State v. Schwein , 303 Mont. 450 ( 2000 )

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No. 00-035
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
2000 MT 371
303 Mont. 450
16 P.3d 373
STATE OF MONTANA,
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
MICHAEL SCHWEIN,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Thirteenth Judicial District,
In and for the County of Yellowstone,
The Honorable Susan P. Watters, Judge presiding.
COUNSEL OF RECORD:
For Appellant:
Brad L. Arndorfer; Arndorfer Law Firm, Billings, Montana
For Respondent:
Hon. Joseph P. Mazurek, Attorney General; John Paulson,
Assistant Attorney General, Helena, Montana
Dennis Paxinos, Yellowstone County Attorney; Scott Twito, Ed Zink,
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Deputy County Attorneys, Billings, Montana
Submitted on Briefs: November 9, 2000
Decided: December 28, 2000
Filed:
__________________________________________
Clerk
Justice W. William Leaphart delivered the Opinion of the Court.
¶1 Michael Schwein (Schwein) appeals from a jury verdict in the Thirteenth Judicial
District Court, Yellowstone County, finding him guilty of driving under the influence of
alcohol. We affirm the judgment of the District Court.
¶2 The following issues are raised on appeal:
¶3 1. Did the District Court err in denying Schwein's motion to dismiss the DUI charge on
the grounds that the State failed to prove that Schwein's vehicle was upon a way open to
the public?
¶4 2. Did the District Court err in denying Schwein's motion for a mistrial on the grounds
that the District Court had informed the jury that Schwein was being prosecuted for felony
DUI?
¶5 3. Did the District Court err in admitting into evidence results of Schwein's breath test?
Factual Background
¶6 The facts in this case are not subject to dispute. Around 11 p.m. on March 13, 1999,
Yellowstone County Deputy Sheriff Troy Kane (Kane) was driving down State Avenue in
Billings when he noticed a black 1995 Chevrolet Corvette parked in the parking lot
between the Moose Breath Saloon and Magic City Welding. Kane noticed that, although
the car appeared to be unoccupied, its headlights were on. Kane stopped to investigate and
found Schwein asleep in the driver's seat, sitting upright with his head tilted toward his
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chest. Although Schwein had given his keys to the bar owner earlier in the evening, he
testified at trial that he had retrieved an extra set from the underside of his car. Kane
arrived to find the headlights and dashlights on and the keys in the ignition.
¶7 Kane knocked on the car window and Schwein woke up, startled, grabbed for the
ignition keys and attempted, but was unable, to start the car. Kane told Schwein to take the
keys out of the ignition and hand them to him, which Schwein did. Kane asked Schwein
for his license and registration and, in doing so Kane detected the odor of alcohol on
Schwein's breath. When asked by Kane, Schwein got out of the car. He refused, however,
to perform the field sobriety maneuvers requested and refused to take the preliminary
breath test. Kane then arrested Schwein for driving under the influence of alcohol. When
Schwein agreed to take the breath test at the Yellowstone County Detention Facility it
indicated that his blood alcohol concentration was .229.
Discussion
¶8 1. Did the District Court err in denying Schwein's motion to dismiss the DUI charge on
the grounds that the State failed to prove that Schwein's vehicle was upon a way open to
the public?
¶9 We review the District Court's conclusion that the parking space is a "way of the state
open to the public" as one of law. Our review of a conclusion of law is plenary. State v.
Brander (1996), 280 Mont. 148, 150, 930 P.2d 31, 33.
¶10 In order to establish the offense of driving under the influence of alcohol, the State
must prove that the defendant, while under the influence of alcohol, drove or was in actual
physical control of a vehicle "upon the ways of this state open to the public." Section 61-8-
401(1)(a), MCA.
¶11 In the present case, Schwein moved for a directed verdict of acquittal arguing that
there was no evidence that the parking space in question was a "way of the state open to
the public."
