Livingston v. Com.

Decision Date13 February 1996
Docket NumberNo. 2061-94-2,2061-94-2
Citation466 S.E.2d 757,21 Va.App. 621
CourtVirginia Court of Appeals
PartiesGill Frederick LIVINGSTON, v. COMMONWEALTH of Virginia.

J.W. Harman, Jr. (Harman and Harman, P.C., on brief), Tazewell, for appellant.

Richard H. Rizk, Assistant Attorney General (James S. Gilmore, III, Attorney General; Leah A. Darron, Assistant Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.

Present: MOON, C.J., and ELDER and FITZPATRICK, JJ.

FITZPATRICK, Judge.

Gill F. Livingston (appellant) was convicted in a jury trial of possession of marijuana in violation of Code § 18.2-250.1. On appeal, he argues that the trial court erred in: (1) denying his motion to suppress the drugs seized from his home because the warrant to search his home was issued based upon information provided by his wife; and (2) refusing to impanel a new jury for sentencing when the Commonwealth's attorney made an improper comment during closing argument. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the trial court.

BACKGROUND

Appellant and his wife, Susan Livingston, separated in 1992. On March 4, 1994, Mrs. Livingston initiated contact with Officer Brian C. Smith (Smith) of the Chesterfield Police Department and informed him that she saw marijuana and cocaine in the marital residence, where appellant was living. As a result of this information, Officer Smith brought Mrs. Livingston before a magistrate who issued a search warrant for appellant's home based upon her observations. Officer Smith executed the warrant and found loose marijuana, cocaine residue, and drug paraphernalia. Appellant admitted that he owned the drugs. Appellant was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana in violation of Code § 18.2-250.1 and felony cocaine possession in violation of Code § 18.2-250. Before trial, appellant moved to suppress the drugs, arguing that the search warrant violated the marital privilege of Code § 19.2-271.2 because it was based upon Mrs. Livingston's testimony. The trial court denied the motion.

In a bifurcated jury trial on October 18, 1994, appellant was convicted of the misdemeanor marijuana charge, but was acquitted of the felony cocaine charge. Before the sentencing phase of the trial, the Commonwealth attempted to introduce appellant's prior drug conviction. Appellant objected, arguing that his prior criminal record was only admissible for sentencing purposes in a felony case. The trial court sustained his objection. In closing argument on sentencing, however, the Commonwealth's attorney asked for the maximum punishment and referred to appellant as an "admitted drug dealer." Appellant objected, and the trial court immediately instructed the jury to disregard the statement. After the jury retired to deliberate, appellant asked the court to impanel a new jury for sentencing and argued: "When the Commonwealth interjected a convicted drug dealer into this, they got through the back door what they couldn't get through the front." Appellant did not request a mistrial or any relief other than a new sentencing jury. The trial judge denied the motion and stated: "I don't think [the Commonwealth's attorney] deliberately did that, so I've instructed the jury to disregard it." The jury sentenced appellant to the maximum punishment for possession of marijuana--thirty days in jail and a $500 fine.

MARITAL PRIVILEGE

Appellant argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress the drugs seized from his residence. He contends that the search warrant, based on his wife's observations, was issued in contravention of the marital privilege protection of Code § 19.2-271.2. The issue of whether the marital privilege extends to information provided by a spouse to a magistrate is one of first impression in the Commonwealth.

"On appeal, the burden is on appellant to show, considering the evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, that the denial of the motion to suppress constituted reversible error." Arnold v. Commonwealth, 17 Va.App. 313, 317, 437 S.E.2d 235, 238 (1993). "Code § 19.2-271.1 provides that husbands and wives are competent witnesses to testify for or against each other in criminal cases except as otherwise provided [in Code § 19.2-271.2]." Brown v. Commonwealth, 223 Va. 601, 606, 292 S.E.2d 319, 322 (1982). Code § 19.2-271.2 provides as follows:

In criminal cases husband and wife shall be allowed, and, subject to the rules of evidence governing other witnesses and subject to the exception stated in § 8.01-398, may be compelled to testify in behalf of each other, but neither shall be compelled, nor, without the consent of the other, allowed, to be called as a witness against the other, except (i) in the case of a prosecution for an offense committed by one against the other or against a minor child of either, (ii) in any case where either is charged with forgery of the name of the other or uttering or attempting to utter a writing bearing the allegedly forged signature of the other or (iii) in any proceeding relating to a violation of the laws pertaining to criminal sexual assault (§§ 18.2-61 through 18.2-67.10), crimes against nature (§ 18.2-361) involving a minor as a victim and provided the defendant and the victim are not married to each other, incest (§ 18.2-366), or abuse of children (§§ 18.2-370 through 18.2-371). The failure of either husband or wife to testify, however, shall create no presumption against the accused, nor be the subject of any comment before the court or jury by any attorney.

In the prosecution for a criminal offense as set forth in (i), (ii) or (iii) above, each shall be a competent witness except as to privileged communications.

