Opinion ID: 1664462
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: whether the trial court erred when it allowed hearsay testimony pursuant to miss. r. evidence 803(25).

Text: ¶ 21. The father argues that the statements made by the daughter to Pauline Myers, a DHS social worker, were inadmissable hearsay. DHS responds that the trial court, properly analyzed the factors under the tender years exception to the hearsay rule pursuant to M.R.E. 803(25), and appropriately allowed Myers to testify. ¶ 22. M.R.E. 803(25), the Tender Years Exception, provides: A statement made by a child of tender years describing any act of sexual contact performed with or on the child by another is admissible in evidence if: (a) the court finds, in a hearing conducted outside the presence of the jury, that the time, content, and circumstances of the statement provide substantial indicia of reliability; and (b) the child either (1) testifies at the proceedings; or (2) is unavailable as a witness: provided, that when the child is unavailable as a witness, such statement may be admitted only if there is corroborative evidence of the act. ¶ 23. The comment to Rule 803(25) explains some of the factors the court should examine to determine if there are sufficient indicia of reliability: (1) whether there is an apparent motive on declarant's part to lie; (2) the general character of the declarant;(3) whether more than one person heard the statements (4) whether the statements were made spontaneously; (5) the timing of the declarations; (6)the relationship between the declarant and the witness; (7) the possibility of the declarant's faulty recollection is remote; (8) certainty that the statements were made; (9) the credibility of the person testifying about the statements; (10) the age or maturity of the declarant; (11) whether suggestive techniques were used in eliciting the statement; and (12) whether the declarant's age, knowledge, and experience make it unlikely the declarant fabricated. ¶ 24. The youth court analyzed the twelve factors from Rule 803(25). The judge considered the credibility of the person testifying, age of declarant, and whether there were any suggestive techniques used. The youth court considered these factors correctly, determining each had a substantial indicia of reliability. Also, the father had the opportunity to cross-examine Myers and the daughter. ¶ 25. Where a child is under the age of twelve, there is a rebuttable presumption that the child is of tender years, and where a child is twelve or older, a trial court must make a factual determination as to whether the person is of tender years based on mental age. Veasley v. State, 735 So.2d 432, 433 (Miss.1999). Here, the daughter was three, and the son was ten. Both are presumed to be of tender years and have not reach the threshold age of twelve. Id. at 432. Myers's testimony is admissible in accordance with the tender years exception. Dr. Matherne's testimony, already addressed, is further admissible under M.R.E 803(4) and 803(25). ¶ 26. This issue is without merit.