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[[COURTLISTENER_SUBOPINION {"id":"10792669","type":"010combined","part":"opinion","author":null,"source_field":"html_with_citations"}]]
THE SUPREME COURT, STATE OF WYOMING
2025 WY 16
OCTOBER TERM, A.D. 2024
February 3, 2025
SAMUEL MARTIN NANIA,
Appellant
(Defendant),
v. S-24-0064
THE STATE OF WYOMING,
Appellee
(Plaintiff).
Appeal from the District Court of Natrona County
The Honorable Kerri M. Johnson, Judge
Representing Appellant:
Office of the State Public Defender: Brandon Todd Booth*, State Public Defender;
Kirk A. Morgan, Chief Appellate Counsel; Jeremy Meerkreebs, Assistant Appellate
Counsel. Argument by Mr. Meerkreebs.
Representing Appellee:
Bridget Hill, Attorney General; Jenny L. Craig, Deputy Attorney General; Kristen
R. Jones, Senior Assistant Attorney General; Donovan Burton, Assistant Attorney
General. Argument by Mr. Burton.
*An Order Substituting Brandon Booth for Ryan Roden was entered on October 10, 2024.
Before FOX, C.J., and BOOMGAARDEN, GRAY, FENN, and JAROSH, JJ.
FENN, J., delivers the opinion of the Court; BOOMGAARDEN, J., specially
concurring, in which FOX, C.J., joins.
NOTICE: This opinion is subject to formal revision before publication in Pacific Reporter Third. Readers are
requested to notify the Clerk of the Supreme Court, Supreme Court Building, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002, of
any typographical or other formal errors so that correction may be made before final publication in the
permanent volume.
Fenn, Justice.
[¶1] A jury convicted Samuel Nania of third-degree sexual assault. On appeal, he claims
the district court erred by excluding any reference to his polygraph examination during
trial. He argues the district court was required to analyze the reliability of the polygraph
examination before it excluded this evidence. We find Mr. Nania failed to show the district
court abused its discretion or that he suffered any prejudice from the district court
excluding his polygraph examination. Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s decision.
ISSUE
[¶2] Mr. Nania presents one issue, which we rephrase as follows: Did the district court
abuse its discretion when it excluded evidence of Mr. Nania’s polygraph examination?
FACTS
[¶3] On January 27, 2022, Mr. Nania went to the Hideaway bar in Mills, Wyoming, to
meet with two of his ex-girlfriends, VR and KS. After Mr. Nania left the bar, he began
sending text messages to both ex-girlfriends about wanting to harm himself. The ex-
girlfriends were concerned, so they left the bar and went to Mr. Nania’s residence to check
on him. When they arrived, Mr. Nania was asleep, so they woke him up. Mr. Nania was
angry VR and KS were at his residence. However, because Mr. Nania continued to make
threats of self-harm, both women stayed at the residence.
[¶4] Around midnight, KS decided to leave because she had to work in the morning. VR
stayed at Mr. Nania’s residence to make sure he did not harm himself. VR plugged in her
phone and changed into Mr. Nania’s oversized t-shirt to get ready for bed. VR told Mr.
Nania they should go to bed. She went into Mr. Nania’s bedroom, wrapped herself in a
blanket and laid on one side of the bed. Mr. Nania came into the bedroom and laid on the
other side of the bed. He asked VR for a kiss, to snuggle, and if he could hug her, but VR
responded no to all three of Mr. Nania’s requests.
[¶5] VR fell asleep but was awoken by Mr. Nania “grabb[ing] [her] arm and pull[ing]
[her] across the bed[.]” VR testified at this point she screamed for Mr. Nania to stop, but
instead of stopping, Mr. Nania grabbed her by the wrists, held her wrists underneath her,
and removed her underwear. VR stated Mr. Nania put his whole body against hers and
said he hoped he hurts her as much as she hurt him. VR testified after Mr. Nania made this
comment, he engaged in unwanted intercourse. She stated she was able to get her feet on
Mr. Nania’s chest and kick him into the wall on the other side of the bed.
[¶6] After kicking Mr. Nania off her, VR started crying and Mr. Nania started
apologizing. Both VR and Mr. Nania laid in bed until around 5:30 a.m. when Mr. Nania
went to the kitchen and made coffee. VR continued to lay in the bed until a little after 6:00
1
a.m. Mr. Nania and VR drank coffee, and Mr. Nania told VR “he was sorry, that he didn’t
mean to hurt [her], it wasn’t his intention.” VR told Mr. Nania she needed to go home to
get ready for work, so she grabbed her phone and went home.
[¶7] On her drive home, VR called KS to discuss what happened. During this phone
call, KS told VR she had “pocket-dialed” KS in the middle of the night. This phone call
lasted approximately four hours and KS overheard the incident between Mr. Nania and
VR. Following her conversation with VR, KS received a text message from Mr. Nania.
She replied to his message and stated she was going to go over to his residence. KS went
over to Mr. Nania’s home to get his version of the events she had overheard on the phone.
