Opinion ID: 453430
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Parkins' Testimony.

Text: 37 Military Police Officer Parkins testified that, in the early morning after the incident occurred, Overling entered the police station and told him that DeCoito and another officer had abused Sabey. The district court admitted this testimony over defendants' objections as a prior consistent statement, an excited utterance, and a present sense impression. 38 We will not overturn such a ruling unless the court abused its discretion and it is more probable than not that the error affected the verdict. United States v. Soulard, 9 Cir., 1984, 730 F.2d 1292, 1296, citing United States v. Rohrer, 9 Cir., 1983, 708 F.2d 429, 432. Fed.R.Evid. 801(d)(1)(B) provides: 39 A statement is not hearsay if ... [t]he declarant testifies at the trial ... and is subject to cross examination concerning the statement, and the statement is ... consistent with his testimony and is offered to rebut an express or implied charge against him of recent fabrication or improper influence or motive ... 40 The statement was properly admitted. 41 Appellants argue that Rule 801(d)(1)(B) does not apply here because Overling's motive to falsify existed at the time he spoke to Parkins. A prior consistent statement is admissible to rehabilitate a witness only if made before the witness has a motive to fabricate. United States v. Rohrer, supra, 708 F.2d at 433. Appellants argue that Overling had a motivation to lie in order to avoid prosecution for his own involvement in assaulting Sabey. To whatever extent such a motivation may have arisen when Overling subsequently became aware of an official investigation, that motivation did not exist when he returned to the MP station, within a few hours after the incident took place, and said You know, hey, did you guys hear what happened to Sabey.... The record indicates that Overling neither anticipated nor feared prosecution at that time. 42