Brown

On July 1, 1999, appellant was charged in a misdemeanor complaint with violating Penal Code [1] sections 422 (terrorist threat—count I) and 594, subdivision (a)(vandalism—count II). Appellant pled not guilty to both charges.

After a jury trial lasting approximately three weeks, the jury acquitted appellant of the terrorist threat charge, but convicted him of vandalism. Appellant was thereafter initially sentenced to three years' summary probation under various terms and conditions, including completing a 12-month batterer's counseling program and paying $1,500 to a battered women's shelter. Appellant rejected the terms of probation, however, and was then sentenced to six months in jail and a restitution fine of $100. Appellant's driver's license was also suspended for one year. This appeal timely followed.

Appellant makes the following contentions on appeal: (1) the trial court erred in admitting improper opinion evidence from police witnesses who testified that appellant's wife's statements about appellant made before trial, which were recanted at trial, were "credible," "the truth," or "not a lie"; (2) the trial court erred in admitting improper expert evidence…