Opinion ID: 1742617
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Evidence of victim's prior consistent statements.

Text: It is improper to permit a witness to testify that another witness has made prior consistent statements, absent an express or implied charge against the declarant of recent fabrication or improper influence. KRE 801A(a)(2). Otherwise, the witness is simply vouching for the truthfulness of the declarant's statement, which we have held to be reversible error. Bussey v. Commonwealth, 797 S.W.2d 483, 484-85 (Ky.1990). See also LaMastus v. Commonwealth, 878 S.W.2d 32, 34 (Ky. App.1994). We perceive no conceptual distinction between testimony that repeats the witness's prior consistent statement verbatim and testimony that the witness previously made statements that were consistent with her trial testimony. Either way, the evidence is offered to prove that the declarant's trial testimony is truthful because it is consistent with her prior statements. A witness cannot be corroborated by proof that on previous occasions he has made the same statements as those made in his testimony. Smith v. Commonwealth, 920 S.W.2d 514, 517 (Ky.1995).