Opinion ID: 458618
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Hearsay Exceptions

Text: 17 Martin was clearly unavailable to testify at the petitioner's trial. As noted above, the inquiry focuses next upon the reliability of the deceased declarant's statements which may be inferred from an applicable hearsay exception. 18 (a) Hearsay Exception for Co-Conspirator Statements Ohio Rule of Evidence 801(D)(2)(e) 19 The trial court admitted Officer Lee's hearsay testimony under Ohio Rule of Evidence 801(D)(2)(e) 2 which provides a hearsay exception for statements made by a co-conspirator during the course and in furtherance of the conspiracy. Although this rule states a hearsay exception which is also well established under the Federal Rules of Evidence, we must conclude that it does not apply to Martin's confession. Under the state and federal exceptions, upon a showing by independent evidence of a conspiracy among codefendants, out of court statements by one conspirator are admissible against the other conspirator if they are made during the course of and in furtherance of the conspiracy. United States v. Nixon, 418 U.S. 683, 701, 94 S.Ct. 3090, 3104, 41 L.Ed.2d 1039 (1974); United States v. McLernon, 746 F.2d 1098, 1105 (6th Cir.1984); State v. Shelton, 51 Ohio St.2d 68, 72, 364 N.E.2d 1152, 1155 (1977). Martin's responses to Officer Lee's questions amounted to a custodial confession and can under no circumstances be construed as statements to the petitioner during the course of and in furtherance or concealment of their conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary. See State v. Jones, 22 Ohio App.2d 67, 69-70, 258 N.E.2d 258, 259-60 (1970). 20 (b) Hearsay Exception for Statements Made Against Penal Interest Ohio Rule of Evidence 804(B)(3) 21 The Ohio Court of Appeals ruled that Martin's confession was admissible as a statement against penal interest under Ohio Rule of Evidence 804(B)(3) which provides: 22 (B) Hearsay exceptions. The following are not excluded by the hearsay rule if the declarant is unavailable as a witness: 23