Opinion ID: 711207
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Karen Pyle

Text: 20 During opening statements, closing arguments, and during the course of the trial, the prosecutor and prosecution witnesses on a number of occasions referred to statements made by Karen Pyle. Karen Pyle, however, was never called as a witness. 4 Defendants assert that this prejudiced them because it improperly established guilt by association and because it turned the prosecutor into an unsworn witness. In response, the Government maintains that in the opening and closing statements the prosecutor only referred to evidence that was properly presented at trial, and that all references by witnesses at trial to out-of-court statements made by Karen Pyle were admissible because the statements were not presented for the truth of the matter asserted. The Government also argues that Defendants failed to timely object. 5 21 A prosecutor's remarks mandate a new trial only if they are improper and prejudicially affect the defendant's substantial rights. United States v. Thomas, 62 F.3d 1332, 1343 (11th Cir.1995). A defendant's substantial rights are prejudiced if there is a reasonable probability that, but for the remarks, the outcome would be different. Kennedy v. Dugger, 933 F.2d 905, 914 (11th Cir.1991), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 1066, 112 S.Ct. 957, 117 L.Ed.2d 124 (1992). A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 2068, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). 22 In this case, both in her opening statement and during the questioning of Agent Lewis, the prosecutor referenced statements made by Karen Pyle that the Adamses were engaging in fraud. 6 These statements were improper because they went beyond what was needed to establish why Agent Lewis commenced an investigation. See United States v. Novak, 918 F.2d 107, 109 (10th Cir.1990) (prosecutor's statement that a citizen informant had reported and provided information to the police that the defendant was selling cocaine was improper hearsay that went beyond the scope of  'routine testimony' used by police officers to establish why they commenced an investigation.). Moreover, even if the statements were not hearsay, during opening statements prosecutors should avoid referring to evidence that is even of questionable admissibility. United States v. Hernandez, 779 F.2d 456, 459-60 (8th Cir.1985). 23 Nevertheless, because the record contains sufficient independent evidence establishing guilt, we conclude that the improper references to statements made by Karen Pyle do not raise a reasonable probability that, but for the remarks, the outcome would be different.