KS recorded the conversation she had with Mr. Nania. During this conversation, Mr. Nania
stated he remembered grabbing VR’s arms and the tip of his penis getting wet but said he
did not remember if he “was just slamming [VR] or just slamming [his penis] in her.”
[¶8] At some point, VR also called another friend who was an employee of Mr. Nania.
After speaking with VR, this employee and her husband confronted Mr. Nania and asked
Mr. Nania what happened between him and VR. Mr. Nania told the employee and her
husband that he “raped” VR. He said he was mad, so he stuck his penis in VR, but she
screamed, and he snapped out of it. Mr. Nania also said that he “wanted [VR] to feel the
same pain that [he] had felt during [their] relationship.”
[¶9] After VR left Mr. Nania’s residence, Mr. Nania sent her several text messages. In
one of the text messages, Mr. Nania stated “I started to rape you. Out of anger.” He also
asked VR not to tell anyone and stated he would “Do anything to make amends.” VR did
not report the sexual assault to law enforcement until almost eight months later on
September 27, 2022.
[¶10] The investigating detective interviewed VR, Mr. Nania, and several other witnesses.
Mr. Nania told the investigating officer he grabbed VR’s arms, held her on the bed, and
yelled at her. He said he thought his penis touched VR’s vagina, but they did not have sex.
Following the investigation, the State charged Mr. Nania with three counts of sexual
assault. Mr. Nania was charged with one count of sexual assault or attempted sexual assault
in the first degree, one count of sexual assault or attempted sexual assault in the second
degree, and one count of sexual assault in the third degree.
[¶11] Prior to trial, the State filed a motion in limine requesting the district court exclude
any reference to a polygraph examination that was administered to Mr. Nania by an
examiner chosen by the defense. The State asserted it did not stipulate to the admission of
the polygraph examination, and polygraph examinations are inadmissible in Wyoming
absent a stipulation. The State requested a hearing. Defense counsel admitted polygraph
examinations are generally inadmissible if the requirements of Daubert are not satisfied.
However, defense counsel argued the polygraph examination might be admissible if it is
offered for a limited purpose such as rebutting or explaining other evidence or testimony
2
introduced by an adverse party. Defense counsel claimed the “polygraph examination
produced ‘passing’ results on [Mr. Nania’s] denials of the specific charges against him—
meaning that ‘no deception’ was indicated when [Mr. Nania] denied the charges.”
[¶12] The district court held a hearing on the motion in limine. It granted the State’s
motion and precluded any reference to the polygraph examination during trial. The district
court held: “Under Wyoming law, polygraph testimony is inadmissible absent a stipulation
by the parties[.]”
[¶13] Beginning July 31, 2023, a four-day jury trial was held. The jury found Mr. Nania
not guilty of counts one and two—the first-degree and second-degree sexual
assault/attempted sexual assault charges—and guilty of the third-degree sexual assault
charge in count three. The jury found Mr. Nania committed third-degree sexual assault by
“caus[ing] the submission of [VR] through means that would prevent resistance by a victim
of ordinary resolution.” The district court sentenced Mr. Nania to six to ten years in prison
with credit for one day served. Mr. Nania timely appealed to this Court.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
[¶14] “We review a district court’s decision to admit or reject expert testimony for an
abuse of discretion.” Bean v. State,
2016 WY 48, ¶ 25
,
373 P.3d 372, 381
(Wyo. 2016);
Dean v. State,
2008 WY 124, ¶ 14
,
194 P.3d 299, 303
(Wyo. 2008). “A decision to admit
or reject expert testimony rests solely within the discretion of the district court and is not
disturbed on appeal absent a clear showing of an abuse of discretion.” Dean, ¶ 14,
194 P.3d
at 303
. The district court is given broad discretion when determining the reliability of
expert testimony.
Id.
(quoting Kumho Tire Co., Ltd. v. Carmichael,
526 U.S. 137, 153
,
119
S. Ct. 1167, 1176
,
143 L. Ed. 2d 238
(1999); Bunting v. Jamieson,
984 P.2d 467, 470
(Wyo.
1999)). “In determining whether there has been an abuse of discretion, the ultimate issue
is whether or not the court could reasonably conclude as it did.”
Id.
(quoting Campbell v.
Studer,
970 P.2d 389, 392
(Wyo. 1998)). “[A]s long as there exists a legitimate basis for
the trial court’s ruling,” we will not reverse that decision on appeal.
Id.
(quoting Bunting,
984 P.2d at 470
).
[¶15] If we find the district court abused its discretion in admitting or excluding evidence,
or if the district court failed to conduct the required analysis, we next consider whether the
error was prejudicial. See Mitchell v. State,
2020 WY 142, ¶¶ 17, 20
,
476 P.3d 224
, 231–
32 (Wyo. 2020) (“[I]f we find error, or if the first prong is unreviewable because no analysis
occurred, our inquiry turns to whether the admission was prejudicial.”); Toth v. State,
2015
WY 86A, ¶ 35
,
353 P.3d 696, 707
(Wyo. 2015) (quoting Wise v. Ludlow,
2015 WY 43,
¶ 42
,
346 P.3d 1, 12
(Wyo. 2015)) (“Even when a trial court errs in an evidentiary ruling,
we reverse only if the error was prejudicial.”). To establish prejudicial error, the appellant
“must show a reasonable probability that, without the error, the verdict might have been
different.” Toth,
2015 WY 86A, ¶ 35
,
353 P.3d at 707
(quoting Wise, ¶ 42,
346 P.3d at 12
).
