Opinion ID: 509290
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Hearsay Evidence and the Standard of Proof

Text: 18 The procedural arguments need not detain us long. In McMillan v. Pennsylvania, 477 U.S. 79, 91-93, 106 S.Ct. 2411, 2419-21, 91 L.Ed.2d 67 (1986), the Supreme Court held that due process does not require application of a standard of proof greater than preponderance in state sentencing proceedings. We have followed McMillan in adopting the preponderance standard for federal sentencing proceedings. See United States v. Lee, 818 F.2d 1052, 1057 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 108 S.Ct. 350, 98 L.Ed.2d 376 (1987). The district court thus applied the proper standard of proof. 19 Nor is there merit in the challenge to the use of hearsay evidence. It has long been established that hearsay evidence is admissible at a sentencing hearing. See Williams v. New York, 337 U.S. 241, 69 S.Ct. 1079, 93 L.Ed. 1337 (1949). Even if the defendant challenges the hearsay portions of a presentence report, that evidence need not be disregarded if the government introduces corroborating evidence. See, e.g., United States v. Pugliese, 805 F.2d 1117, 1123 (2d Cir.1986). Here there was ample basis for the court to admit and consider the hearsay testimony now challenged by Weinberg. 20 Prior to the hearing, the government had revealed that it intended to rely on hearsay statements by certain of Weinberg's tenants, including grand jury testimony, and it stated that it would attempt to produce at the hearing any of those declarants desired by Weinberg. Weinberg did not, either in advance of the hearing or thereafter, request the presence of any of the tenants. Further, as indicated below, the hearsay evidence relied on by the government was corroborated by the live testimony of witnesses at the hearing. We conclude that the challenge to the admission of the hearsay evidence is baseless.