Vernon v. State

1973 OK CR 314, 512 P.2d 814
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma
DecidedJuly 2, 1973
DocketNo. A-17994
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 1973 OK CR 314 (Vernon v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Vernon v. State, 1973 OK CR 314, 512 P.2d 814 (Okla. Ct. App. 1973).

Opinions

OPINION

BLISS, Presiding Judge:

Appellant, Jack Eugene Vernon, hereinafter referred to as defendant, was charged, tried and convicted in the District Court of Carter County, Oklahoma, Case No. CRM-72-248, for the offense of Driving While Intoxicated. His punishment was fixed at six months in the County Jail and a fine of $250.00. From said judgment and sentence, a timely appeal has been perfected to this Court.

Briefly stated, the evidence at the trial reflects that at approximately 9:45 p. m. on August 13, 1972, two Oklahoma Highway Patrol officers driving two separate patrol units observed defendant driving a vehicle on the wrong side of the road. One of the units had to pull off the road to avoid a head-on collision. While pursuing defendant’s vehicle, the trooper observed that defendant crossed the center line several times and ran off the shoulder of the road. When defendant was finally stopped, he was unsteady on his feet, staggering, clothes disarranged, pants unzipped, speech slurred and had a strong odor of alcohol about him. Defendant was placed under arrest, advised of his rights and informed [816]*816that he could take either a breath or blood test. Officer Robin Smith then testified that defendant at the scene refused to take any test, but when he was taken to the County Jail he agreed to take a blood test. Defendant was taken to a local hospital where a small blood sample was drawn and subsequently transported to a state laboratory for testing.

Officer David Pruitt, the driver of the other patrol car, testified essentially the same as Officer Smith concerning the manner in which defendant drove his automobile and his appearance and demeanor after being stopped and arrested. Officer Smith testified defendant was in an intoxicated state and that he and Officer Pruitt placed the defendant under arrest for the crime of driving while intoxicated. Officer Pruitt testified the defendant was drunk.

The State then rested, and defendant introduced numerous witnesses who testified that they were with defendant on the evening in question in a local club and that in their opinion defendant was sober when he left same. Numerous other witnesses testified as to defendant’s good reputation in the community.

Defendant then testified in his own behalf stating that he arrived at the club around 8:00 p. m. and had two or three drinks with several friends. He further testified that he was not driving on the wrong side of the road when arrested and was not intoxicated.

Defendant also testified that on a previous occasion he had been arrested by Officer Smith for driving with an invalid driver’s license; that Officer Smith had been abusive and that the prior incident was mentioned by Officer Smith when he made the arrest in the instant case. Defendant further testified that the officer wanted to give him a breathalyzer test, but he refused and agreed to take a blood test. Defendant then introduced the results of said test which reflected an insufficient sample for analysis.

Defendant’s first proposition in error urges that the trial court committed reversible error in admitting the statement of Officer Smith that defendant first refused to take either test and then agreed to take a blood test. In support of his contention defendant cites certain Oklahoma cases which properly hold that permitting an arresting officer to testify that a defendant refused to sign a consent to take a blood test or refused to take a sobriety test was reversible error. Martin v. State, Okl.Cr., 487 P.2d 1179, and Engler v. State, Okl. Cr., 316 P.2d 623.

However, an examination of the record in the instant case reflects that the arresting officer testified that he advised the defendant that he could choose between a breath test and a blood test, and that defendant chose to take a blood test. No objection was made by defense counsel. Said failure would constitute a waiver if the testimony had been inadmissible. However, the relevant portion of 47 O.S., § 751, holds as follows:

“Any person who operates a motor vehicle upon the public highways or streets of this state shall be deemed to have given consent subject to the provisions of this act to a chemical test or tests of his blood or breath, at the election of the person purposed to be tested, for the purpose of determining the alcoholic content of his blood. * * * ”

The statement now objected to on appeal related the informing of defendant of his right to elect which test he would take and the election of defendant. This Court holds that the testimony was properly admitted and was in no way prejudicial to defendant. Defendant’s first proposition in error is, therefore, without merit.

Defendant next contends that the trial court committed reversible error in not granting a new trial when the State evidently made an attempt to introduce the report of the results of the blood test. The pertinent testimony of Officer Smith concerning the report is as follows:

“Q. I show you what has been marked for identification as State’s Exhibit # 1.
[817]*817Can you identify that, what that is, please ?
“A. Yes, sir, this is a copy of the report sent by the State chemist, after running the test.
“Q. And is this normally done in the procedure in a blood test ?
“A. Yes sir, it is.
“Q. And does this report come to you, Mr. Smith ?
“A. Yes, sir, copy comes to me.
“MR. MILOR: Your honor, we have no way . . . We want the results of
this test known, but this isn’t the proper way to present it to this court, and I think the District Attorney’s office well knows this is not the proper way to present this report.”

The trial court then admonished the jury as follows:

“THE COURT: The jury will disregard any remarks by either the State or the Defense Attorney regarding this instrument handed to the highway trooper at this time . . . completely disregard it.”

Defendant urges that he was placed in an untenable position at trial since the State could not properly introduced the report, but the jury was cognizant of its existence, and that defendant was therefore compelled to offer the report into evidence. With this contention we cannot agree. The statement of defense counsel set out above states that defendant wanted the jury to know the results of the test. The report was subsequently introduced into evidence by defendant, and the results were inconclusive since there was an insufficient sample for analysis. Defendant’s original objection to the questions of the District Attorney was sustained, and the jury was properly admonished by the trial court. Defendant was admittedly not prejudiced by the results of said test. Therefore, defendant’s second proposition in error is without merit.

Defendant’s third proposition of error urges that the trial court committed reversible error in failing to sustain defendant’s motion for a new trial after one of the State’s witnesses mentioned a prior arrest of defendant. The relevant portions of the transcript concerning the complained of comment reflects the following testimony. First, on direct examination by the District Attorney, the following mention is made by Trooper Smith.

“Q.

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Bluebook (online)
1973 OK CR 314, 512 P.2d 814, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/vernon-v-state-oklacrimapp-1973.