Appeals court vacates drug conviction

SANDPOINT — A Washington state woman who was convicted of supplying hallucinogenic mushrooms to an undercover officers during a sting operation in Bonner County is being granted a new trial in 1st District Court.

Laura Lee Smith was accused of providing the psilocybin sold to sheriff’s detectives in a bar in 2011. A jury convicted her of the offense and Smith was given a suspended prison term and probation.

Smith, 39, of Newport, appealed the conviction on grounds the trial court erred by admitting an audio track of a video recording of out-of-court statements made by an alleged accomplice who was not called as a witness, which denied her constitutional right to confront a witness. Smith further argued hearsay testimony was improperly admitted at trial.

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