Admission of Evidence

Evidentiary rulings are reviewed for an abuse of discretion.  State v. Hicks, 2013 MT 50, ¶ 14, A trial court abuses its discretion when it "acts arbitrarily without the employment of conscientious judgment or exceeds the bounds of reason, resulting in substantial injustice."  Hicks, ¶ 14.  To the extent that the court's ruling is based on an interpretation of an evidentiary rule or statute, our review is de novo.  State v. Derbyshire, 2009 MT 27, ¶ 19, 349 Mont. 114, 201 P.3d 811.