3
DISCUSSION
[¶16] Mr. Nania claims the district court abused its discretion when it declined to admit
his evidence of a polygraph examination. He argues the district court erred when it held
“[u]nder Wyoming law, polygraph testimony is inadmissible absent a stipulation by the
parties[.]” Mr. Nania further claims the district court’s failure to hold a Daubert hearing
before determining the inadmissibility of the polygraph examination leaves this Court with
a record devoid of the testimonial evidence necessary to determine the admissibility of the
polygraph examination.
[¶17] “Absent a request by one of the parties, the law does not require that the trial court
conduct a pretrial Daubert hearing.” Woods v. State,
2017 WY 111, ¶ 30
,
401 P.3d 962,
973
(Wyo. 2017) (citing Chapman v. State,
2001 WY 25, ¶ 23
,
18 P.3d 1164, 1174
(Wyo.
2001)). We have declined to “shackle the district court with a mandatory and explicit
reliability proceeding” and instead assume the district court performed the required
reliability “analysis sub silencio . . . with respect to all expert testimony.” Chapman, ¶ 23,
18 P.3d at 1174
(internal citations and quotation marks omitted).
[¶18] In Hopkinson v. State, we recognized a polygraph examination may be admissible
evidence under certain circumstances.
632 P.2d 79, 138
(Wyo. 1981) (quoting Cullin v.
State,
565 P.2d 445, 455
(Wyo. 1977)). However, in that case, we deferred to the trial
court’s determination the polygraph examination was inadmissible because the appellant
never made a formal offer of proof concerning the polygraph examination he wished to
admit.
Id.
at 138–39. We found the appellant failed to provide the necessary record to
review the results of the exam or the qualifications of the examiner.
Id.
[¶19] Here, Mr. Nania never requested a Daubert hearing. Instead, the State filed a motion
in limine to exclude the polygraph examination and requested a hearing. The district court
held a hearing. During the hearing, defense counsel stated:
[W]e have a client who passed his polygraph, and it’s not
stipulated to by the State . . . but I think it really should be
reviewed under Rule 702 as any other expert testimony. And
perhaps we’re going to die on the field of reliability, but I think
we need to have that conversation. That’s why [the polygraph
expert] is here. That’s why we articulated some grounds for
why these polygraph examinations, in fact, are reliable. And I
think [the polygraph expert] would testify they’re more reliable
when someone passes than when they fail; and I can speak
from personal experiences, I’ve had many clients fail them.
* * *
4
And if this [c]ourt is interested, I have extra copies of [the
polygraph expert’s] report. [The polygraph expert] is here and
ready to provide any testimony this [c]ourt would be interested
in hearing. But other than that, I will stand on the pleadings.
[¶20] At no time during the proceedings below did Mr. Nania make a formal offer of proof
concerning the results of his polygraph examination. Although Mr. Nania’s pleadings set
forth some of the polygraph expert’s qualifications, background, and training, Mr. Nania
failed to provide the expert’s report or any information regarding the reliability of his
polygraph examination. Additionally, Mr. Nania never requested the polygraph expert be
allowed to testify during the hearing. Instead, Mr. Nania’s pleadings stated the polygraph
expert’s “report itself can be made available to the [c]ourt upon request” and the expert
was there should the court have any questions. In pleadings, defense counsel stated the
“polygraph examination produced ‘passing’ results on [Mr. Nania’s] denials of the specific
charges against him—meaning that ‘no deception’ was indicated when [Mr. Nania] denied
the charges.” However, Mr. Nania did not produce the actual results, discuss what
questions were asked during the polygraph examination, or explain what it meant that his
results were “passing.” Because Mr. Nania has presented us with a limited record and
never made a formal offer of proof concerning the polygraph examination, we cannot say
the district court abused its discretion in refusing to admit the polygraph examination,
especially considering our precedent on the admissibility of polygraph examinations.
[¶21] In Chapman v. State, we acknowledged this Court adopted the federal Daubert
model as guidance for imposing gatekeeping responsibilities on trial courts when
determining whether scientific or technical expert testimony is admissible.
2001 WY 25,
¶ 8
,
18 P.3d at 1169
. However, in adopting the Daubert model we stated “we did not
‘abandon our own precedent regarding the admissibility of expert testimony.’” Id. at ¶ 8,
18 P.3d at 1169
(quoting Bunting,
984 P.2d at 471
). In our prior precedent, we reviewed
whether it was error for a district court to admit a polygraph examination upon an
agreement of the parties when the results indicated the defendant was being deceptive in
answering three relevant questions. Cullin, 565 P.2d at 453–59. We found the trend in the
law favored admissibility of a polygraph examination when the parties had stipulated to its
admission.
