Opinion ID: 756460
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Admission into Evidence of the Pager Records

Text: 36 Patterson next argues that the pager records, which showed the time but not the date of the final entry, should not have been admitted into evidence. The standard of review for evidentiary rulings is abuse of discretion. United States v. ReBrook, 58 F.3d 961, 967 (4th Cir.1995). 37 The final entry on the pager found in Patterson's car was recorded at 2:53 p.m. and contained Patterson's home phone number and the number 9 followed by nine 1's. There were no dates associated with the entries on the pager. Patterson argues that the record of the final message left on the pager was admitted in violation of Rule 901 of the Federal Rules of Evidence because the lack of a date does not adequately demonstrate the date of the alleged call, or that the pager called was connected with defendant. Appellant's Brief at 27. 38 Rule 901, however, only requires that there be evidence sufficient to support a finding that the matter in question is what its proponent claims. Fed.R.Evid. 901(a). Patterson is correct that the lack of a date does not demonstrate the date of the alleged call. Although it is an inference that the Government probably hoped would be drawn, the Government made no effort to elicit testimony that the final entry was recorded on the day of the robbery. In fact, the Government elicited on direct examination that there was no date associated with the time for the last entry on the pager. In addition, although Hooks testified that he had called Xay's pager, not Patterson's, this is a discrepancy to be dealt with by the attorneys in closing argument, not by Rule 901. 39 Furthermore, the lack of a date does not affect whether a connection was made between Patterson and the pager. It was found in his car, thus there was sufficient evidence to connect it with him. Accordingly, the Court finds that the district judge did not abuse his discretion in admitting testimony regarding the pager records.