United States v. Check

Stephen Spinelli, a detective in the New York City Police Department, was assigned to investigate allegations against Sandy Check (defendant), a New York City police patrolman. Spinelli’s investigation involved posing as a potential purchaser of cocaine and working with an informant, William Joseph Cali, to set up a meeting with Check. At Check’s trial, Spinelli testified that Cali arranged a meeting with Check and pursuant to that arrangement, Spinelli and Cali met at a restaurant. Then Check appeared in the window and motioned for Cali to go outside and speak with him. After Cali spoke with Check, Cali returned to speak with Spinelli. Spinelli further testified that after concluding his conversation with Cali, Spinelli left the restaurant and went to a topless bar where he had another conversation with Cali, after which Check indicated that he wanted to speak with Spinelli directly. Cali refused to testify at trial. To introduce the substance of Spinelli’s conversations with Cali without violating the hearsay rule, the government (plaintiff) asked Spinelli to repeat what Spinelli said to Cali, without repeating Cali’s statements to Spinelli. Spinelli’s testimony included, inter alia, statements that: (1) Spinelli would not front the money for the cocaine that Check was to purchase for Spinelli, (2) Spinelli was unhappy that Check did not bring the cocaine which Check instead left at his house, and (3) Spinelli was unwilling to pay Check $300 that Cali owed Check from a previous deal. In response to Check’s hearsay objections, the government asserted that Spinelli’s testimony was admissible because it consisted of his own prior statements and that he was subject to cross examination. The district court denied Check’s motion to strike all of Spinelli’s testimony regarding his conversations with Check. Check was convicted of cocaine possession with intent to distribute and appealed to the United States Circuit Court for the Second Circuit. Check asserted on appeal that the court erred in allowing Spinelli’s testimony because it served merely as a conduit for inadmissible hearsay evidence.