Id.
at 457–58. However, we held even with the stipulation, the parties must still
establish reasonable reliability before the polygraph examination could be admitted.
Id.
We also held the parties must establish the foundational qualifications for the expert,
including establishing the probative value, the procedure followed in the polygraph test,
the results, and the expert opinion.
Id.
In reaching our conclusion, we noted “none of our
remarks should be construed to hold or to suggest that we hold polygraph evidence
admissible in absence of a stipulation.” Id. at 459.
[¶22] Following this holding, in Schmunk v. State, we stated:
5
Generally, the results of a polygraph examination are not
admissible in evidence. Improper reference to the results of a
polygraph examination has been held reversible error. We
have approved, upon stipulation of the parties, admission of the
results of a polygraph examination. In the absence of a
stipulation for admission, a conviction must be reversed when
the results of a polygraph are revealed to the jury. The
reluctance to admit the results of a polygraph or “lie detector”
examination stems from the fact that the results of these
examinations have not been established as reliable. It also
stems from a fear that jurors may give too much weight to the
results of the examination, even perhaps accepting it as proof
of guilt or innocence.
714 P.2d 724, 731
(Wyo. 1986) (emphasis added) (citations omitted). In a later case, we
acknowledged “[a] fundamental premise of our criminal trial system is that ‘the jury is the
lie detector.’” Sullivan v. State,
2011 WY 46, ¶ 19
,
247 P.3d 879, 884
(Wyo. 2011) (quoting
United States v. Scheffer,
523 U.S. 303, 313
,
118 S. Ct. 1261, 1266
,
140 L. Ed. 2d 413
(1998)). Furthermore, our long-standing rule is “an expert may not vouch for the
truthfulness or credibility of an alleged victim or of any other witness.” Dean,
2008 WY
124, ¶ 15
,
194 P.3d at 304
(quoting Seward v. State,
2003 WY 116, ¶ 19
,
76 P.3d 805, 814
(Wyo. 2003)).
[¶23] With this precedent in mind, it is understandable why the district court held the
polygraph examination was inadmissible absent a stipulation by the parties without any
further analysis on the reliability of Mr. Nania’s polygraph examination. The limited
record before us prevents any further evaluation or analysis. See Hopkinson, 632 P.2d at
138–39.
[¶24] Mr. Nania’s appeal also fails on the prejudice prong. See Sullivan,
2011 WY 46
,
¶¶ 19–22, 247 P.3d at 884–85 (reviewing for harmless error when the prosecutor remarked
during trail about the defendant’s decision not to take a polygraph examination).
“Prejudicial error requires reversal, while harmless error does not.” Cox v. State,
2020 WY
147, ¶ 16
,
477 P.3d 82, 85
(Wyo. 2020) (quoting Payseno v. State,
2014 WY 108, ¶ 20
,
332 P.3d 1176, 1182
(Wyo. 2014)). “An error is prejudicial when there is a reasonable
probability . . . the result would have been more favorable to the defendant had the error
not occurred.” Olson v. State,
2023 WY 11, ¶ 18
,
523 P.3d 910, 915
(Wyo. 2023) (quoting
Gilbert v. State,
2022 WY 62, ¶ 38
,
509 P.3d 928, 939
(Wyo. 2022)). We review the entire
record to determine whether the defendant was prejudiced when the district court excluded
certain evidence. See
id.
“Prejudice is not presumed, and the burden is on the appellant to
demonstrate it.” Person v. State,
2023 WY 26, ¶ 73
,
526 P.3d 61, 79
(Wyo. 2023) (citation
omitted). To find prejudicial error, Mr. Nania must establish a reasonable probability the
6
verdict would have been more favorable to him had his evidence been admitted. See id. at
¶ 75,
526 P.3d at 79
; Toth,
2015 WY 86A
, ¶¶ 40–41,
353 P.3d at 709
.
[¶25] Mr. Nania was acquitted of the charges of sexual assault in the first and second
degrees, including attempted sexual assault in the first and second degrees, but was
convicted of sexual assault in the third degree. An individual commits sexual assault in
the third degree if that individual “causes submission of the victim by any means that would
prevent resistance by a victim of ordinary resolution” and “subjects a victim to sexual
contact . . . without inflicting sexual intrusion on the victim and without causing serious
bodily injury to the victim.”
Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-304
(a)(iii) (LexisNexis 2021);
Wyo.
Stat. Ann. § 6-2-303
(a)(ii) (LexisNexis 2021). “‘Sexual contact’ means touching, with the
intention of sexual arousal, gratification or abuse, of the victim’s intimate parts by the
actor[.]”
Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-301
(a)(vi) (LexisNexis 2021). A defendant’s intention of
sexual arousal, gratification or abuse “may be proven by circumstantial evidence alone.”
