State v. Surber , 311 Neb. 320 ( 2022 )


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    05/06/2022 09:08 AM CDT
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    Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
    311 Nebraska Reports
    STATE v. SURBER
    Cite as 
    311 Neb. 320
    State of Nebraska, appellee, v.
    Andres Surber, appellant.
    ___ N.W.2d ___
    Filed April 8, 2022.     No. S-20-856.
    1. Courts: Trial: Mental Competency: Appeal and Error. The question
    of competency to stand trial is one of fact to be determined by the court,
    and the means employed in resolving the question are discretionary with
    the court. The trial court’s determination of competency will not be dis-
    turbed unless there is insufficient evidence to support the finding.
    2. Trial: Evidence: Appeal and Error. To conduct harmless error review,
    an appellate court looks to the entire record and views the erroneously
    admitted evidence relative to the rest of the untainted, relevant evidence
    of guilt.
    3. Trial: Pleas: Mental Competency. A person is competent to plead
    or stand trial if he or she has the capacity to understand the nature
    and object of the proceedings against him or her, to comprehend his
    or her own condition in reference to such proceedings, and to make a
    ­rational defense.
    4. Trial: Mental Competency. The competency standard includes both (1)
    whether the defendant has a rational as well as factual understanding of
    the proceedings against him or her and (2) whether the defendant has
    sufficient present ability to consult with his or her lawyer with a reason-
    able degree of rational understanding.
    5. Mental Competency. There are no fixed or immutable signs of incom-
    petence, and a defendant can meet the modest aim of legal competency,
    despite paranoia, emotional disorders, unstable mental conditions, and
    suicidal tendencies.
    6. Courts: Trial: Mental Competency. The question of competency to
    stand trial is one of fact to be determined by the district court.
    7. Courts: Trial: Mental Competency: Appeal and Error. A court’s
    decision regarding competency will not be disturbed absent insufficient
    evidence to support that finding.
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    8. Mental Competency. A defendant with voluntary control to cooperate is
    not incompetent simply because he or she refused to cooperate, refused
    to communicate with defense counsel, or could not get along with or
    disapproved of defense counsel.
    9. ____. Even identifying with bizarre legal theories, whether or not sin-
    cerely held, does not automatically suggest incompetence.
    10. Trial: Evidence: Waiver. The introduction of evidence by the defense
    waives any objection to the earlier introduction of evidence on the same
    subject by the State.
    11. Trial: Verdicts: Appeal and Error. Harmless error review looks to the
    basis on which the trier of fact actually rested its verdict; the inquiry
    is not whether in a trial that occurred without the error a guilty verdict
    would surely have been rendered, but, rather, whether the actual guilty
    verdict rendered in the questioned trial was surely unattributable to
    the error.
    12. Trial: Evidence: Appeal and Error. Erroneous admission of evidence
    is harmless error and does not require reversal if the evidence is cumula-
    tive and other relevant evidence, properly admitted, supports the finding
    by the trier of fact.
    13. Verdicts: Evidence: Appeal and Error. Overwhelming evidence of
    guilt can be considered in determining whether the verdict rendered
    was surely unattributable to the error, but overwhelming evidence of
    guilt is not alone sufficient to find the erroneous admission of evi-
    dence harmless.
    Appeal from the District Court for Dakota County: Bryan
    C. Meismer, Judge. Affirmed.
    Todd W. Lancaster, of Nebraska Commission on Public
    Advocacy, for appellant.
    Douglas J. Peterson, Attorney General, and Nathan A. Liss
    for appellee.
    Heavican, C.J., Miller-Lerman, Cassel, Stacy, Funke,
    and Papik, JJ., and McManaman, D.J.
    Heavican, C.J.
    INTRODUCTION
    Andres Surber was convicted of first degree murder, use of
    a firearm to commit a felony, and possession of a firearm by
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    STATE v. SURBER
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    a prohibited person. On appeal, Surber challenges the district
    court’s conclusion that he was competent to stand trial. Surber
    also assigns as error that the court erred in admitting certain
    evidence, because it was obtained in violation of his Fourth
    Amendment rights. We affirm.
