Filed 7/26/16 P. v. Aldana CA4/3

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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION THREE

THE PEOPLE,

 Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

RICARDO ALDANA,

 Defendant and Appellant.

 G051024

 (Super. Ct. No. 12HF0258)

 O P I N I O N

Appeal from a judgment of the Superior Court of Orange County, David A. 

Hoffer, Judge. Affirmed.

Erica Gambale for Defendant and Appellant.

Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant 

Attorney General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, Arlene A. Sevidal and 

Andrew Mestman, Deputy Attorney General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

* * *
2

A jury convicted Ricardo Aldana of three counts of lewd acts with a child 

(Pen. Code, § 288, subd. (c)(1)). The court imposed a sentence of three years and four 

months. Aldana argues three of the court’s evidentiary rulings violated state law and his 

constitutional right to a fair trial. We reject his arguments and affirm the judgment.

FACTS

In the late 2000’s, Gabriella R.’s parents, Susan and Todd R., were in the 

midst of a contentious divorce. Gabriella lived with her mother and sister in a house in a 

gated community, but she seemed to be struggling. 

In 2009, Gabriella told her middle school teacher her cousin sexually

“abuse[d]” and “molest[ed]” her when the cousins were about five years old. A social 

worker questioned Gabriella about the incident and prepared a report, but no action was 

taken. Gabriella also reported Todd to social services for physical abuse, but the report 

was deemed unfounded.

In the fall of 2010, Gabriella entered a local Catholic high school as a 13-

year-old freshman. Aldana was then a 37-year-old soccer coach and Spanish teacher at 

the school. Aldana was a popular teacher, and Gabriella developed a crush on him. 

In December 2011, Gabriella, with Susan’s support, accused Aldana of 

molesting her. Gabriella met with Orange County Sheriff’s Detective Margie Sheehan, 

and she submitted to an interview with the Child Abuse Services Team (CAST). 

Gabriella’s Statement & Testimony

According to Gabriella, Aldana paid attention to her during her freshman 

year. He touched her shoulders, gave her neck massages, and told her to come to his 

classroom after school if she ever needed help. Gabriella described Aldana as very 

“friend[ly]” and “touchy” with everyone, but she also said the fact Aldana touched her 

and sometimes massaged her back led her to believe he might be “hitting on [her].”

Around April 2011, Gabriella told her close friend, Bridget K., and an adult 

neighbor and mentor, Nazanin Houshyar, that she had an older boyfriend. Gabriella
3

texted Houshyar about the relationship almost every day, and she referred to her 

boyfriend as “Pollito.” 

Gabriella said she occasionally skipped her first period class to be with 

Aldana in his classroom, and she often waited for her mother in his classroom after 

school. On one occasion, Gabriella waited alone in Aldana’s classroom for her mother 

until 7:00 p.m. Gabriella also once wrote Aldana’s name on her arm. When Aldana saw 

it, Gabriella said to him, “I guess I belong to you.” Aldana responded, “tell me when I 

can have you on the weekend sometime.” 

A few days before the end of the school year, Aldana asked Gabriella to 

help him grade papers, and he bought pizza for them to eat in his classroom. Aldana told 

Gabriella she was the “perfect girlfriend for the perfect guy.” They exchanged phone 

numbers, and Gabriella texted Aldana, “have a nice summer.” 

During the summer, Aldana and Gabriella exchanged numerous texts. One 

night, Gabriella was visiting Bridget when Aldana sent a text and asked her if she had 

ever kissed a girl. When Gabriella said she had, Aldana asked if the girl was Bridget. 

On another occasion, Aldana texted Gabriella and asked if she wanted to 

“meet up.” After an exchange of texts, Aldana made a 2:00 a.m. phone call to Gabriella. 

Gabriella said Aldana sounded panicky, and possibly drunk or high. He asked her if she 

wanted to make love to him, and if she would be his 14-year-old girlfriend. They talked 

for about two hours. Aldana repeatedly asked to see her, but Gabriella told him, “I can’t 

meet up. I have a house alarm, and I’m in the house with . . . mom, and I can’t leave.” 

In the fall of 2011, 14-year-old Gabriella switched to the home-schooling 

program. Nevertheless, one day in September, Gabriella donned her old school uniform 

and went to Aldana’s classroom. She did not check in at the school office. She did, 

however, spend a couple of hours in Aldana’s classroom, and Bridget saw her with him. 

