Opinion ID: 1375439
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Goode's opinion about the marriage

Text: Jason contends that the present sense impression exception is inapplicable because Chantelle told her father about the physical abuse on the phone, after any domestic violence incidents actually took place. The policy for admitting statements under this exception is that the statement is more trustworthy if made contemporaneously with the event described. U.S. v. Narciso, 446 F.Supp. 252, 285 (E.D.Mich.1977). We agree with Jason that the present sense impression exception does not apply. The record does not indicate that Chantelle's statements to her father regarding the physical abuse occurred at the same time as the abuse itself. However, even if the district court gave the wrong reason for admission, no reversible error occurred if the statements were still admissible for another reason. Dearing v. State, 100 Nev. 590, 592, 691 P.2d 419, 421 (1984). In Shults v. State, 96 Nev. 742, 747-48, 616 P.2d 388, 392 (1980), we held that out-of-court statements may be used as foundation for a non-hearsay purpose so long as the substance of those statements is not revealed to the jury. We also noted that the witnesses were subject to cross-examination as to the existence of the statements. Therefore, in Shults, we held the hearsay rule was not violated. Id. In the present case, we note that the alleged hearsay statements were not offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted. Rather, the fact that Chantelle revealed certain information to her father was used solely as foundation for Goode's opinion regarding Chantelle's and Jason's marriage. We further conclude that Goode did not reveal the substance of Chantelle's statements and that defense counsel had ample opportunity to cross-examine him about these conversations. Accordingly, his opinion about Chantelle's marriage was not improperly admitted at trial. Regardless, we conclude Goode's opinion, standing alone, did little to convince the jury that Jason committed first degree murder; therefore, any potential error was harmless. See Franco v. State, 109 Nev. 1229, 1237, 866 P.2d 247, 252 (1993) (holding that hearsay errors are subject to harmless error analysis).