See Gonsalves v. State,
2024 WY 49, ¶ 11
,
547 P.3d 340, 343
(Wyo. 2024) (quoting Morris
v. State,
2023 WY 4, ¶ 31
,
523 P.3d 293, 299
(Wyo. 2023)); Jackson v. State,
2013 WY
130, ¶ 2
,
311 P.3d 163, 164
(Wyo. 2013) (“[T]hird degree sexual assault requires proof of
a[n] . . . intention of sexual arousal, gratification or abuse[.]”).
[¶26] Given the magnitude of the evidence against Mr. Nania, there is no reasonable
probability the verdict would have been more favorable had the evidence he “passed” a
polygraph examination been admitted. The jury heard several of Mr. Nania’s statements
to multiple witness wherein he admitted to engaging in sexual contact with VR. These
statements also contained circumstantial evidence from which the jury could reasonably
infer Mr. Nania acted with the intention of sexual arousal, gratification, or abuse.
[¶27] In the very beginning of Mr. Nania’s interview with law enforcement, which was
played for the jury, he stated:
She’s staying the night, and we were laying in bed, we were
completely naked and messing around getting ready to have
sex and I said something that pissed her off. And I can’t
remember what it was, and she got up and went to leave and I
was trying to talk to her you know cause the relationship was
up and down and crazy all the time. And I grabbed her arms
and held her on the bed and . . . yelled at her pretty much. I
think my penis touched her vagina. I know that we did not
have sex.
Mr. Nania further admitted that when he was holding VR down on the bed, he stated to her
“I want you to feel the pain that I feel[.]”
7
[¶28] KS testified to overhearing on the phone VR scream “super very loud, top of her
lungs, bloodcurdling scream” and then saying “no, no, no, no, no, what the f*** are you
doing.” She testified to hearing Mr. Nania immediately apologize and comment on
whether VR was upset he tried to engage in intercourse. The next day Mr. Nania and KS
met in person, and KS recorded their meeting, which was also played for the jury. In that
recording, Mr. Nania revealed he did not remember what he did, but said “he realized [he]
was being violent.” Mr. Nania further stated: “I remember reaching under her legs and
grabbing her . . . and I feel like I forced something.”
[¶29] In addition to the statements Mr. Nania made in the recording to KS and in the
recorded interview with law enforcement, Mr. Nania also told three additional witnesses
he “raped” VR. All three witnesses confirmed Mr. Nania used the term “rape” when
explaining what he did to VR. An additional fourth witness testified to text messaging Mr.
Nania after hearing about the incident. A screenshot of the text message conversation was
admitted, and in that message Mr. Nania admitted to sexual contact with VR.
[¶30] The jury also saw the text message stream between VR and Mr. Nania the morning
immediately after the incident. In those messages, Mr. Nania stated:
I started to rape you.
Out of anger.
Please don’t tell anyone. I can’t feel worse.
I[’]ll do anything to make amends.
VR testified to the incident and stated she was held down by Mr. Nania and that he tried to
engage in unwanted sexual intercourse with her.
[¶31] The only information in the record of the results of the polygraph examination are
defense counsel’s statements in the pleadings, which indicate the “polygraph examination
produced ‘passing’ results on [Mr. Nania’s] denials of the specific charges against him—
meaning that ‘no deception’ was indicated when [Mr. Nania] denied the charges.” Mr.
Nania’s description of the polygraph fails to indicate whether he ever denied making any
of the above statements to the law enforcement or the third-party witnesses, or whether he
denied performing any of the above actions he himself admitted to committing. Based on
Mr. Nania’s own statements, the third-party witnesses’ testimony, and VR’s testimony, we
can find no reasonable probability the verdict would have been more favorable had the
polygraph examination been admitted. Mr. Nania has not met his burden showing the
exclusion of this evidence resulted in prejudicial error. Therefore, Mr. Nania has failed to
meet his burden of showing the district court’s decision justifies reversal of his conviction.
8
CONCLUSION
[¶32] Mr. Nania has not met his burden showing the district court abused its discretion in
excluding Mr. Nania’s polygraph examination, and he has not shown he was prejudiced by
the district court’s decision. Affirmed.
9
BOOMGAARDEN, Justice, specially concurring, in which FOX, Chief Justice, joins.
[¶33] I agree with the majority that Mr. Nania cannot show the district court’s error was
prejudicial, but I write separately because the district court abused its discretion by not
applying a Daubert analysis to test the reliability of the polygraph evidence.
I. Federal Precedent Reconsidered Per Se Inadmissibility of Polygraphs
Thirty Years Ago
[¶34] The law around polygraph examinations is rooted in reliability. In the early days of
polygraphs, more than 100 years ago, the technology was new, not yet “well-recognized”
or “sufficiently established to have gained general acceptance in the particular field in
which it belongs.” Frye v. United States,
293 F. 1013, 1014
(D.C. Cir. 1923). Even then,
however, the D.C. Circuit recognized “[j]ust when a scientific principle or discovery
crosses the line between the experimental and demonstrable stages is difficult to define”
but the polygraph technology was “not yet” sufficiently recognized to be admissible.
Id.
The Frye decision was a “not yet” rule, not a rule set up to last forever—as the technology
developed and crossed the line from experimental to demonstrable polygraph evidence
could become admissible.
