Opinion ID: 2525464
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Failing to challenge the State's bolstering of its witnesses

Text: Evans claims that the State improperly elicited evidence of prior consistent statements and other evidence to bolster the credibility of its witnesses and improperly vouched for its witnesses in closing argument. We conclude that some of the State's actions were improper but that counsel's failure to respond did not prejudice Evans. The State improperly elicited evidence that Shirannah Rice made telephone calls to detectives implicating Evans in the murders. A witness's prior consistent statements are inadmissible hearsay, unless offered to rebut an express or implied charge against the witness of recent fabrication or improper influence or motive. [35] But the evidence here was not so prejudicial that there was a reasonable probability of a different result without it. [36] Evans also contests Alicia Ventura's testimony about her daughter Adriana's statements, but this evidence was admissible under NRS 51.095 because Adriana's statements were excited utterances made soon after she witnessed the murders. The prosecutor elicited other evidence to bolster the credibility of several witnesses, but nearly all of this evidence was elicited after the defense had attacked the witnesses' veracity or competency. The State may counter impeachment of its witnesses by presenting evidence supporting their credibility. [37] Evans cites a small amount of evidence that may have bolstered Rice's credibility before the defense impeached her veracity. Assuming the evidence was improper, we conclude it had no effect on the trial's outcome. During the rebuttal closing argument, the prosecutor defended the police investigation and praised Rice, Tina Jackson, and Joseph Salley for testifying despite facing risks and receiving no benefits. Evans complains that this constituted improper vouching for the credibility of these witnesses. We disagree. The prosecution may not vouch for the credibility of a witness either by placing the prestige of the government behind the witness or by indicating that information not presented to the jury supports the witness's testimony. [38] Here, defense counsel in closing argument extensively challenged the quality of the police investigation in this case and the credibility of the State's witnesses. The prosecutor's remarks were a reasonable response to this challenge. He did not suggest that there was unpresented evidence to support the witnesses' testimony, nor did he place the prestige of his office behind the witnesses.