Opinion ID: 2995577
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Hearsay Objection

Text: Thomas’s first argument challenges the admission of hearsay testimony, which was used to establish Thomas’s involvement in Leal’s murder. Hearsay is permitted at sentencing as long as it is reliable and the defendant is afforded an opportunity to rebut the evidence. United States v. Corbin, 998 F.2d 1377, 1385 (7th Cir. 1993); United States v. Beal, 960 F.2d 629, 634 (7th Cir. 1992) (applying same standard to hearsay within hearsay testimony). Reliability may be established by corroborating evidence. United States v. Morrison, 207 F.3d 962, 968 (7th Cir. 2000). Detective Titus testified that an unidentified neighbor told Detective Jackson that on the night of Leal’s murder, the neighbor saw Leal driving a Dodge car in the vicinity of Thomas’s home, heard gunshots, and saw Thomas driving away in the same vehicle. We are satisfied that both layers of hearsay (between the detectives, and between Detective Jackson and the neighbor) are reliable because the neighbor’s statements were supported by evidence linking Thomas to the crime scene. Significantly, Thomas was found driving the Dodge car the following day, Leal was killed by multiple gunshot wounds, and Leal’s blood was found in the car, on Thomas’s shirt, and in Thomas’s driveway. In light of this corroborative evidence and the fact that Thomas does not argue that he was denied an opportunity to rebut the testimony, we cannot say that the district court abused its discretion in allowing Detective Titus to so testify.