Opinion ID: 677661
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: identification badges & hearsay evidence

Text: 35 We similarly reject appellants' arguments that the district court erred in admitting: (1) badges and documents identifying the driver of the Bronco and a passenger as members of the MFJP because they were not properly authenticated; and (2) hearsay evidence that the driver of the Bronco was a commander of the MFJP; that he was based in Mexico; and that his speciality was narcotics.
36 The district court's decision regarding authentication is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. The authentication of evidence is satisfied by evidence sufficient to support a finding that the matter in question is what its proponent claims. United States v. Harrington, 923 F.2d 1371, 1374 (9th Cir.) (internal quotations omitted), cert. denied, 112 S.Ct. 164 (1991); see also Fed.R.Evid. 901(a). Even if the badge and identification were not properly authenticated as genuine foreign documents, they were authenticated by the testimony of the officer who stopped the Bronco, Penny Gillette. See id. Rule 901(b) (documents may be authenticated by extrinsic evidence, e.g., testimony of witness with knowledge); see also United States v. Chu Kong Yin, 935 F.2d 990, 995 (9th Cir.1991) (where authentication requirement satisfied under Rule 901, need not determine whether evidence satisfied foreign documents self-authentication requirement under Rule 902(3)). Gillette testified that she found the MFJP badge and identification in a woman's purse in the Bronco. She stated that the man pictured in the identification was the same man who was driving the Bronco. The Government introduced sufficient evidence through Gillette's testimony to establish that the badge and identification were what the Government claimed them to be: documents in the possession of individuals claiming to be members of the MFJP. 6
37 Appellants next object to the admission of Gillette's hearsay statements that the driver of the Bronco was a commander of the MFJP; that he was based in Mexico; and that his specialty was narcotics. We hold that appellants invited any error. The doctrine of invited error prevents a defendant from complaining of an error that was his own fault. United States v. Reyes-Alvarado, 963 F.2d 1184, 1187 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 113 S.Ct. 258 (1992) (defendant who elicits testimony which may violate Bruton cannot later claim error based on that testimony). Appellants may not seek reversal on the basis of their own evidentiary errors. Id. (internal quotations and brackets omitted). 38 In this case, during Arturo's cross-examination of Gillette, the following exchange occurred: 39 Q: You don't know if ... that person is in fact a Federal officer of the Mexican police? 40 A: He told me that in our conversation while I was filling out the warning. 41 Q: Did he tell you how long he had been a federal officer? A: No. 7 On redirect, the Government asked: 42 Q: What exactly did he tell you about his identity as a Federal Police Officer in Mexico? 43 A: He told me that he was a commander in the Federal Judicial Police based in Mexico City and that his specialty was narcotics. 44 It is this latter exchange to which appellants object. 45 The damage was done during cross-examination when Arturo elicited testimony establishing that the driver was a member of the MFJP. On redirect, the Government merely confirmed that fact. When Arturo asked if the driver told Gillette how long he had been with the MFJP, Arturo opened the door to the Government's question on redirect. The Government was properly permitted to clarify any confusion after Arturo opened the door. See United States v. Segall, 833 F.2d 144, 148 (9th Cir.1987) (district court did not abuse its discretion in allowing damaging testimony to be elicited on redirect where counsel created false impression and opened the door to such testimony during cross-examination). Therefore, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in permitting the Government to elicit testimony on redirect which was in response to information revealed during cross-examination. Any error was invited.