    BACKGROUND
    Disappearance and Discovery
    of Kraig Kubik
    The victim in this case, Kraig Kubik, lived in rural Emerson,
    Nebraska. He was last seen alive by his girlfriend, Jaclyn
    Mahr, at approximately 7 p.m. on November 1, 2016. When
    Mahr left Kubik’s home, Kubik and his 6-year-old son were
    at the home. Surber and Brayan Galvan had been at Kubik’s
    home earlier that afternoon. Mahr last received a text message
    from Kubik at around 10:30 p.m., after which time he stopped
    responding to her texts.
    The next morning, November 2, 2016, Mahr dropped her
    child off at school. She then went to Kubik’s house, arriving
    there around 9 a.m. Upon her arrival, Mahr saw Kubik’s son
    on the deck when he should have been at school. She also
    noted air compressors, which had not been there previously,
    located near a red Dodge Charger that was being stored on the
    property, as well as boots, a flashlight, and what appeared to be
    blood. Kubik was nowhere to be found.
    Mahr took Kubik’s son to school and returned to Kubik’s
    house. She called some of Kubik’s friends to see if they had
    seen him, and finally, she looked at footage from Kubik’s home
    surveillance system. That footage showed Surber and Galvan
    on Kubik’s property at 10:30 p.m. Kubik, Surber, and Galvan
    were seen on the footage walking toward the red Dodge
    Charger, then headlights of a vehicle could be seen backing out
    of the driveway.
    After Kubik’s son had been dropped off at school, he
    reported to his teacher that his father was dead and that “black
    cat” had killed him. Kubik’s son also told his teacher that
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    there was blood on his father’s boots and on a flashlight. When
    questioned by the principal, Kubik’s son repeated the same
    information and also mentioned a gun and an air compressor.
    The principal attempted to get ahold of Kubik, but could not
    reach him, so he called police to conduct a welfare check.
    A welfare check was conducted by the Dakota County sher-
    iff. At Kubik’s home, the sheriff met Mahr and Kubik’s father.
    Mahr told the sheriff she was certain that Kubik had been kid-
    napped or that something had happened to him. Mahr showed
    the sheriff the patch of what looked like blood, along with pos-
    sible drag marks, and she also showed him the video footage.
    Additional law enforcement officers were brought in. Kubik’s
    property was searched, and law enforcement attempted unsuc-
    cessfully to “ping” Kubik’s cell phone.
    Officers then met in Wakefield, Nebraska, to continue the
    investigation. The investigation was proceeding along at mul-
    tiple locations — some officers were at the Kubik residence
    and others were at the school speaking with Kubik’s son. By
    this time, law enforcement was focused on Surber and Galvan,
    since they had been seen on the video footage. Relevant to this
    appeal are the events that were taking place at the Galvan resi-
    dence and at the Surber family farm.
    Officers had learned that Surber was dating Galvan’s sister
    and that the Galvan family residence was in Wakefield. As a
    result, at approximately 11 a.m., an officer conducted a driveby
    of the Galvan residence and saw a black GMC Yukon Denali
    with in-transit stickers, identified as belonging to Surber,
    parked outside.
    The officers meeting in Wakefield went to the Galvan resi-
    dence. Galvan was outside and ran when he saw the officers.
    Galvan was told to stop, and he did so. He was handcuffed
    and responded affirmatively when asked if Surber was in the
    house. Galvan then gave officers permission to enter the house
    to find Surber, which they did. While conducting a protec-
    tive sweep of the property, one officer found bloodied boots
    and pants.
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    Meanwhile, the officers in the house were questioning
    Surber about Kubik’s whereabouts. Surber had apparently just
    showered and was wearing only a towel. When the decision to
    remove Surber from the house was made, one deputy allowed
    Surber to lead him to his clothing. The deputy had apparently
    been informed that bloodied clothes had been found in the
    garage. The deputy testified that Surber walked up to the pile
    of clothes that the first officer had noticed during the protective
    sweep. The deputy with Surber observed what appeared to be
    fresh blood and flies on the clothes. Surber then walked to a
    different part of the garage, found different clothes (which the
    deputy described as “dirty”), and put those clothes on.
