Jenkins v. United States

HARRIS, Associate Judge:

A jury convicted appellant of a willful failure to appear for trial in violation of D.C.Code 1973, § 23-1327. He argues on appeal that the trial judge committed prejudicial error in ruling that certain proffered defense testimony was inadmissible hearsay. We conclude that the hearsay ruling was erroneous, but that it was harmless. We therefore affirm.

I

Appellant was scheduled to appear before the Superior Court as the defendant in a misdemeanor trial on April 18, 1978. He failed to appear on that date, and subsequently was charged with a violation of § 23-1327.

At trial,…