State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent v. John Phelps, A/K/A J.P., A/K/A Johnny, Defendant-Appellant

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey affirmed the conviction, holding that the trial court properly admitted the coconspirator hearsay statements under Evid.R. 63(9)(b) because the State proved the existence of a conspiracy and the defendant's participation by a fair preponderance of independent evidence. The Court adopted the fair‑preponderance standard for the independent‑proof requirement.