State v. Gahagan

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE
CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals
The State, Respondent,
v.
Kenneth Thomas Gahagan, Appellant.
Appellate Case No. 2012-208388
Appeal From Charleston County
Stephanie P. McDonald, Circuit Court Judge
Unpublished Opinion No. 2015-UP-064
Heard November 4, 2014 – Filed February 4, 2015
AFFIRMED
Patrick Coleman Wooten, of Nelson Mullins Riley &
Scarborough, LLP, of Charleston, and Chief Appellate
Defender Robert Michael Dudek, of Columbia, for
Appellant.
Attorney General Alan McCrory Wilson, Assistant
Attorney William M. Blitch and Assistant Attorney
General Mary Shannon Williams, all of Columbia, for
Respondent.
PER CURIAM: Kenneth T. Gahagan appeals his conviction of lewd act on a
minor, arguing the trial court erred in (1) not allowing him to recross-examine a
witness regarding a matter introduced during redirect examination and (2) denying
his motion for a directed verdict. We affirm pursuant to Rule 220(b), SCACR, and
the following authorities:
1. As to whether the trial court erred in not allowing Gahagan to recross-
examine a witness regarding a matter introduced during redirect examination:
Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. v. Gould, 266 S.C. 521, 533, 224 S.E.2d 715, 720 (1976)
("The right to, and scope of, recross-examination is within the sound discretion of
the trial court."); State v. Johnson, 338 S.C. 114, 124, 525 S.E.2d 519, 524 (2000)
("[A] trial judge may impose reasonable limits on cross-examination based upon
concerns about, among other things, harassment, prejudice, confusion of the issues,
witness safety, or interrogation that is repetitive or only marginally relevant.");
United States v. Fleschner, 98 F.3d 155, 157 (4th Cir. 1996) ("Absent the
introduction of any new matter on re-direct examination, the rule is that recross-
examination is not required. Without something new, a party has the last word
with his own witness.").
2. As to whether the trial court erred in denying Gahagan's motion for a
directed verdict: Curtis v. State, 345 S.C. 557, 567, 549 S.E.2d 591, 596 (2001)
("An appellate court will not pass on moot and academic questions or make an
adjudication where there remains no actual controversy."); id. ("'A case becomes
moot when judgment, if rendered, will have no practical legal effect upon [the]
existing controversy. This is true when some event occurs making it impossible
for [the] reviewing Court to grant effectual relief.'" (quoting Mathis v. S.C. State
Highway Dep't, 260 S.C. 344, 346, 195 S.E.2d 713, 715 (1973))).
AFFIRMED.
HUFF, SHORT, and KONDUROS, JJ. concur.