Faier Case briefs: U.S. v. Wehrle, 985 F.3d 549 (7CA), 1/15/2021. No reason to prohibit a statement of source as “hearsay.”

Okay folks, I was surprise to see an opinion on a criminal pornography having a trademark angle. But here we are. In this case, the Seventh Circuit reviewed the conviction of Wehrle on charges of child pornography. The Court upheld the trial court’s conviction. One of the grounds for the appeal was that the introduction into evidence that Wehrle’s camera had the statement “MADE IN CHINA” on it. The court gave a short lesson defining ‘hearsay’ and then concluded that manufacturers have no reason to lie when reporting the identity of source of a product sold here. The court noted that manufacturers provide this information in response to a regulatory requirement. (See page 8 of slip opinion) The case is sad in the sorts of activities that Mr. Wehrle is convicting of doing. ###