State v. Kaino-Smith

A jury convicted defendant on multiple counts of theft, aggravated theft, and forgery, all arising from defendant’s employment as the alleged victim’s bookkeeper. Defendant’s theory at trial was that she and her husband had been partners in the alleged victim’s automobile dealership and, therefore, were entitled to that company’s assets. To counter that theory, the state introduced the out-of-court statements of defendant’s husband, in which, the state argued, he effectively denied the existence of any such partnership or any claim of right that defendant might have had. Defendant’s fourth…