[¶35] Frye is no longer considered good law after the advent of Federal Rule of Evidence
702 and state analogues of that rule, having been expressly overturned in Daubert v.
Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
509 U.S. 579
, 588–90,
113 S. Ct. 2786, 2795
,
125 L.
Ed. 2d 469
(1993). The measure for the admissibility of scientific evidence is no longer
its “general acceptance” in the scientific community.
Id. at 588
. Instead, scientific
evidence is tested through a Daubert hearing for (1) reliability and (2) its relevance to the
case at hand. Wyoming expressly adopted the Daubert approach in Bunting v. Jamieson,
984 P.2d 467
, 470–73 (Wyo. 1999) (adopting the two-part analysis from Daubert, 509 U.S.
at 592–93 and related cases); Seivewright v. State,
7 P.3d 24, 29
(Wyo. 2000) (discussing
the non-exclusive list of factors to guide the trial court’s assessment of reliability).
[¶36] Five years after Daubert, United States Supreme Court Justice Stevens, in a
dissenting opinion, called for the courts to apply Daubert and Rule 702 to polygraph
evidence to test reliability. U.S. v. Scheffer,
523 U.S. 303
, 331–39 (Stevens J., dissenting).
He noted that when courts apply Daubert, even evidence of “shaky admissibility” is
admitted and the proper course at trial to further test that evidence for the jury is through
vigorous cross-examination.
Id.
at 333–35. He criticized the idea that juries would not be
able to evaluate the credibility of the polygraph evidence—we task juries to test credibility
in all sorts of cases.
Id.
at 334–37.
[¶37] The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and others heeded that call and now allow
polygraph evidence, subject to Daubert to test the reliability of the evidence. The Tenth
10
Circuit in United States v. Call set aside the per se rule of inadmissibility that was rooted
in Frye and applied a Daubert analysis:
Prior to Daubert we consistently held that polygraph testimony
offered for the purpose of showing that one is truthful is
inadmissible. In so holding, we applied a general acceptance
test similar to the one set forth in Frye v. United States,
293 F.
1013, 1014
(D.C. Cir. 1923). Under the Frye test, expert
testimony based on a scientific technique was inadmissible
unless the technique was generally accepted as reliable in the
relevant scientific community. In Daubert, the Supreme Court
rejected the general acceptance test, concluding that Rule 702
superseded the Frye test. Daubert,
509 U.S. at 587
,
113 S.Ct.
at 2793
. Thus, in light of Daubert, our cases applying the Frye
general acceptance test are no longer good law. Therefore, we
may not apply the Frye test to determine the admissibility of
polygraph evidence. Instead, we must apply the Daubert
analysis.
129 F.3d 1402, 1404
(10th Cir. 1997) (some citations omitted). The Fifth and Ninth
Circuits had already reached that conclusion, treating polygraph examinations like all other
scientific evidence, subject to the Daubert analysis. United States v. Posado,
57 F.3d 428
,
432–33 (5th Cir. 1995); United States v. Cordoba,
104 F.3d 225, 27
(9th Cir. 1997); United
States v. Benavidez-Benavidez,
217 F.3d 720
(9th Cir. 2000). The Eleventh Circuit
likewise followed suit, allowing polygraph evidence if it is sufficiently reliable and relevant
under the Daubert analysis. United States v. Henderson,
409 F.3d 1293
, 1301–04 (11th
Cir. 2005).
[¶38] The Second Circuit recognizes the role Daubert may have when evaluating the
admissibility of polygraph evidence but has not yet had a record sufficient to review the
issue. United States v. Messina,
131 F.3d 36, 42
(2d Cir. 1997). The Fifth Circuit likewise
continues to apply a per se rule of inadmissibility for now, but it recognizes that “[a]fter
Daubert, a per se rule is not viable,” and “[t]here can be no doubt that tremendous advances
have been made in polygraph instrumentation and technique in the years since Frye.”
United States v. Posado,
57 F.3d 428, 433
(5th Cir. 1995). Despite recognizing the role
Daubert may have in evaluating the admissibility of polygraph evidence, the Fourth Circuit
is waiting for the right opportunity to consider the issue, concluding “only the en banc
Court has the authority to consider whether, ‘[a]fter Daubert, a per se rule is not viable.’”
United States v. Prince-Oyibo,
320 F.3d 494, 501
(4th Cir. 2003) (quoting Posado,
57 F.3d
at 433
)).
II. Other state courts’ application of Daubert to polygraph testing
11
[¶39] Some state courts have applied Daubert to polygraph testing and reached varying
results. New Mexico applied Daubert to polygraph testing and concluded in Lee v.
Martinez—after an extensive factor-by-factor analysis—that certain polygraph evidence
was admissible.
96 P.3d 291, 306
(N.M. 2004). It noted the parties’ various concerns
about polygraph evidence but reiterated the general rule of Daubert that “any doubt about
the admissibility of scientific evidence should be resolved in favor of admission. The
remedy for the opponent of polygraph evidence is not exclusion; the remedy is cross-
examination, presentation of rebuttal evidence, and argumentation.”