(Emphasis added.) See Creech v. Commonwealth, 242 Va. 385, 386, 410 S.E.2d 650, 651 (1991). "The privilege of an accused to prevent his spouse from testifying against him is determined at the time of trial and depends upon the couple being validly married at that time." Stewart v. Commonwealth, 219 Va. 887, 891, 252 S.E.2d 329, 332 (1979) (emphasis added). The Commonwealth's attorney has " 'the burden of first obtaining the consent of the accused husband before it will be allowed to call the wife as a witness against him.' " Brown v. Commonwealth, 208 Va. 512, 516, 158 S.E.2d 663, 667 (1968) (quoting Wilson v. Commonwealth, 157 Va. 962, 968, 162 S.E. 15, 16 (1932)).

In determining whether the marital privilege of Code § 19.2-271.2 applies to information provided in a police investigation, we must first determine the scope of the legislature's directive that the privilege applies only in a "criminal case." To do so, we must "view the entire body of legislation and the statutory scheme to determine the 'true intention of each part.' In construing statutes, courts should give the fullest possible effect to the legislative intent embodied in the entire statutory enactment." Virginia Real Estate Bd. v. Clay, 9 Va.App. 152, 157, 384 S.E.2d 622, 625 (1989) (citation omitted), appeal dismissed, 398 S.E.2d 78 (Va.1990). " 'Words in a statute are to be construed according to their ordinary meaning, given the context in which they are used.' " City of Virginia Beach v. Board of Sup'rs of Mecklenburg County, 246 Va. 233, 236, 435 S.E.2d 382, 384 (1993) (quoting Grant v. Commonwealth, 223 Va. 680, 684, 292 S.E.2d 348, 350 (1982)).

The Supreme Court of Virginia, in addressing this specific statute, held that " '[t]estimonial exclusionary rules and privileges,' which impair the right of the public to have all relevant evidence introduced in the fact-finding process, should be strictly construed." Brown, 223 Va. at 606, 292 S.E.2d at 322 (quoting Trammel v. United States, 445 U.S. 40, 50, 100 S.Ct. 906, 912, 63 L.Ed.2d 186 (1980)). "Code § 19.2-271.1 should be given a reasonable construction. It is not a penal statute that must be construed strictly against the Commonwealth." Brown, 223 Va. at 606, 292 S.E.2d at 322. The marital privilege of Code § 19.2-271.2 prevents spousal testimony against an accused only "[i]n criminal cases." (Emphasis added.) Whether pretrial investigative information or testimony given by one spouse against the other is included in the prohibition of Code § 19.2-271.2 is the determinative issue in the instant case.

The context of the phrase "criminal cases" indicates that the...

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6 cases
  • Pryor v. Com.
    • United States
    • Virginia Court of Appeals
    • April 4, 2006
    ...testify against her husband. Though she could have invoked the privilege at the preliminary hearing, see Livingston v. Commonwealth, 21 Va.App. 621, 628, 466 S.E.2d 757, 760 (1996), she voluntarily chose to testify. When the time came for her to testify at trial, she chose not to. In neithe......
  • Cairns v. Com.
    • United States
    • Virginia Court of Appeals
    • March 6, 2001
    ...in fact, did not testify at their joint trial. Therefore, Code § 19.2-271.2 does not apply in this case. Livingston v. Commonwealth, 21 Va.App. 621, 628, 466 S.E.2d 757, 760 (1996) (statute does not pertain to information given during pretrial B. Virginia's Statement Against Penal Interest ......
  • Wolfe v. Com., Record No. 1714-00-3.
    • United States
    • Virginia Court of Appeals
    • November 13, 2001
    ...not testify. Code § 19.2-271.2 does not apply to a report of her earlier extra-judicial statements. See Livingston v. Commonwealth, 21 Va.App. 621, 628, 466 S.E.2d 757, 760 (1996) (statute does not pertain to information given during pretrial investigations). See also Burns v. Commonwealth,......
  • Wolf v. Commonwealth
    • United States
    • Virginia Court of Appeals
    • November 13, 2001
    ...did not testify. Code 19.2-271.2 does not apply to a report of her earlier extra-judicial statements. See Livingston v. Commonwealth, 21 Va. App. 621, 628, 466 S.E.2d 757, 760 (1996) (statute does not pertain to information given during pretrial investigations). See also Burns v. Commonweal......
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2 books & journal articles
  • 11.4 Presenting the Evidence
    • United States
    • Defending Criminal Cases in Virginia (Virginia CLE) Chapter 11 The Trial
    • Invalid date
    ...223 Va. 601, 292 S.E.2d 319 (1982).[232] Kirby v. Commonwealth, 264 Va. 440, 570 S.E.2d 832 (2002).[233] Livingston v. Commonwealth, 21 Va. App. 621, 466 S.E.2d 757 (1996).[234] Pryor v. Commonwealth, 48 Va. App. 1, 628 S.E.2d 47 (2006).[235] Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 59 (2004); ......
  • 3.3 Criminal Defense
    • United States
    • The Virginia Lawyer: A Deskbook for Practitioners (Virginia CLE) (2018 Ed.) Chapter 3 Litigation: Civil and Criminal
    • Invalid date
    ...223 Va. 596, 292 S.E.2d 317 (1982).[841] Stewart v. Commonwealth, 219 Va. 887, 252 S.E.2d 329 (1979).[842] Livingston v. Commonwealth, 21 Va. App. 621, 466 S.E.2d 757 (1996).[843] Edwards v. Commonwealth, 20 Va. App. 470, 457 S.E.2d 797 (1995).[844] Va. Code § 19.2-271.2; Jones v. Commonwea......

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