    While officers were in the Galvan residence, Deputy Roger
    Peterson received a phone call from Surber’s mother, who
    was Peterson’s neighbor. Peterson had actually seen Surber at
    approximately 8 a.m. that day, driving away from Wakefield
    and within 5 or 6 miles of the Surber family farm. Peterson had
    driven by that farm to check for Surber’s vehicle before it was
    spotted at the Galvan residence.
    Upon reaching Peterson, Surber’s mother told Peterson
    that if something was going on with Surber, Peterson should
    know that Surber had been at the Surber family farm that
    morning. While the farm included a house, no one resided
    on the property, and the property was owned by the brother
    of Surber’s mother, who lived in New York. When he was
    contacted, he gave Peterson permission to search the property,
    stating that law enforcement should “go ahead and do what you
    need to do.”
    Law enforcement then searched the property located near
    Dixon, Nebraska. They found a silver Chevy Impala that had
    a window broken out and what appeared to be blood on the
    rear bumper and lid of the trunk. Peterson testified that he had
    responded to a recent accident that Surber had been involved
    in and that Surber had been driving a silver Chevy Impala.
    The Impala’s vehicle identification number came back as
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    STATE v. SURBER
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    Surber’s; the plates on the Impala were registered to a red
    Dodge Charger owned by Surber.
    Near the Impala, officers also discovered blood droplets,
    what appeared to be human flesh, a burn barrel that contained
    ash and what appeared to be human flesh, a red gas can, a
    spray bottle with what appeared to be blood on it, and a bloody
    knife. A telephonic warrant was submitted for the trunk of the
    Impala. After the warrant was obtained, the trunk was opened
    to reveal a severed human arm and leg.
    On November 5, 2016, Kubik’s head and torso, along with
    several organs and a severed arm and leg, were found in an
    area culvert. The cause of death was determined to be a gun-
    shot wound to the head, with dismemberment after death.
    Further searches of the Impala were completed after the
    vehicle was impounded. More blood was found, along with two
    cell phones, at least one of which appeared to belong to Kubik.
    Paperwork in the glovebox indicated the Impala belonged to
    Surber. DNA testing on the blood from the Impala, the Kubik
    residence, the Surber family farm, the boots and clothing found
    at the Galvan residence, and other evidence was shown to
    be consistent with Kubik. A knife found near the Impala had
    Surber’s fingerprints on it, but not Galvan’s or Kubik’s.
    Surber was arrested and charged with Kubik’s murder. At
    trial, Surber testified in his own defense. He contended that
    he shot Kubik in self-defense during a dispute over ownership
    of the red Dodge Charger found at the Kubik residence. In his
    testimony, Surber also admitted to dismembering and disposing
    of Kubik’s body, with Galvan’s help.
    Motion to Suppress
    Surber filed several motions to suppress relating to the
    searches conducted at the Galvan residence and at the Surber
    family farm. As relevant to this appeal, Surber argued that the
    telephonic warrant obtained for the trunk of the Impala was
    invalid and that the severed arm and leg found in the Impala’s
    trunk should be suppressed. Surber also argued that the
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    STATE v. SURBER
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    search of the Galvan residence was not supported by probable
    cause. As to the Impala, the district court ultimately concluded
    that the search was invalid due to violations of statutory law
    (though not a constitutional violation), but that the brother of
    Surber’s mother had given consent to the search, and the court
    further concluded that the automobile and emergency excep-
    tions applied. As to the Galvan residence, the court agreed that
    the search was not supported by probable cause, but that the
    boots and clothes were in plain view and admissible.
