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State v. Whitney

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine
Nov 3, 1981
436 A.2d 412 (Me. 1981)

Opinion

Argued September 18, 1981.

Decided November 3, 1981.

Appeal from the Superior Court, Cumberland County.

Henry N. Berry, III, Dist. Atty., Peter G. Ballou (orally), Deputy Dist. Atty., Portland, for plaintiff.

Charles D. Jamieson, Law Offices of Grover Alexander (orally), Gray, for defendant.

Before McKUSICK, C.J., GODFREY, NICHOLS, CARTER, VIOLETTE and WATHEN, JJ., and DUFRESNE, A.R.J.


MEMORANDUM OF DECISION.

Defendant Donald Whitney was convicted following a jury trial on February 6, 1981 of operating a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor (OUI) in violation of 29 M.R.S.A. § 1312 (Supp. 1980). On appeal, he claims that there is no statute of limitations for the crime of OUI and that his prosecution was therefore time-barred. He also contends that it was error for the presiding justice to admit the result of his breath test into evidence.

We disagree with the defendant's contention that the statute of limitations contained in 17-A M.R.S.A. § 8 (Supp. 1980) does not apply. Section 6 of title 17-A clearly requires that the three year limitation period for Class E crimes prescribed by section 8 be applied to OUI offenses. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 6 (Supp. 1980).

Defendant also assigns as error the admission of his breath test results into evidence. We conclude that the arguments made by defendant concern questions of the weight to be given the results, not the admissibility of the evidence. The weight and credibility of evidence are for the jury to determine. State v. Flaherty, Me., 394 A.2d 1176, 1177 (1978). Therefore, we do not find error in the presiding justice's ruling admitting the results into evidence.

The entry is:

Judgment affirmed.

All concurring.


Summaries of

State v. Whitney

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine
Nov 3, 1981
436 A.2d 412 (Me. 1981)
Case details for

State v. Whitney

Case Details

Full title:STATE of Maine v. Donald WHITNEY

Court:Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Date published: Nov 3, 1981

Citations

436 A.2d 412 (Me. 1981)

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