Opinion ID: 2210535
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Habitual Offender Sentence Enhancement

Text: Bartlett launches several objections to the use of certain documents admitted into evidence during the habitual offender stage of trial. These documents were used to prove that Bartlett had committed two previous felonies in California and Kansas. To prove the California conviction, the State admitted into evidence documents kept by the Keeper of Records for the State of California Department of Justice, an official letter of certification for the documents sent by the Keeper of Records, and a copy of all of the information kept by the California Department of Justice regarding Bartlett. The Kansas documentation included a cover letter from the Keeper of Records for the Kansas Department of Corrections, a letter of certification from the Records Supervisor, and a copy of all of the official records kept by the Kansas Department of Corrections regarding Bartlett. Bartlett argues that these documents were inadmissible because they lacked a proper foundation, and in any event, did not fall within any of the twenty three exceptions to hearsay contained in Indiana Rule of Evidence 803. He further argues that his attorney was ineffective for the failure to object to the admission of this evidence on hearsay grounds. [2] To lay a foundation for the admission of evidence at trial, the proponent of the evidence must show that the evidence has been authenticated, or put simply, show by sufficient evidence that the matter in question is what its proponent claims. Ind. Evidence Rule 901(a). A piece of evidence may be authenticated by any method described in the Indiana Rules of Evidence, or by any method provided by an Indiana statute or rule. See Evid. R. 901(a)(10). Where the document at issue is a domestic public record, and certified in accordance with Trial Rule 44(A)(1), the document is self-authenticating and no extrinsic evidence is necessary for its admission. Ind. Evidence Rule 902(1). A domestic official record, according to Indiana Trial Rule 44(A)(1), may be evidenced by an official publication thereof or by a copy attested by the officer having the legal custody of the record, or by his deputy.... Proof that such officer does or does not have custody of the record may be made ... by any public officer having a seal of office and having official duties in the district or political subdivision in which the record is kept, authenticated by the seal of his office. Both the California and the Kansas documents meet with the requirements of Trial Rule 44. Both were compiled and kept by public officers in their respective states, and both were authenticated by a seal of office. Therefore, both sets of documents were properly certified under Rule 44(A)(1), and self-authenticating according to Indiana Rule of Evidence 902. A proper foundation was laid for their admission. Bartlett next argues that this documentation constituted inadmissible hearsay. While Bartlett's counsel did not object to the admission of these documents as hearsay, and therefore the issue is technically waived, we will address this issue because Bartlett argues that his attorney was ineffective for failing to interpose such an objection. See Whitener v. State, 696 N.E.2d 40, 44 (Ind. 1998). As criminal records, these documents fall within the ambit of the hearsay exception regarding public records, Indiana Rule of Evidence 803(8). This rule reads in relevant part: (8) Public Records and Reports. Unless the source of information or other circumstances indicate lack of trustworthiness, records, reports, statements, or data compilations in any form, of a public office or agency, setting forth its regularly conducted and regularly recorded activities, or matters observed pursuant to duty imposed by law and as to which there was a duty to report,.... Both sets of documents are regularly kept public records. The Kansas documents were kept by the Kansas Department of Corrections, and the California documents were kept by the California Department of Justice. Both the California Department of Justice and the Kansas Department of Corrections are the types of agencies that regularly keep criminal records, and therefore come within the scope of rule 803(8). We affirm the trial court. SHEPARD, C.J., and DICKSON, SULLIVAN and BOEHM, JJ., concur.