    Competency
    Surber’s competency to stand trial has been a significant
    issue throughout these proceedings. In late March 2017, shortly
    after Surber was arrested, his counsel sought a competency
    evaluation, which was granted. Following that evaluation by
    Dr. Klaus Hartmann at the Lincoln Regional Center (LRC),
    Surber was found not competent to stand trial, but Hartmann
    opined that there was a reasonable likelihood that competency
    could be restored. As such, Surber was placed at LRC.
    Surber was not cooperative with LRC’s treatment efforts,
    and in August 2017, the State sought court approval to admin-
    ister involuntary treatment. As part of the process to seek
    this approval, LRC was able to administer medications invol-
    untarily on an emergency basis for 14 days. By the time of
    the hearing on the State’s motion, the evidence showed that
    Surber had voluntarily continued to take his medication after
    the 14-day time period expired. As such, the court declined to
    order involuntary treatment.
    But in January 2018, the State again sought involuntary
    treatment for Surber. Testimony from Dr. Farid Karimi was
    adduced. Karimi testified that Surber had taken his medica-
    tions voluntarily for a time, then refused because he claimed he
    was experiencing side effects. Karimi indicated that Surber’s
    claimed side effects were not commonly reported and that, in
    any case, Surber’s presentation of psychosis was “very uncon-
    ventional” in that he displayed “selective” symptoms that
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    mimicked the symptoms of others at LRC. For example, one
    patient barked like a dog, so Surber began barking. Another
    patient drooled, so Surber stopped barking and began drooling.
    Later, Surber stopped drooling and started talking to himself,
    claiming he had many children who were angels.
    According to Karimi, symptoms of a legitimate psychosis
    should remain the same, and he, Karimi, believed that Surber
    was malingering. Karimi also noted that it was not clear if
    Surber was also suffering from an actual mental defect because
    he would not take his medications or comply with treat-
    ment efforts. Karimi indicated that although he thought Surber
    understood the proceedings, he also thought Surber would be
    likely to interfere with court proceedings. Ultimately, Karimi
    thought treatment should be continued to ensure the restoration
    of Surber’s competency.
    Although Karimi thought treatment should continue, coun-
    sel for Surber indicated that Surber was competent and trial
    should proceed. The State, meanwhile, asked that Karimi’s
    request for additional time to ensure Surber’s competency be
    granted. The court agreed, and Surber was declared incompe-
    tent. The State’s motion for involuntary treatment was granted,
    and Surber was sent back to LRC. Surber appealed that order,
    but ultimately dismissed it before it could be disposed of by an
    appellate court.
    In October 2018, the district court held a status hearing
    regarding Surber’s competency. Surber had again been eval­
    uated by Karimi in August 2018, at which point, Karimi agreed
    that Surber was malingering and was competent to stand trial.
    The court agreed and found Surber competent.
    In April 2019, the defense again asked for a competency
    evaluation by the staff psychiatrist and staff psychologist at
    the Department of Correctional Services. The psychiatrist tes-
    tified that it was his belief that Surber was not oriented to time
    and place, but the psychiatrist had no opinion as to Surber’s
    competence. The psychologist testified that Surber was clear
    and oriented when they spoke, but Surber’s judgment did
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    appear to be impaired, and that the psychologist could not tell
    whether that was due to mental illness or a behavioral disorder
    that Surber could control.
    In light of this testimony, the court again ordered a compe-
    tency evaluation to be conducted by Hartmann at LRC. In May
    2019, Hartmann found Surber incompetent to stand trial and
    treatment at LRC was ordered to be resumed.
    In July 2019, while Surber was apparently still waiting
    for a bed to become available at LRC, the State again sought
    involuntary medical treatment. Surber was refusing to take his
    prescribed medications and was instead requesting narcotics.
    In addition, Surber was having continuing behavioral swings.
    Medical staff sought to medicate Surber with antipsychotics
    and mood stabilizers. That request was granted.
    In January 2020, yet another doctor from LRC performed a
    competency evaluation. That doctor opined that Surber’s sanity
    had been restored. Surber was found competent to stand trial,
    which was eventually set for August 2020.
