State v. Jimenez

530 N.W.2d 257, 3 Neb. Ct. App. 421
CourtNebraska Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 22, 1995
DocketA-94-344
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 530 N.W.2d 257 (State v. Jimenez) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Jimenez, 530 N.W.2d 257, 3 Neb. Ct. App. 421 (Neb. Ct. App. 1995).

Opinions

Mues, Judge.

Fernando Jimenez appeals his conviction for delivery of marijuana, in violation of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-416(1)(a) (Cum. Supp. 1992). Jimenez alleges that he was convicted solely on the uncorroborated testimony of a “cooperating individual,” in violation of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-1439.01 (Cum. Supp. 1994). In addition, Jimenez argues that the court erred in its instructions to the jury and in failing to uphold objections regarding the prosecutor’s conduct during voir dire and responses by a witness to cross-examination at the trial. Because a witness for the State gave an unresponsive answer which injected evidence of Jimenez’ silence and his request for an attorney, we must reverse.

I. STATEMENT OF FACTS

In January 1993, the Gering Police Department made an agreement with Daniel Hubbard in which Hubbard agreed to become a cooperating individual in exchange for a reduction in charges for delivery of marijuana. As part of the agreement, Hubbard informed the Gering police that Jimenez sold marijuana. Hubbard agreed to participate in a controlled buy of marijuana from Jimenez. On January 21, Hubbard met two Gering police officers, who were members of a drug task force, at the task force’s headquarters. Investigator Robert Greer searched Hubbard’s vehicle after Hubbard arrived and found a marijuana “roach,” which Greer described as the burnt end of a marijuana cigarette. Det. Mark Overman searched Hubbard, [423]*423during which he patted Hubbard down and asked Hubbard to remove his shirt, shoes, and socks. Overman did not find any drugs or other contraband. Overman counted the money Hubbard had with him and gave him $100 to purchase the marijuana. In addition, Overman equipped Hubbard with a body transmitter.

Hubbard then drove to an apartment building in Gering. Gering police had earlier confirmed that Jimenez’ mother was living in an apartment in the building. Greer and Overman followed Hubbard and observed Hubbard park his car and walk to the apartment building. Greer and Overman drove past Hubbard and parked about one block north of the apartment building, where they monitored the transaction through use of Hubbard’s body transmitter. Greer and Overman taped Hubbard’s activity from the time Hubbard entered the apartment building until Hubbard left after buying marijuana from Jimenez. After Hubbard completed the transaction, Greer and Overman followed Hubbard to a police parking lot. Greer searched Hubbard’s vehicle and found nothing. Hubbard gave Overman the marijuana he bought from Jimenez, and Hubbard was then searched by Overman. Overman testified that he found $ 10 in change from the buy money on Hubbard.

Hubbard testified that he had been to the apartment several times before January 21. Hubbard stated that when he knocked on the apartment door, someone answered and let him in. Hubbard testified that he waited in the living room with Jimenez’ brother and mother for about 10 minutes while Jimenez talked on the phone. At trial, the tape recording was played, and Hubbard identified his own voice and those of Jimenez’ brother and mother, as well as the sound of a television playing in the background. Hubbard then went into Jimenez’ bedroom. At trial, Hubbard again identified his own voice and the voice of Jimenez on a tape recording of the drug transaction in the bedroom which was played in court. On the tape, Hubbard indicates to Jimenez that he has $100 to buy marijuana. Jimenez states that he will let Hubbard have the marijuana for $90. The two talk about the size of the buds on the marijuana and that the marijuana “[s]mells kind of mildewy.” Hubbard finishes a beer; leaves the building; gets in a [424]*424car; and drives off, telling the police officers who are monitoring the transaction which direction he is headed.

Jimenez was subsequently arrested and charged with delivery of marijuana.

II.ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

Jimenez alleges the district court erred in (1) failing to grant his motion to dismiss, which was based on Jimenez’ argument that the cooperating individual’s testimony had not been corroborated; (2) failing to give Jimenez’ proposed jury instructions; (3) failing to order certain discovery; (4) failing to sustain Jimenez’ objection to the prosecutor’s remarks during voir dire; and (5) failing to immediately instruct the jury on the law regarding a defendant’s right to counsel when a witness testified Jimenez told police he wanted to talk to a lawyer. Because of our conclusion, we will address the first assignment of error last.

III.STANDARD OF REVIEW

All the jury instructions must be read together, and if, taken as a whole, the instructions correctly state the law, are not misleading, and adequately cover the issues supported by the pleadings and the evidence, there is no prejudicial error which would necessitate a reversal. State v. Myers, 244 Neb. 905, 510 N.W.2d 58 (1994).

Not all trial errors, even of a constitutional magnitude, entitle an accused to reversal of an adverse trial result; it is only prejudicial error, that is, error which cannot be said to be harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, which requires that a conviction be set aside. State v. Trackwell, 244 Neb. 925, 509 N.W.2d 638 (1994).

IV. ANALYSIS

1. Jury Instructions

(a) Corroboration Instruction

Jimenez argues that the jury was improperly instructed because the instruction regarding the elements of the charge of delivery of marijuana stated, “The material elements which the State must prove by evidence beyond a reasonable doubt in [425]*425order to convict the defendant of the crime charged are . . . and the instruction on corroboration of the testimony of a cooperating individual stated, in relevant part, “Corroboration is sufficient if the witness is corroborated as to material facts and circumstances which tend to support the testimony as to the principal fact in issue.”

Jimenez argues that when read together the instructions mislead the jury into believing that the testimony of the cooperating individual standing alone is sufficient to convict, because both instructions use the term “material.” We are at a loss to understand how this could be the case. The “material elements” language is a standard, classic instruction which tells the jury what the State must prove to sustain a conviction. The “corroboration” instruction, as discussed hereafter, is a correct statement of the law.

Jimenez also complains that the foregoing instruction on the sufficiency of corroboration was an incomplete statement of the law. This instruction is a direct, word-for-word quote regarding the law on sufficiency of corroboration as stated in State v. Beckner, 211 Neb. 442, 318 N.W.2d 889 (1982). Citing State v. Knoefler, 227 Neb.

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State v. Anderson
605 N.W.2d 124 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 2000)
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579 N.W.2d 550 (Nebraska Court of Appeals, 1998)
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550 N.W.2d 686 (Nebraska Court of Appeals, 1996)
State v. Jimenez
533 N.W.2d 913 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1995)
State v. Jimenez
530 N.W.2d 257 (Nebraska Court of Appeals, 1995)

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Bluebook (online)
530 N.W.2d 257, 3 Neb. Ct. App. 421, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-jimenez-nebctapp-1995.