State v. Middaugh

802 S.W.2d 570, 1991 Mo. App. LEXIS 144, 1991 WL 7337
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 29, 1991
DocketNo. WD 43117
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 802 S.W.2d 570 (State v. Middaugh) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri 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. Middaugh, 802 S.W.2d 570, 1991 Mo. App. LEXIS 144, 1991 WL 7337 (Mo. Ct. App. 1991).

Opinion

BERREY, Judge.

Ronald L. Middaugh appeals from convictions for involuntary manslaughter, § 565.024, RSMo 1986, for which he was sentenced to five years and one year, respectively. Appellant was also assessed a five thousand dollar fine. Appellant contends that: (1) the trial court erred in failing to grant appellant’s motion for acquittal because the state did not prove that he did not have access to alcohol after the collision and before the arrival of the police; (2) the trial court erred in permitting testimony by a pharmacist as to the metabolism of alcohol; and (3) the trial court erred in allowing a statement he made to medical personnel into evidence as this was privileged. Affirmed.

On February 11, 1989, at approximately 8:10 p.m. an accident occurred at the corner of 90th and Blue Ridge. This accident was observed by three eyewitnesses, Pamela Powers, Jennifer Roach and Angela Elkins. All three witnesses observed a pickup truck approaching them, traveling northbound on Blue Ridge. The pickup was weaving in and out of lanes, “out of control.” It was estimated that the truck was going sixty miles per hour.

The pickup jumped the curb and ran along side the roadway in the grass. Reentering the street, the pickup crossed three lanes of traffic and struck a southbound Cadillac. Both vehicles burst into flames. The driver of the Cadillac was killed in the collision.

Witnesses observed the driver of the pickup extricate himself from the wreckage and run from the scene. None of the witnesses could identify the driver. Appellant ran to his home which was approximately two and one-half blocks from the scene. He told his father, Robert Middaugh, about the accident and his father left the house to go to the scene. Robert Middaugh told Officer Tommy Williams, who had been dispatched to the scene, that Ronald was the driver of the pickup. Police officers went to appellant’s residence where appellant was eventually arrested for vehicular homicide. Officer Williams observed appellant prior to the arrest and smelled alcohol. He formed the opinion that appellant was intoxicated.

Because appellant was injured, an ambulance was summoned and he was transported to Truman Medical Center. A blood sample was taken from appellant which was later analyzed and found to contain .12 alcohol. Police Officer Allen Beach was present when appellant arrived at Truman Medical Center. He observed that appellant was excited, his speech confused and his eyes bloodshot. Officer Beach overheard appellant tell medical personnel that “he had a couple of beers.” Appellant did not sign any Miranda waivers nor did he understand his rights when Officer Beach explained them.

Appellant first complains that the trial court erred in denying his motion for acquittal at the end of the state’s evidence because the state failed to prove that appellant did not have access to intoxicants between the time of the collision and the [572]*572arrest. Appellant relies upon State v. Liebhart, 707 S.W.2d 427 (Mo.App.1986).

We first note that it is not only appellant’s evidence that is to be reviewed, although appellant couches this point in terms suggesting a review of the denial of the motion for acquittal at the end of the state’s evidence. What appellant is really asking us to review is the sufficiency of the evidence. When the trial court denied the motion for acquittal and Middaugh chose to introduce evidence upon his own behalf, the issue of submissability became one to be reviewed on the basis of all the evidence presented. State v. Scott, 769 S.W.2d 149 (Mo.App.1989). Review is done in the light most favorable to the state, giving the state the benefit of all reasonable inferences and disregarding all contrary evidence and unfavorable inferences. State v. Mallett, 732 S.W.2d 527, 530 (Mo. banc), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 933, 108 S.Ct. 309, 98 L.Ed.2d 267 (1987).

In the instant case, the appellant was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, § 565.024, RSMo 1986. This statute provides, in pertinent part:

—1. A person commits the crime of involuntary manslaughter if he:
(2) While in an intoxicated condition operates a motor vehicle in this state and, when so operating, acts with criminal negligence to cause the death of any person.

Thus, the state had the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that Middaugh was (1) an intoxicated driver who (2) operated a motor vehicle with criminal negligence (3) causing the death of another. State v. Lewis, 735 S.W.2d 183, 185 (Mo. App.1987).

Appellant contests the sufficiency of the evidence in regard to the element of intoxication. Appellant points to the approximately thirty minute lapse between the collision and his arrest and likens his situation to that of the driver in State v. Liebhart, 707 S.W.2d 427 (Mo.App.1986). In Lieb-hart the operation of defendant’s vehicle was not observed. Id. at 429. The evidence presented at trial did not refute the possibility that the appellant became intoxicated between the interval of the accident and the arrival of a police offer to the location of appellant, sitting in his stopped car. Id. The facts in Liebhart are easily distinguishable from those in the instant case.

The time period between the accident and that of appellant’s arrest was of short duration. In Liebhart there was no evidence whatsoever as to how much time had elapsed. Furthermore, three eyewitnesses observed the erratic, high-speed manner in which appellant was driving.

Forensic evidence was available as well to aid a finding that appellant was intoxicated at the time of the accident. The result of a blood test taken ninety minutes after the accident revealed a .12% blood-alcohol level. Expert testimony indicated that at the time of the accident appellant’s blood-alcohol level would have been between .128% and .165%. Appellant’s testimony that he drank one beer between the time of his arrival home and the arrival of the police officer, even if considered credible, would make no difference as to being intoxicated at the time of the accident and not being intoxicated.

In short, the weight of the evidence was overwhelming as to the intoxication of appellant at the time of the accident. Appellant’s Point I is denied.

In Point II, the appellant claims that the trial court abused its discretion by permitting a pharmacist to testify as to the specific metabolism of alcohol (ethanol) for appellant and whether appellant was intoxicated at the time of the accident. Appellant’s Point II is in violation of Rule 30.-06(d) which requires that the points relied on state “wherein and why” the rulings they challenge are erroneous. Although appellant alleges error, his failure to state why this was error violates the rules. “This court is not obligated to seek through the argument portion of defendant’s brief or the transcript on appeal to come by an understanding of points relied on penned in a conclusory and abstract fashion.” State v. Gamble, 649 S.W.2d [573]*573573, 576 (Mo.App.1983). We will, nevertheless, review appellant’s point ex gratia.

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Bluebook (online)
802 S.W.2d 570, 1991 Mo. App. LEXIS 144, 1991 WL 7337, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-middaugh-moctapp-1991.