    On August 13, 2020, defense counsel filed a motion to with-
    draw, noting that Surber had “expressed his desire to no longer
    be represented by counsel.” Following a hearing on August 17,
    the court found that Surber could represent himself, but upon
    request by defense counsel, the court reconsidered that ruling
    and reversed it on August 18. The next day, August 19, just
    5 days before trial was set to begin, Surber’s counsel filed a
    motion to determine Surber’s competency. The court ordered
    yet another competency evaluation by Hartmann.
    As with most of the prior evaluations performed on Surber,
    Hartmann opined that Surber understood the nature of the
    ­proceedings against him, but that Hartmann believed Surber
    was not competent because Surber would not be able to ade-
    quately communicate with counsel. When Hartmann testified at
    the hearing, he acknowledged that he had witnessed Surber’s
    acting appropriately and communicating with his counsel, but
    indicated that did not change his mind regarding Surber’s
    competency.
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    Hartmann also testified that there might still be issues
    because Surber did not trust his counsel. Hartmann’s evalua-
    tion noted that on prior occasions, he and other treating pro-
    fessionals had suspected that Surber was malingering, but that
    Hartmann did not see signs of malingering during his most
    recent evaluation.
    The defense argued that Surber was not competent based on
    Hartmann’s report, agreeing that Surber understood the nature
    of the proceedings, but lacked the capacity to communicate
    with his counsel or assist in preparing his defense. The State
    responded that Surber’s ability to assist his counsel was not a
    sufficient basis to find him incompetent.
    The district court concluded that Surber was competent to
    stand trial, reasoning that the parties agreed Surber understood
    the nature of the proceedings against him. The district court
    further found that whether Surber was able to competently
    assist his counsel because he did not trust his counsel was not a
    matter of competency. After the court found Surber competent,
    the case proceeded to trial. Ultimately, Surber was convicted
    of first degree murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony,
    and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and he
    was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder conviction.
    Surber appeals.
    ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
    Surber assigns that the district court erred in finding (1) him
    competent to stand trial, (2) exceptions to the exclusionary
    rule applicable such that evidence found (a) in the Impala and
    (b) at a residence in Wakefield were admissible, and (3) that
    second searches of the Impala and the Galvan residence did
    not violate the Fourth Amendment.
    STANDARD OF REVIEW
    [1] The question of competency to stand trial is one of fact
    to be determined by the court, and the means employed in
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    resolving the question are discretionary with the court. The
    trial court’s determination of competency will not be disturbed
    unless there is insufficient evidence to support the finding. 1
    [2] To conduct harmless error review, we look to the entire
    record and view the erroneously admitted evidence relative to
    the rest of the untainted, relevant evidence of guilt. 2
    ANALYSIS
    Competency
    [3-7] We turn first to Surber’s first assignment of error: The
    district court erred in finding him competent to stand trial. A
    person is competent to plead or stand trial if he or she has the
    capacity to understand the nature and object of the proceedings
    against him or her, to comprehend his or her own condition in
    reference to such proceedings, and to make a rational defense. 3
    The competency standard includes both (1) whether the defend­
    ant has a rational as well as factual understanding of the pro-
    ceedings against him or her and (2) whether the defendant has
    sufficient present ability to consult with his or her lawyer with
    a reasonable degree of rational understanding. 4 There are no
    fixed or immutable signs of incompetence, and a defendant can
    meet the modest aim of legal competency, despite paranoia,
    emotional disorders, unstable mental conditions, and suicidal
    tendencies. 5 The question of competency to stand trial is one of
    fact to be determined by the district court. 6 A court’s decision
    regarding competency will not be disturbed absent insufficient
    evidence to support that finding. 7
    1
    State v. Jenkins, 
    303 Neb. 676
    , 
    931 N.W.2d 851
     (2019).
    2
    State v. Said, 
    306 Neb. 314
    , 
    945 N.W.2d 152
     (2020).
    3
    State v. Jenkins, 
    supra note 1
    .
    4
    
    Id.
