State v. HagenState v. Hagen
delivered the Opinion of the Court.
Ricky Hagen appeals from the judgment and sentence of the Fifth Judicial District Court, Jefferson County, where a jury found him guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol in violation of
Hagen raises three issues on appeal:
1. Was Hagen’s breath alcohol concentration obtained by an improperly calibrated intoxilyzer?
2. Were Hagen’s due process rights violated through the introduction of evidence obtained by an improperly calibrated intoxilyzer?
3. Is there sufficient evidence to support Hagen’s conviction?
BACKGROUND
On June 29,1995, Jefferson County Jailer David Kosola responded to a report of a person slumped over the steering wheel of a vehicle parked along the Little Boulder Road, Jefferson County, Montana. Kosola approached the vehicle and opened the door. He shook the individual inside, who awoke and identified himself as Ricky Hagen. Hagen informed Kosola that Hagen had to go to work. He then
reached for the key in the ignition and started his pickup. Kosоla
Because Kosola’s radio was not operating, he informed Hagen that he would be “right back.” Kosola returned with Jefferson County Deputy Sheriff Sally Buckles, who arrested Hagen. At booking, Hagen consented to a breath test. The intoxilyzer indicated a breath alcohol concentration of .106. Deputy Buckles cited Hagen for being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
Hagen was convicted in Justice Court and appealed. At trial in District Court, Hagen testified that he and his wife had gone to a bar. After it closed, thеy decided to continue “partying,” but got into an argument. Hagen’s wife, who was driving, informed Hagen that she was going home, but he could go with his friends. According to Hagen, his wife parked the pickup off the road and took the keys. Hagen yelled that he needed his keys, so she threw him a set and walked the rest of the way home.
Hagen testifiеd that, rather than driving to the party, he fell asleep. The next event he remembered was Kosola knocking on his window. Hagen denied trying to start his pickup, a GMC diesеl which takes thirty seconds to start. Hagen’s wife testified that the keys she threw to Hagen belonged to her son and did not contain a key to Hagen’s pickup. On cross-examination, however, she admitted that among her son’s keys was a worn key which possibly could have fit Hagen’s pickup. She also testified it was possible that she threw Hagen his keys.
Ajury found Hagen guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol. Hagen appeals.
DISCUSSION
1. Was Hagen’s breath alcohol concentration obtained by аn improperly calibrated intoxilyzer?
2. Were Hagen’s due process rights violated through the introduction of evidence obtained by an improperly calibrаted intoxilyzer?
Hagen argues that his conviction should be reversed because the solution used to calibrate the intoxilyzer was not approved by the Division of Forensic Sсiences as required by Rule 23.4.213(1), ARM. He bases his argument on a March 7, 1996, Helena Independent Record article entitled “DUI Cases Threatened by Mistake.” According to the article, an untested batch of ethyl alcohol used to calibrate intoxilyzers was distributed to various Montana testing sites, including Jefferson County.
The scope of appellatе review is limited to matters contained within the trial record. Rule 9(a), M.R.App.P.;
State v. Hatfield
(1993),
Hagen argues that his appeal is properly before this Court pursuant to
The statute is inapplicable here because it would require this Court to conduct a hearing and act as a finder of fact. Hagen’s calibration evidence claim is based on presently unknown facts — was the untested solution in use at the time his breath test was taken? Because the basis for the arguments Hagen raises in Issues 1 and 2 depend on facts which have not yet been determined by the District Court, we decline to further address them on direct appeal.
In his reply brief, Hagen cites
State v. Finley
(1996),
Hagen argues there is insufficient evidence from which a jury could find that he was in actual physical control of his vehicle. Therefore, he could be not be found guilty of driving under the influence. The State responds that Hagen could have filed a motion for judgment of acquittal based on insufficiency of evidencе pursuant to
We recently held that a defendant is not required to move for acquittal or for a directed verdict in order to preserve the issue of sufficiеncy of evidence on appeal.
State v. Granby
(1997), [
To convict a defendant of driving under the influence, the State must prove that the defendant was (1) driving or in actual physical control of a vehicle; (2) upon the ways of the State open to the public; and (3) while under the influence of alcohol.
This Court reviews sufficiency of the evidence to determine whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyоnd a reasonable doubt.
State v. Arlington
(1994),
A person has actual physical control of a vehicle when he “has existing or present bodily restraint, directing influence, domination or regulation, of an automobile. ...”
Robison, 931
P.2d at 707, citing
State v. Ruona
(1958),
Viewed in the light most favorable to the State, the evidence shows that Hagen had actual physical control of his pickup. Kosola testified when he shook Hagen, that Hagen statеd he had to go to work and started his pickup. Hagen’s wife testified that although she may have given Hagen the keys to her son’s truck, that there was a worn key which cоuld fit Hagen’s pickup. This evidence was before the jury, which was free to accept or reject it when it found that Hagen was in actual physical contrоl of a vehicle.
It is well settled that witness credibility and the weight to be given that testimony are to be determined by the trier of fact, and findings on disputed questions of fact аnd credibility will not be disturbed on appeal.
State v. Moreno
(1990),
In his reply brief, Hagen argues for the first time that the State did not offer, and the District Court did not instruct the jury on the definition of “actual physical control.” There are two problems with Hagen’s argument. First, he did not object at trial or offer an instruc tion of his own. Second, he raised the issue for the first time in his reply brief, which as explained above does not make the issue proper for consideration pursuant to Rule 23, M.R.App.P.
Affirmed.