Opinion ID: 1745172
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: What is a Statement?

Text: The appellant contended that when the boy was questioned by a police officer his responses consisted only of yes and no answers to questions asked, and that those responses to questions did not constitute a statement by the alleged child abuse victim contemplated by A.R.E. 803 (25) (A). While this court has not defined statement in this context, other courts have done it in similar situations. For example, in United States v. Katsougrakis, 715 F.2d 769 (2nd Cir.1983), cert. den. 464 U.S. 1040, 104 S.Ct. 704, 79 L.Ed.2d 169 (1984), a nod of the head in response to a question was held to be a statement. In United States v. Guzman, 754 F.2d 482 (2nd Cir.1985), questions were held admissible to give meaning to responses. In our opinion, the responses of the alleged victim in this case constituted clear assertions and were sufficient to be considered a statement as contemplated in the rule.