Opinion ID: 380377
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Motion to Exclude Certain Evidence as Hearsay.

Text: 44 Finally, Deggendorf claims that the district court, in admitting hearsay testimony of a coconspirator's statement, failed to comply with the procedures which we set out in United States v. Bell, 573 F.2d 1040, 1044 (8th Cir. 1978). Specifically, Deggendorf attacks the trial court's failure to wait until the close of all the evidence to rule on the admissibility of testimony by Agent Fergus in which he recounted statements made by Steven Schmidt. The Government points out that although the district court ruled prematurely, it did make all the requisite findings at the close of the prosecution's case. 45 We find Deggendorf's argument meritless. First, the procedure here substantially comports with that outlined in Bell. See United States v. Smith, 596 F.2d 319, 321-22 (8th Cir. 1979). Second, we see no way in which the court's noncompliance prejudiced the appellant. Judge Matthes, who authored Bell, observed in a recent opinion: 46 It should be made clear that the guidelines established in Bell are flexible and are not infallible, and we should hesitate to fault a trial court for failure to comply literally with the procedures enunciated in Bell. (United States v. Littlefield, 594 F.2d 682, 686 (8th Cir. 1979).) 47 We hold that the trial court's failure to make a finding at the end of all the evidence did not constitute reversible error in this case. See United States v. Smith, supra; United States v. Morton, 591 F.2d 483 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 441 U.S. 950, 99 S.Ct. 2177, 60 L.Ed.2d 1054 (1979). At the same time, we suggest that diligent observance of the Bell procedures will avoid these recurring issues on appeal. 7 48