Opinion ID: 2265864
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: adoptive admissions-robert

Text: The court ruled that Robert Marshall, by his statement, [N]o one is going to take us in, had adopted all of the motel room statements of Michael Marshall and Lisa Morelli and that Mr. Perry is going to be allowed to testify as to what he heard in that motel room, statements by Michael Marshall, Lisa Morelli, and Robert Marshall. Before the jury, Michael Perry gave essentially the same testimony he had given in the in camera hearing. Defendant Robert Marshall contends that the presiding justice erred in admitting Lisa's and Michael Marshall's statements as against him, because that justice did not find beyond a reasonable doubt that Robert had adopted those statements. Whether under M.R.Evid. 801(d)(2)(B) [2] a party has manifested his assent to another person's statement is a preliminary question for the judge; the burden of proof is on the proponent to show that an adoption was intended. Field & Murray, Maine Evidence, § 801.5 at 194 (1976). In our previous cases interpreting adoptive admissions under M.R.Evid. 801(d)(2)(B), however, we have not expressly defined the proponent's burden of proof. [3] See, e.g., State v. Johnson, 472 A.2d 1367, 1371 (Me.1984); State v. McKenney, 459 A.2d 1093, 1097 (Me.1983); State v. Elwell, 380 A.2d 1016, 1020-21 (Me.1977). At the outset, we note that the majority of appellate courts, in keeping with the general evidentiary principles governing preliminary questions, permit the trial judge to rule on the basis of his or her own factual inquiry. See, e.g., McCormack, Evidence § 270 at 653, § 53 (2d ed. 1972); 4 Weinsteins Evidence, ¶ 801(d)(2)(B)[01] at 801-200 (1984); United States v. Giese, 597 F.2d 1170, 1196 (9th Cir.1979), cert. denied 444 U.S. 979, 100 S.Ct. 480, 62 L.Ed.2d 405 (1979). The court should make a threshold determination that sufficient facts have been introduced for the jury reasonably to conclude that the defendant adopted the admission of another. This procedure is in accord with our previous decisions. See, e.g., McKenney, 459 A.2d at 1097; Elwell, 380 A.2d at 1020-1021; State v. Anderson, 409 A.2d 1290, 1299 (Me.1979). We conclude that the presiding justice was correct in admitting Michael Marshall's and Lisa's statements through Michael Perry's testimony as adoptive admissions under Rule 801(d)(2)(B). Sufficient facts were introduced so that a jury could reasonably conclude that Robert had heard and understood the statements; and adopted them. See, e.g., State v. Anderson, 409 A.2d 1290, 1299 (Me.1979); Field & Murray at § 104.1. Perry was reasonably certain that Robert had stayed within the motel room during the entire conversation. At the conclusion of the conversation, when Perry suggested that they turn themselves in, Robert brandished the bushmaster rifle and stated, No one is going to take us in. Any evidence that Robert had entered the motel bathroom at any point during the conversation was properly for the jury to evaluate.