, at least with regard to the first eight counts of the information. Applellant alleges that there was insufficient evidence to constitute a prima facie case because the two pharmacists who testified regarding those counts could not recall the details of any specific transaction by which the narcotics were obtained. We said in State v. Etheridge, 74 Wn.2d 102, 443 P.2d 536 (1968) at 110:

A challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence admits the truth of the evidence of the party against whom the challenge is made and all inferences that can reasonably be drawn from such evidence, and requires that the evi *295 dence be interpreted most strongly against the challenger and in the light most favorable to the opposing party.

Although the pharmacists who testified concerning the first eight counts could not remember specific details, they did testify that they remembered presenting the various narcotic drugs to appellant personally on a number of occasions. Their testimony concerning the particular date, patient, and narcotic drug supplied in each instance was based upon the actual prescriptions taken from their files, bearing their signatures, and introduced into evidence. The fact that the pharmacists could not remember specific details affected only the weight to be given their testimony, but did not prevent the jury from considering it. The patients listed on seven of the first eight prescriptions, representing the first eight counts, testified that they never received drugs from appellant. The patient listed on the seventh prescription, William Primm, did not live at the address given. Richard A. Prim testified that he lived at the address on the seventh prescription, but did not know a William Primm, was never himself treated by appellant, and never received drugs from him. With regard to the first eight counts, a review of the evidence and all inferences which can reasonably be drawn therefrom convinces us that there was sufficient evidence to submit to the jury.

Appellant.secondly assigns error to the trial court’s endorsement of two additional state witnesses after the beginning of the state’s case. RCW 10.37.030 provides that at the time a case is set for trial the prosecuting attorney shall file with the clerk a list of witnesses which he intends to use at trial. We have said that in order to constitute grounds for reversal, noncompliance with this statute must either result in an abuse of discretion by the trial court or in substantial injury to the defendant. State v. Jones, 70 Wn.2d 591, 424 P.2d 665 (1967).

We fail to see how appellant was prejudiced by the belated endorsement of these two witnesses. The prosecutor admitted that his failure to endorse them was an oversight, but he had listed them on a proposed list of witnesses, a *296 copy of which he gave to appellant’s attorney. When the witnesses were proposed, the trial court granted a recess from 12 through the lunch hour until 2:30 p.m., specifically to allow appellant’s attorney to question the witnesses. Appellant’s attorney did-talk to the witnesses, and when the court reconvened he -requested no further continuance. At no time did appellant indicate- he needed more time to prepare for the testimony of the' additional witnesses or to secure rebuttal witnesses.. It is clear that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing those witnesses to testify.

■ Appellant also contends the trial court erred in allowing these same two witnesses, both pharmacists, to testify concerning ¿lleged collateral criminal acts of appellant. While this court adheres to the general rule that evidence of collateral crimes is inadmissible, we have also recognized several exceptions to this rule. Such evidence is admissible if it tends to establish motive, intent, -absence of accident or mistake, á common scheme or plan, or identity. State v. Harrison, 72 Wn.2d 737, 435 P.2d 547 (1967).

Prior to the testimony of these two witnesses, other state witnesses established that, concerning the last four counts, appellant had presented prescriptions for narcotics bearing the names of William Davis, Cynthia Taylor, and Beverly Tuber as patients, all listed as residing at 43 West Dravus. The two witnesses in question testified that théy each filled a prescription for a narcotic drug, exhibits 14 and 15, prepared and presented by appellant which designated the patient as Kay Morgan and the address as 43 West Dravus. Kay Morgan (maiden name) then testified that she resided at 43 West Dravus, that she knew no William Davis, Beverly Tuber or Cynthia Taylor, ancl that she had been under appellant’s care at one time but did not receive the drugs procured by the two prescriptions. The court instructed the jury in instruction No. 10 as follows:

State’s exhibits 14 and 15 have, been admitted in evidence for the limited purpose of being considered by you solely to' the extent that' sáid exhibits may of may not establish the existence of-any required intent or'identity, *297 or in so far as they may show or fail to show the existence of any motive or common scheme or design.

We feel that the evidence of which appellant complains falls within the recognized exceptions to the general prohibition against evidence of collateral criminal acts.

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Bluebook (online)
456 P.2d 344, 76 Wash. 2d 293, 1969 Wash. LEXIS 649, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-gilmore-wash-1969.