¶12 Schwein contends that he owns Magic City Welding and that he was parked in front
of his own business in a parking space which he leases; that he was asleep and had no
intention of driving.
¶13 The District Court, relying on our decision in State v. Weis (1997), 285 Mont. 41, 945
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P.2d 900, concluded that the parking area between the saloon and the welding shop was a
way open to the public and denied Schwein's motion for a directed verdict.
¶14 Weis, like Schwein, contended that he was not guilty of DUI because he was
operating his vehicle, not on a way of the state open to the public but, rather, in Boulder
Lane, which is a privately owned and maintained driveway. We rejected Weis' argument
holding that our statutes are not so narrow as to include only those ways or places for
travel which are legally dedicated to the public use. Weis, 285 Mont. at 43, 945 P.2d at
902. We noted that "ways of the state open to the public" is defined as including "any
highway, road, alley, lane, parking area, or other public or private place adapted and fitted
for public travel that is in common use by the public." Weis, 285 Mont. at 43, 945 P.2d at
902 (citing § 61-8-101(1), MCA).
¶15 Our decision in City of Billings v. Peete (1986), 224 Mont. 158, 729 P.2d 1268, is
particularly relevant to the present dispute. In Peete we held that the parking garage of the
Northern Hotel in Billings was a way of the state open to the public notwithstanding that
access to the garage could only be obtained via one ramp and only upon obtaining a ticket
from the attendant and payment of a fee. The hotel parking garage had a history of public
use and the public was encouraged to use the facility. Peete, 224 Mont. at 162, 729 P.2d at
1270-71. Similarly, the parking lot here in question, though it includes privately leased
spaces, is adapted and fitted for public travel and is in common use by the public and
customers of adjoining businesses.
¶16 The District Court correctly concluded that the Weis decision is controlling and that
the parking lot in question falls within the statutory definition of a "way of the state open
to the public."
¶17 2. Did the District Court err in denying Schwein's motion for a mistrial on the grounds
that the Court informed the jury that Schwein was being prosecuted for felony DUI?
¶18 It is within a district court's discretion to decide how to instruct the jury, taking into
account the theories of contending parties. This Court will not overturn a district court for
instructions given to a jury without an abuse of discretion. Hall v. Big Sky Lumber &
Supply, Inc. (1993), 261 Mont. 328, 332, 863 P.2d 389, 392.
¶19 In its preliminary instructions to the jury at the beginning of the trial, the District
Court advised the jury that, "[t]he State has charged the Defendant by Information, with
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the offense of Driving or in Actual Physical Control of a Motor Vehicle While Under the
Influence of Alcohol (Felony) . . . ."
¶20 Schwein contends that this instruction constituted evidence of prior crimes in violation
of Rule 404(B), M.R.Evid. That is, once the jury was advised this was a felony DUI
charge, it was aware that he had at least three prior DUIs on his record. Schwein's
unspoken assumption is that the jurors would know that it is only the fourth DUI charge
that constitutes a felony. See § 61-8-731, MCA.
¶21 The State points out that, prior to commencement of trial, the District Court provided
counsel with copies of the court's proposed preliminary instructions which the court
intended to read to the jury. Schwein did not object to the preliminary instructions at that
time or immediately after they were read.
¶22 Furthermore, during voir dire, Schwein's counsel advised the prospective jurors that
"[w]e're here today because Montana has a felony DUI law, you can be convicted of a
felony, and that's why we're in District Court." Counsel specifically inquired whether any
prospective jurors had any strong feelings about the fact that drunk driving can be a
felony.
¶23 It was not until after the State had presented its first two witnesses and the court had
advised counsel that they should not suggest to the jury what Schwein's sentence should or
would be, that Schwein objected to the preliminary instruction and moved for a mistrial.
The District Court determined that the objection was untimely, denied the motion, and
agreed to eliminate any felony reference in the instructions at the end of trial.