    5
    State v. Lang, 
    305 Neb. 726
    , 
    942 N.W.2d 388
     (2020).
    6
    
    Id.
    7
    See State v. Jenkins, 
    supra note 1
    .
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    As the record demonstrates, Surber’s competency was at
    issue throughout these proceedings. After variously being found
    not competent, then competent, and being treated by both the
    Department of Correctional Services and LRC, Surber was ulti-
    mately found competent and a trial date was set. But just days
    before the trial, Surber’s counsel once again sought a compe-
    tency evaluation, which was granted. Hartmann conducted that
    evaluation. We note that Hartmann’s evaluation also considered
    whether Surber was qualified to represent himself, as that had
    been at issue during proceedings occurring around the same
    time, although it is not at issue in this appeal.
    In his evaluation, done virtually, Hartmann—who had previ-
    ously indicated that Surber was malingering—opined that pres-
    ently Surber was not malingering, and further concluded:
    This man has sufficient mental capacity to appreciate
    his presence in relation to time, place, and things and
    possesses the elementary mental processes such that he
    understands that he is in a court of law charged with
    criminal offenses. However, his present mental function-
    ing appears to be at least in part at the delusional level
    . . . . He is not considered able to consult with and assist
    counsel in preparation of his defense. As such, to a rea-
    sonable degree of medical certainty, I consider this man
    not to have the capacity to stand trial and represent him-
    self without competent counsel.
    The court noted Hartmann’s evaluation and found it helpful,
    but ultimately concluded Surber was competent to stand trial.
    We affirm this conclusion.
    In this case, during Hartmann’s evaluation, he found Surber
    to be incompetent to stand trial, not because he thought Surber
    did not understand the proceedings, but because he felt that
    Surber did not meet the second criteria: having the sufficient
    present ability to consult with his or her lawyer with a reason-
    able degree of rational understanding.
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    The district court, having the benefit of many competency
    evaluations and treatment records, disagreed with this assess-
    ment, noting that the court’s own observations of Surber
    showed an individual “conversing with both of his appointed
    attorneys during Dr. Hartmann’s testimony.” The court further
    noted that the three “were able to have exchanges without it
    disrupting the proceedings” and that Surber was “quite active
    in following the exchanges . . . and the notes that they were
    taking.” The court continued:
    Surber may not completely trust his counsel, and the basis
    of his feelings may not be based in fact (i.e. his belief that
    counsel destroyed evidence), and his feelings may even
    be delusional, as Dr. Hartmann alleges in his report. But
    what the Court observed during the competency hearing
    was an accused who seemed to be following the proceed-
    ings and communicating with counsel.
    [8,9] Surber’s conduct during this hearing is relevant to the
    question of whether he was competent, particularly given the
    nature of his identified incompetency. Surber’s behavior sug-
    gests that he had control over his actions. Several courts have
    found that a defendant with voluntary control to ­cooperate is
    not incompetent simply because he or she refused to cooperate, 8
    refused to communicate with defense counsel, 9 or could not get
    along with or disapproved of defense counsel. 10 Even identify-
    ing with bizarre legal theories, whether or not sincerely held,
    does not automatically suggest incompetence. 11
    The ultimate fact finder in this case was the district court.
    We have been directed to no authority, nor has our own
    research revealed authority, requiring a district court to adopt
    8
    U.S.   v.   Simpson, 
    645 F.3d 300
     (5th Cir. 2011).
    9
    U.S.   v.   Kiderlen, 
    569 F.3d 358
     (8th Cir. 2009).
    10
    U.S.   v.   Miller, 
    531 F.3d 340
     (6th Cir. 2008).
    11
    U.S.   v.   Jonassen, 
    759 F.3d 653
     (7th Cir. 2014).
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    the opinion of an expert in such matters. 12 The observations
    of the district court, along with the prior evidence of malin-
    gering by Surber, provide sufficient evidence to support the
    district court’s conclusion that Surber was competent to stand
    trial, regardless of the conclusions on competency reached
    by Hartmann. There is no merit to Surber’s first assignment
    of error.
