State v. Oberlander

Donald Oberlander appeals from convictions for arson and endangering safety by conduct regardless of life. He mainly challenges the trial court’s exclusion of certain evidence buttressing his theory that a third party, Mark Neu, actually committed the offense. The excluded evidence would have disclosed to the jury that Neu was, to a reasonable likelihood, previously involved in conduct similar to the arson with which Oberlander was charged. We reverse and remand for a new trial because the trial court’s ruling constituted prejudicial error.

Preliminarily, we address Oberlander’s other issue —…