State v. Pingree

¶1 A jury convicted Richard Curtis Pingree (Pingree) of Assault with a Weapon and Partner or Family Member Assault. At the trial, Pingree’s ex-wife, Caroline, did not testify and the District Court admitted a number of hearsay statements she made prior to trial.

¶2 The sole issue on appeal is whether Fingree’s confrontation rights were violated when prior testimony from a civil order of protection hearing was read at his criminal trial. We reverse.

BACKGROUND

¶3 On September 11, 2012, the Ravalli County Attorney filed an information charging Pingree with felony Assault with a Weapon, in…