Opinion ID: 2016221
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: detective's and counselor's hearsay testimony

Text: Detective Hecker and counselor Monica McCarthy were permitted to testify, on direct examination, to statements B.W. had made to them during the course of interviews. Appellant contends that these comments were hearsay and went beyond the scope of B.W.'s previous testimony. Appellant, however, on B.W.'s cross-examination, had sought to impeach B.W.'s credibility with inconsistent statements and suggestions of fabrication and improper influence. The record is clear that both Hecker and McCarthy were called to establish prior consistent statements. The fact that Hecker, in particular, had mentioned several details that B.W. had not mentioned (e.g., that during an incident of fellatio, appellant had asked B.W. not to use her teeth too much; that sometimes appellant would insert his penis into her mouth so far she would gag; and that appellant had stuck his penis where she goes to the bathroom and that that had hurt) is of no consequence. Appellant had opened the door to this testimony to rebut his allegation of fabrication, and while new details surrounding the abusive activities were revealed, those details were consistent with, and not contradictory or collateral to, B.W.'s own testimony. The assignment is without merit.