    Motion to Suppress
    At issue on appeal is (1) whether the district court erred when
    it found that the consent, automobile, and emergency excep-
    tions to the warrant requirement were met such as to allow
    the admittance of the severed leg and arm found in the trunk
    of the Impala and (2) whether the plain view doctrine allowed
    the admission of the bloodied clothes found in the Galvan
    garage and the bloodied boots found in the Galvan ­residence.
    In addition, Surber challenges a second warrant authorizing
    searches of the Impala and the Yukon because those warrants
    were authorized with reference to the prior claimed unlawful
    searches of the Impala and the Galvan residence.
    [10] Surber testified to the fact that he dismembered
    Kubik’s body and disposed of an arm and a leg in the trunk of
    the Impala. He further testified that the brown boots found in
    the Galvan residence were his boots and were likely to have
    blood on them as he was wearing them when he dismembered
    Kubik. As such, we conclude that Surber has waived any
    argument he has with respect to this evidence on appeal. The
    introduction of evidence by the defense waives any objection
    to the earlier introduction of evidence on the same subject by
    the State. 13
    12
    Cf. 31A Am. Jur. 2d Expert and Opinion Evidence § 135 (2012); 21 Am.
    Jur. 2d Criminal Law § 100 (2016); 22A C.J.S. Criminal Procedure and
    Rights of Accused § 518 (2016); and 32 C.J.S. Evidence §§ 871, 937, 946,
    and 970 (2020) (all collecting cases).
    13
    State v. Andersen, 
    232 Neb. 187
    , 
    440 N.W.2d 203
     (1989).
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    STATE v. SURBER
    Cite as 
    311 Neb. 320
    [11-13] Surber did not testify regarding the bloodied clothes
    found in the garage. But to the extent that those clothes ought
    to have been suppressed, we find that any error in failing to
    do so is harmless. To conduct harmless error review, we look
    to the entire record and view the erroneously admitted evi-
    dence relative to the rest of the untainted, relevant evidence
    of guilt. 14 Harmless error review looks to the basis on which
    the trier of fact actually rested its verdict; the inquiry is not
    whether in a trial that occurred without the error a guilty ver-
    dict would surely have been rendered, but, rather, whether the
    actual guilty verdict rendered in the questioned trial was surely
    unattributable to the error. 15 Erroneous admission of evidence
    is harmless error and does not require reversal if the evidence
    is cumulative and other relevant evidence, properly admit-
    ted, supports the finding by the trier of fact. 16 Overwhelming
    evidence of guilt can be considered in determining whether
    the verdict rendered was surely unattributable to the error, but
    overwhelming evidence of guilt is not alone sufficient to find
    the erroneous admission of evidence harmless. 17
    Significantly, Surber testified in some detail to the events
    surrounding Kubik’s death. While Surber argues that he acted
    in self-defense, the bloodied clothes he seeks to suppress were
    not probative of his defense of self-defense, but instead were
    probative as to who caused Kubik’s death. Between Surber’s
    testimony that he was responsible for Kubik’s death and the
    myriad other evidence suggesting that Surber was responsible,
    we hold that the guilty verdicts in this case were unattributable
    to any erroneous admission of the bloodied clothes found in
    Galvan’s garage.
    14
    State v. Said, 
    supra note 2
    .
    15
    State v. Figures, 
    308 Neb. 801
    , 
    957 N.W.2d 161
     (2021).
    16
    
    Id.
    17
    See, e.g., State v. Jennings, 
    305 Neb. 809
    , 
    942 N.W.2d 753
     (2020).
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    STATE v. SURBER
    Cite as 
    311 Neb. 320
    Finally, we briefly note that with respect to the Yukon, the
    State did not offer at trial any of the evidence found in the
    search of the Yukon. As such, we do not need to address those
    arguments on appeal.
    There is no merit to Surber’s second and third assignments
    of error.
    CONCLUSION
    The judgment of the district court is affirmed.
    Affirmed.