Conviction for Possession of a Stolen Vehicle
Post 4840
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Jennifer L. Martin appealed her possession of a stolen vehicle conviction, arguing that the allowed testimony violated the confrontation clause and the trial court erred in denying her hearsay objection during trial. The State concedes that it failed to prove Martin’s criminal history. Martin alleged prosecutorial misconduct and ineffective assistance of counsel.
In State Of Washington v. Jennifer Lorriane Martin, No. 57915-4-II, Court of Appeals of Washington, Division 2 (July 9, 2024) the Court of Appeals affirmed her conviction.
FACTS
Pierce County Sheriff’s Department dispatched Deputy Carly Cappetto to investigate the report of a stolen vehicle. The vehicle’s owner reported that he spotted the vehicle and followed it to a U-Haul store. Cappetto was nearby and also observed the vehicle pull into the U-Haul store.
Cappetto observed Martin get out of the vehicle and walk over to a U-Haul truck. Cappetto approached the vehicle and confirmed that it was the stolen vehicle by checking the vehicle identification number. Martin was aware of Cappetto’s presence and kept looking over at her.
Cappetto observed Martin get into the U-Haul truck and drive through an alley. Cappetto followed them and waited for backup. The truck stopped at a nearby grocery store and Cappetto observed Martin get out of the truck and go inside the store.
A store employee approached the deputies and told them the individual they were looking for was in the restroom and had been in there the whole time. Cappetto located Martin in the restroom and arrested her. The State charged Martin with unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle.
THE TRIAL
During trial, Cappetto testified to the events that led up to Martin’s arrest. When testifying about looking for Martin inside the grocery store, Cappetto stated that a store employee approached the deputies and said, “the female [they] were looking for was located in the bathroom, and she had been in there ever since she came in.” Defense counsel objected, stating, “I object to her reporting hearsay from the store clerk that we can’t examine.” The trial court overruled the objection.
The jury found Martin guilty of unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle.
SENTENCING
At sentencing, the State only summarized Martin’s criminal history without providing evidence. Martin conceded that she had a prior felony conviction for escape but argued that it washed out.
The trial court concluded that the prior felony did not wash out and calculated her offender score as a one. The court imposed a low-end standard range sentence of two months. The court ordered Martin to pay $500 in restitution to the vehicle’s owner for damage to the vehicle.
ANALYSIS
Confrontation Clause
Neither a general objection nor a hearsay objection is enough to apply the Constitutional Right to Confrontation of Witnesses. During trial, Cappetto testified that while looking for Martin inside the store, a store employee approached the deputies. Additionally, Martin raised the issue of confrontation previously in her motion to suppress Wright’s statements and in so doing demonstrated awareness of the issue and ability to specifically raise it.
Hearsay
Martin next contended that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing Cappetto to testify to the grocery store clerk’s statement. “Hearsay” is a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at trial, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted. Generally, hearsay is not admissible unless an exception applies. An exception for present sense impressions and the declarant’s availability is immaterial.
A store employee approached the deputies and told them Martin was in the restroom and had been in there since she came in. This statement was made within minutes of the deputies starting their search for Martin and was based on the store employee’s observation of what was happening at the grocery store. The contemporaneous and spontaneous nature of the statement, including the timing, nature, and content, reduces the chance of misrepresentation or fabrication by the witness. Therefore, the statement was a present sense impression and an exception to the hearsay rule.
The court affirmed Martin’s conviction but accept the State’s concession regarding the sentencing error involving proving Martin’s criminal history, and remand for resentencing.
ZALMA OPINION
Criminals, like Ms. Martin, have by definition chutzpah or they wouldn’t commit crimes. Ms. Martin caught in the act operating a stolen vehicle when the owner can see her and call in the Sheriff’s office to arrest heR is less than an act of a wise person. She was caught in the act, arrested and then had the unmitigated gall to appeal based on non-existent objections and misstatements of the hearsay doctrine. He sentence was kind and a reasonable person, like Martin, with a criminal conviction history, including escape, should have accepted the sentence and left the court to deal with serious crimes, like insurance fraud.
(c) 2024 Barry Zalma & ClaimSchool, Inc.
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Post 5240
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In Illinois Department of Insurance, Insurance Compliance Department v.USA Water And Fire Restoration, Inc., And Nicholas Pacella, Individually And As Officer, Nos. 23WC021808, 18INC00228, No. 25IWCC0467, the Illinois Department of Insurance (Petitioner) initiated an investigation after the Injured Workers’ Benefit Fund (IWBF) was added to a pending workers’ compensation claim. The claim alleged a work-related injury during employment with the Respondents who failed to maintain workers’ compensation Insurance.
Company Overview:
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Post 5239
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In October 2005, Barosh set fire to his girlfriend’s Philadelphia home — some 25 hours before the cancellation of the property’s insurance policy. Several witnesses saw Barosh leaving the property shortly before the fire erupted. After the fire, Barosh made “two separate admissions of guilt.”
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Post 5238
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FACTS OF SETTLEMENT
On August 18, 2020, Hall signed a limited liability release under OCGA § 33-24-41.1, releasing Harvey, Dovers, and their insurer (Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Company) from liability for the accident in exchange for $50,000, “except to the extent other insurance coverage is available which covers the claim.”
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Post 5219
Posted on October 31, 2025 by Barry Zalma
An Insurance claims professionals should be a person who:
Can read and understand the insurance policies issued by the insurer.
Understands the promises made by the policy.
Understand their obligation, as an insurer’s claims staff, to fulfill the promises made.
Are competent investigators.
Have empathy and recognize the difference between empathy and sympathy.
Understand medicine relating to traumatic injuries and are sufficiently versed in tort law to deal with lawyers as equals.
Understand how to repair damage to real and personal property and the value of the repairs or the property.
Understand how to negotiate a fair and reasonable settlement with the insured that is fair and reasonable to both the insured and the insurer.
How to Create Claims Professionals
To avoid fraudulent claims, claims of breach of contract, bad faith, punitive damages, unresolved losses, and to make a profit, insurers ...
The History Behind the Creation of a Claims Handling Expert
The Insurance Industry Needs to Implement Excellence in Claims Handling or Fail
Post 5210
This is a change from my normal blog postings. It is my attempt. in more than one post, to explain the need for professional claims representatives who comply with the basic custom and practice of the insurance industry. This statement of my philosophy on claims handling starts with my history as a claims adjuster, insurance defense and coverage lawyer and insurance claims handling expert.
My Training to be an Insurance Claims Adjuster
When I was discharged from the US Army in 1967 I was hired as an insurance adjuster trainee by a professional and well respected insurance company. The insurer took a chance on me because I had been an Army Intelligence Investigator for my three years in the military and could use that training and experience to be a basis to become a professional insurance adjuster.
I was initially sat at a desk reading a text-book on insurance ...
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The Insurance Industry Needs to Implement Excellence in Claims Handling or Fail
Post 5210
This is a change from my normal blog postings. It is my attempt. in more than one post, to explain the need for professional claims representatives who comply with the basic custom and practice of the insurance industry. This statement of my philosophy on claims handling starts with my history as a claims adjuster, insurance defense and coverage lawyer and insurance claims handling expert.
My Training to be an Insurance Claims Adjuster
When I was discharged from the US Army in 1967 I was hired as an insurance adjuster trainee by a professional and well respected insurance company. The insurer took a chance on me because I had been an Army Intelligence Investigator for my three years in the military and could use that training and experience to be a basis to become a professional insurance adjuster.
I was initially sat at a desk reading a text-book on insurance ...