Id.
(citing Daubert,
509 U.S. at 596
). California reversed its per se rule excluding polygraph evidence and
required polygraph evidence to be considered through its analogue of Daubert.
Witherspoon v. Superior Court,
133 Cal. App. 3d 24
,
183 Cal.Rptr. 615
(Cal. 1982). It
only reinstated the per se rule of exclusion when the legislature enacted a rule of exclusion.
People v. Wilkenson,
94 P.3d 551
, 564–66 (Cal. 2004). Louisiana admits polygraph
evidence in administrative proceedings. Evans v. DeRidder Municipal Fire Dept.,
815
So.2d 61
, 66–68, 71 (La. 2002).
[¶40] States that continue to find polygraph evidence inadmissible do not necessarily
follow a per se rule. Rather, after applying Daubert, they have concluded the evidence fell
short on the first, reliability prong. For example, in State v. Sharpe, the Alaska Supreme
Court evaluated a particular type of polygraph testing, comparative question testing
(CQT),1 under the factors governing reliability through Daubert. It concluded
CQT polygraph testing has “not been shown to satisfy the standard for scientific evidence
set forth in Daubert. . . Our opinion here does not mean that CQT polygraph testing will
never be sufficiently reliable to pass muster as scientific evidence[.]”.
435 P.3d 887
(Alaska 2019). South Carolina reached a similar conclusion but only after stating Daubert
applies along with other rules—“admissibility of this type of scientific evidence should be
analyzed under Rules 702 and 403 . . . After an analysis under these standards, we find the
polygraph evidence inadmissible in this case.” State v. Council,
515 S.E. 2d 508
, 519–20
(S.C. 1999). See also In re Robert R.,
531 S.E.2d 301
, 302–04 (S.C. Ct. App. 2000)
(affirming Council and remanding for a Daubert hearing on the admissibility of polygraph
evidence); State v. Brown,
948 P.2d 337
, (Utah 1997) (“[T]he district judge recognized that
there is no general acceptance of the polygraph, and he discussed several areas of concern
including methodology, reliability, and the risk at trial of focusing on the credentials of the
experts. The court also discussed the third step of [the analysis adopted in Rimmsach¸ a
state analogue of Daubert], that is, the danger of unfair prejudice under Utah Rule of
Evidence 403. . . . We find that the trial court properly applied the Rimmsach tests and that
the district court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to admit the polygraph results.”).
[¶41] Other state courts conclude polygraph evidence is inadmissible not because of a per
se rule or Daubert criteria but because applying Rule 403, the probative value of the
1
Mr. Nania’s polygraph was also a CQT polygraph.
12
polygraph evidence is outweighed by other concerns. State v. Brown,
687 P.2d 751, 775
(Or. 1984) (“After carefully evaluating evidence and arguments for and against the
introduction of polygraph evidence within the context of [Oregon Evidence Code] 401,
702, and 403, we conclude that the probative value of polygraph evidence is far outweighed
by reasons for its exclusion.”); State v. Porter,
698 A.2d 739
, 743–77 (Conn. 1997)
(evaluating polygraph evidence through an extensive Daubert analysis but continuing a per
se rule of exclusion because the probative value was low and was outweighed by
prejudicial effects effects); Rathe Salvage, Inc. v. R. Brown & Sons, Inc.,
46 A.3d 891, 901
(Vt. 2012) (excluding polygraph evidence through Rule 403). But see People v. Lyons,
907 P.2d 708, 712
(Colo. App. 1995) (“[W]hile C.R.E. 702 applies to certain types of novel
scientific evidence, the Frye test still applies to polygraph evidence”).
III. Wyoming’s Polygraph Precedent in Cullin Directed Trial Courts to Consider
Reliability, Subject to the Safeguards of W.R.E. 403
[¶42] Our precedent from Cullin v. State,
565 P.2d 445, 455
(Wyo. 1977), was the first
Wyoming case to meaningfully discuss the admissibility of polygraph results, but it did not
adopt a bright line rule. It adopted a rule that hinged on reliability, based on a Tenth Circuit
decision:
However, we do not base admissibility of polygraph results
solely upon the basis of the stipulation. There should be some
test of reasonable reliability before final admission by the
judge, even though the parties agree. We see no real or
unusual problem in that regard and believe that it can be
accomplished through existing, accepted rules of evidence.
The Tenth Circuit approached the problem in a practical
way. In that case, the defendant offered evidence of a
polygraph examination and to submit himself to a government
polygraph test. The court declared that in a proper case a
polygraph test may be admissible but a foundation must be laid
by relevant expert testimony relating to the probative value of
such evidence and that before admission, the test is an accepted
one in his profession and has a reasonable measure of precision
in its indications.
Id. at 457
(emphasis added) (citations omitted). Importantly, Cullin went on to state—“We
must make it clear that in our consideration and discussion of the question, none of our
remarks should be construed to hold or to suggest that we hold polygraph evidence
admissible in the absence of a stipulation. That must wait for another day when the
13
question is directly before us.”