¶24 We agree with the District Court that Schwein's objection to the preliminary
instruction was untimely; if he had an objection to the preliminary instructions, he should
have raised the objection prior to the court's reading of the instructions or immediately
thereafter. Furthermore, any error in the preliminary instruction was harmless in light of
defense counsel's voir dire of the jury panel in which he advised the panel that the case
involved a felony DUI charge.
¶25 The District Court did not abuse its discretion in denying Schwein's motion for a
mistrial.
¶26 3. Did the District Court err in admitting the results of Schwein's breath test?
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¶27 The State filed a notice of its intent to offer into evidence the annual certification
report of the forensic scientist with the Forensic Science Division of the Montana
Department of Justice, in order to establish the accuracy of the Intoxilyzer 5000
instrument which was used to test Schwein's blood alcohol concentration. Schwein
objected arguing that the annual certification reports were not crime lab evidence and were
not business records.
¶28 We need not discuss the propriety of admitting the certification reports. Even
assuming, without so holding, that the court erred, any such error was harmless since
Schwein conceded from the beginning that he was too drunk to be driving. His defense
was that he had no intention of driving, rather he was sleeping in a private parking space.
Schwein's level of intoxication was not a disputed fact.
¶29 The District Court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the annual certification
reports. The judgment of conviction is affirmed.
/S/ W. WILLIAM LEAPHART
We concur:
/S/ JAMES C. NELSON
/S/ JIM REGNIER
/S/ KARLA M. GRAY
Justice Terry N. Trieweiler, dissenting.
¶30 I dissent from the majority opinion. I conclude that there was insufficient evidence to
prove that the Defendant, Michael Schwein, operated or was in control of his vehicle
"upon the ways of this state open to the public."
¶31 On the day of his arrest, Schwein had been drinking at a bar across the lot from his
place of business. He left the bar on foot with the intention of spending the night at his
shop. However, on his way to his shop, he encountered the owner of the bar who
requested his car keys. Schwein gave the owner his car keys, but in the process also gave
him the key to his shop. Therefore, he returned to his car where he went to sleep. That is
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where he was found and arrested.
¶32 At the time of his arrest, Schwein's vehicle was parked in a space that he personally
leased in front of his shop. During business hours, it is open to customers and no one else.
After 5:00 p.m., it is not open to the public. In fact, cars have been towed from that
location at Schwein's request.
¶33 At the time of his arrest the engine to Schwein's motor vehicle was not running. He
had not operated the vehicle after drinking at the bar and he had no intention of doing so.
¶34 At the time of his arrest, the parking place in which Schwein's car was located was
clearly not "open to the public."
¶35 Those decisions relied on by the majority are all clearly distinguishable from the facts
in this case. See State v. Weis (1997), 285 Mont. 41, 945 P.2d 900; Santee v. State (1994),
267 Mont. 304, 883 P.2d 829; and City of Billings v. Peete (1986), 224 Mont. 158, 729
P.2d 1268.
¶36 In all of the cases relied on by the majority, the defendant was actually operating his
vehicle at the time of his arrest. Furthermore, the defendant in each of the prior three cases
was in an area that actually was "open to the public." Finally, in none of the three prior
cases was the defendant on his own private property.
¶37 The purpose of our laws prohibiting operating a motor vehicle under the influence of
alcohol or drugs is to preserve public safety. The result in this case accomplishes just the
opposite. Had Schwein gotten into his vehicle and driven home, there is a chance that he
would have arrived without detection. However, it would not have been safe for him to do
so.
¶38 Schwein did the safest thing apparent to him in his intoxicated condition and he was a
threat to no one. In spite of that fact, the majority opinion now extends the reach of the law
beyond what was ever intended. I hope that our streets and highways are not a little more
dangerous as a result.
¶39 For these reasons I dissent from the majority opinion. I conclude that there was
insufficient evidence to convict Michael Schwein of operating or being in control of his
vehicle while on a public way and under the influence of alcohol.
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/S/ TERRY N. TRIEWEILER
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