Opinion ID: 1942778
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Ewing statement

Text: ¶ 50. Chandler also argues that the trial court erred by prohibiting Chandler from testifying about a statement made by Ewing to him. The trial court denied the statement on the basis of hearsay. Chandler argues that the trial court sustained the prosecution's objection on the basis of hearsay without any determination of whether the statement was offered for the truth of the matter asserted. Further, Chandler asserts that the statement was not hearsay because the statement concerned why he had reason to be afraid and why he went to get a gun. ¶ 51. The record reflects the following exchange: [Defense:] At your Uncle Troy's house, what did you do? A. Uh, we will have to go back. At the church, Brandon Ewing had told me that somebody was going to [Defense:]  Without saying what  [State:]  Objection to hearsay, your Honor. By the Court: Sustained. [Defense:] Without saying what anybody said, what did you do when you went to your Uncle Troy's house? A. I borrowed his gun out of his car. [Defense:] Why? A. Because I felt like I needed to protect myself with all rumors [sic] that were surfing around. ¶ 52. We find that Chandler did not preserve this issue for appeal. Chandler made no argument before the trial court, and thus, he is procedurally barred on appeal. This Court has held that [i]f no contemporaneous objection is made, the error, if any, is waived. Walker v. State, 671 So.2d 581, 597 (Miss.1995) (citing Foster v. State, 639 So.2d 1263, 1270 (Miss. 1994)). ¶ 53. Regardless of the trial court's ruling on the inadmissibility of Ewing's alleged statements, the jury heard Chandler testify that he heard rumors. Because of the rumors, he felt scared and borrowed his uncle's gun to protect himself. Chandler testified that he was afraid of Emmitt. Again, while this testimony may not have been heard exactly to Chandler's liking, the testimony was nonetheless presented to the jury. We find that Chandler did not preserve the issue of Ewing's statements for appeal purposes and is procedurally barred.