Id. at 459
(emphasis added). Thus, the question of
admissibility without a stipulation was left unanswered.
[¶43] Our subsequent cases did not adopt a per se rule excluding polygraph evidence.
Schmunk addressed references made to polygraph testing, including a refusal to take a
polygraph, and whether those references were reversible error. Schmunk v. State,
714 P.2d
724
(Wyo. 1986). We addressed the same issue in Proffit v. State,
193 P.3d 228, 233
(Wyo.
2008), when we described references to a refusal to take a polygraph test to be overzealous
prosecution. In neither instance did we address the advancements of polygraph technology,
the advancements in the law of evidence after Daubert, or the admissibility of polygraph
evidence proffered by either party.
[¶44] Our decision in Cullin set the stage for polygraph evidence to be tested under the
yet-to-be-established parameters of Daubert, just as the trial courts and parties test the
reliability and relevance of other scientific expert testimony. We saw “no reason why the
polygraph expert should be treated in any more restrictive manner than other experts.”
565
P.2d at 458
. We went on to prescribe that the trial courts must find a modicum of reliability
for the polygraph evidence to have probative value, and that cross-examination and
impeachment are the methods to “smoke[] out the inept, the unlearned, the inadequate self-
styled expert.”
Id.
We also recognized W.R.E. 403 as an umbrella of protection to exclude
relevant evidence if its probative value is outweighed by prejudice, confusion or the risk
of misleading.
Id.
We limited our analysis in Cullin to a polygraph the parties stipulated
for admission, but our discussion did not close the door to unstipulated polygraph evidence.
Rather, we expressly kept that door open “for another day when the question is directly
before us.”
Id. at 459
. The question is now directly before us.
[¶45] Mr. Nania sought to introduce his polygraph results either (1) as evidence of his
innocence or (2) “for the limited purposes of rebutting the State’s evidence of Defendants’
various confessional statements and explaining those statements.” When he asked the State
to stipulate to the admission of what he considered to be exculpatory evidence, the State
moved in limine to exclude that evidence as a matter of law, citing to Schmunk and Proffitt.
The State also asked for a hearing on its motion. Two days later, and before Mr. Nania
filed a response, the court set the State’s motion in limine for a hearing. Defense counsel’s
response brief cited W.R.E. 702 and Daubert and fulsomely discussed how the proposed
evidence met Daubert’s criteria of reliability and relevance. Once the hearing date arrived,
Mr. Nania’s expert was present and ready to testify for an evidentiary hearing.
[¶46] When faced with a W.R.E. 702 and Daubert issue, the district courts have discretion
whether to hold an evidentiary hearing, hold an argument-only hearing, or have no hearing.
Seivewright, 7 P.3d at 29–30. I do not conclude the district court abused its discretion by
not taking testimony at the hearing or not continuing the matter for a longer evidentiary
14
hearing to hear the expert’s testimony.2 We discussed the reasons a court may or may not
hold such a hearing at some length in Seivewright. 7 P.3d at 29–30. We have also upheld
argument-only hearings. BNSF Ry. Co. v. Box Creek Min. Ltd. P’ship,
2018 WY 67
, ¶ 41,
420 P.3d 161, 170
(Wyo. 2018). The district court abused its discretion because the court
applied a per se rule of inadmissibility and did not analyze the proffered evidence for
reliability and relevance under Daubert and its Wyoming progeny.
The district courts maintain substantial discretion on how to
evaluate the reliability of expert testimony and substantial
discretion as to the manner they evaluate reliability. However,
there must be some analysis for this Court to review to
determine that the trial court did conduct some sort of
“gatekeeping” function under Daubert/Bunting.
Id.
Because the district court overlooked our instructions in Cullin—to test polygraph
evidence for its reliability and relevance—and applied a per se rule which we did not adopt
in Cullin or subsequently, the court abused its discretion.
[¶47] I do not urge the adoption of a blanket rule of admissibility of polygraph evidence.
I urge only that Wyoming courts decline a per se rule of inadmissibility, instead adhering
to our mandate in Cullin to consider such evidence for reliability and relevance, subject to
exclusion through W.R.E. 403. With our post-Cullin adoption of the Daubert structure to
test such evidence through W.R.E. 702, we have ample precedent in place and reliability
factors for the trial courts to use.
2
Mr. Nania was not required to move separately for a hearing. Under our civil rules, a party may request
a hearing, W.R.C.P. 6(c)(4), but the trial courts have discretion whether to hold one. Seivewright, 7 P.3d
at 29–30. This was a criminal case and motions practice is governed by W.R.Cr.P. 12 which is silent on a
requirement that a party separately move for a hearing. Moreover, in neither set of rules is there a
suggestion that a party must move for a hearing after one has already been set by the court. To require such
a practice invites efficiency contrary to W.R.C.P. 1 and W.R.Cr.P. 2 (mandating the rules of procedure be
applied to promote simplicity and efficiency and to reduce expense and delay).
15Case Information
- Court
- Wyo.
- Decision Date
- February 3, 2025
- Status
- Precedential