Opinion ID: 2085662
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Statements of Co-conspirators

Text: The State called Harris to testify about the numerous three-way telephone conversations she facilitated between herself, Mark, and Walter. Mark objected on grounds that Harris could not testify until the State provided independent evidence of the conspiracy between the three. Mark also objected to Harris's testimony relating statements by Walter, saying these are hearsay statements as to him. Our rules declare that a statement by a co-conspirator of a party during the course and in furtherance of the conspiracy is not hearsay. Ind.Evidence Rule 801(d)(2)(E). The Indiana case law developed before the adoption of the rules of evidence also treated such statements as admissible, but required that the State provide other evidence, either circumstantial or direct, that the conspiracy existed as a precondition to admitting the hearsay. Chinn v. State, 511 N.E.2d 1000, 1002 (Ind.1987). Thus, a witness who was not a participant in a robbery could testify about the statements of one of the conspirators only where independent evidence existed that there was a conspiracy and that the defendant was part of it. See Mayhew v. State, 537 N.E.2d 1188, 1190-91 (Ind.1989) (witness to whom defendant earlier described the conspiracy permitted to testify about statements made by co-conspirator). We have viewed this independent evidence requirement as a useful safeguard against abusive use of co-conspirator hearsay, and will continue to apply it to evidence proposed for admission under Rule 801(d)(2)(E). As for the present case, Harris's testimony about her role facilitating the numerous conversations of the three conspirators herself, Mark, and Walterwas not hearsay at all. It was firsthand evidence of the existence of the conspiracy and was plainly admissible. Her testimony about things said by Walter was governed by Rule 801 and the independent evidence requirement. Her own testimony, of course, described the existence of the conspiracy and thus rendered her relating of Walter's statements admissible. No error here.