J.J. v. State

J.J., a juvenile, appeals the trial court’s withholding of adjudication and probation sentence, contending that it was harmful error for the trial court to allow direct testimony about what a live video feed showed without placing the recording into evidence. We affirm because direct testimony of events observed, even where those events are being concurrently recorded, is not a violation of the best evidence rule when the recording is not placed in evidence.

The court adjudicated J.J. delinquent for shoplifting. The loss prevention officers observed her and her two female companions, via CCTV…