Commonwealth v. Charles

The defendant was convicted by a jury on four indictments charging motor vehicle insurance fraud (two indict*673ments), G. L. c. 266, § 111B, and larceny over $250 (two indictments), G. L. c. 266, § 30. The defendant’s primary claim on appeal is that the judge erred in admitting statements of an absent witness, a coventurer in the crimes charged against the defendant, as a “declaration against penal interest.” We transferred the appeal to this court on our own motion and now affirm the convictions.

1. The Commonwealth presented the following evidence. In September, 1991, the defendant approached…