Cruz

United States v. Cruz

Good Law
86 F. App'x 319
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitJanuary 16, 2004No. 03-10286; D.C. No. CR-99-00586-JMRCalifornia285 words

Opinion

Lead Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Delbert Cruz appeals the district court’s revocation of his probation and imposition of a thirty-six month sentence. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . Cruz contends that the district court erred in admitting hearsay evidence in violation of his Sixth Amendment right to confrontation. We review de novo whether the denial of an opportunity to confront a witness violated Cruz’s due process rights at the revocation hearing, see United States v. Havier, 155 F.3d 1090, 1092 (9th Cir.1998), and we affirm.

Cruz contends that the district court improperly admitted the statement that on the night in question, a neighbor had heard a fight between Cruz and the alleged victim. However, the record demonstrates that the district court properly applied a balancing test between Cruz’s right to confrontation and the government’s witness unavailability submission before admitting into evidence this undisputed hearsay statement. See United States v. Comito, 177 F.3d 1166, 1170 (9th Cir.1999). The admission did not violate Cruz’s right of confrontation. See United States v. Martin, 984 F.2d 308, 311 (“[t]he more significant particular evidence is to a *320 finding,…

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