On September 10, Susan left Gabriella at home alone while she went on an 

overnight trip. Gabriella said she was alone and wanted to go out with Aldana. Aldana
4

agreed. He offered to pick her up, and Gabriella suggested a nearby middle school 

outside her gated community as a meeting place. Gabriella texted Houshyar, and told her 

what she wanted to do. Houshyar expressed concern and advised Gabriella to be safe. 

Gabriella said Aldana picked her up sometime after 10:00 p.m. After 

driving around for sometime, he took her to his home. Aldana parked his car and asked 

Gabriella to wait while he checked to see if his roommates were asleep. While Gabriella 

waited in Aldana’s car, she sent another text to Houshyar. 

When Aldana returned, he walked Gabriella through the house and into his 

bedroom. Gabriella said she saw a surfboard in a courtyard. She also told Sheehan there 

were cologne bottles and a flat screen television sitting on top of Aldana’s dresser, and he 

had a lighted air freshener. 

Gabriella said they sat on his bed and talked. They kissed, and Aldana put 

his hands on Gabriella’s breasts and buttocks over and under her clothes. Within 

moments, Aldana was removing Gabriella’s clothes, and his own. When Aldana took off 

his shirt, Gabriella saw a sun tattoo on his right shoulder. 

During the next couple of hours, Gabriella and Aldana engaged in oral, 

anal, and vaginal intercourse. When Aldana started vaginal intercourse, Gabriella 

expressed fear over getting pregnant. Aldana quickly reached for his pants and produced 

a condom. After about 10 minutes of vaginal intercourse, Aldana turned Gabriella over 

on to her stomach and penetrated her anus. Minutes later, Aldana turned Gabriella over, 

penetrated her vagina, and ejaculated. 

Afterward, Gabriella, again, expressed concern over a possible pregnancy. 

Aldana told her, “you don’t say that to guys after—after sex.” They fell into a light sleep, 

but Aldana woke Gabriella before 4:00 a.m. so he could get her out of the house before 

his early-rising roommates. 

Aldana drove Gabriella home, but he parked down the hill from the 

entrance to her gated community. They sat in his car and kissed for a couple of hours. 
5

At around 7:00 a.m., Gabrielle waived to the security guard and Aldana drove through 

the gate. When Gabriella got home, she immediately texted Houshyar and said she had 

sex with a man. She told Bridget about it two days later.

In October, the principal of Gabriella’s home school, Kristin Soto (Soto),

noticed Gabriella was not concentrating in school, and she was becoming withdrawn and 

aggressive. After a few of Soto’s questions, Gabriella admitted having sexual intercourse 

with a teacher at her former high school, but Gabriella refused to give a name. Soto 

twice contacted Child Protective Services to report what Gabriella alleged, but Child 

Protective Services would not act on the information without a name. Soto also met with 

Gabriella and Susan, but Gabriella refused to give them a name. 

At the end of November 2011, Gabriella went to a camp in Colorado. She 

told her counselors and other campers about her sexual experience with Aldana. One of

the counselors advised Gabriella to call her mother and tell her the truth. Gabriella

complied. By the time Gabriella returned from camp, her mother had hired a civil lawyer

and contacted the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Gabriella said Aldana frequently warned her about what would happen if 

anyone found out about their relationship: “He was telling me, you know, I’ll go to jail. 

And sometimes he would be like, I’ll take you with me and we’ll run away but then no 

because that would be a manhunt. And it was just down the line of things—oh, 

something about his parents. He said he pays for his parents and if he goes to jail that 

they’re not going to have anywhere to live because he pays for their housing.” 

Covert Phone Call

During a recorded, covert phone call with Aldana, Gabriella asked if he had 

sex with another girl, or if she was the only one. Aldana said he “didn’t have sex with 

anybody.” Aldana told Gabriella they “were friends.” He complained about the trouble 

Gabriella’s mother was causing him, and he threatened to leave the state, because his life 

was over. 
6

When Gabriella told Aldana he took her virginity, Aldana replied, “I’m 

excuse me but, um you know, I’m . . . what happened to me . . . as far as like things, you

know.” When Gabriella said that she had repeatedly lied for Aldana about their 

relationship, he responded, “Okay, okay, do you, do you remember when you were 

approaching me and when I would say no, no, no, no, no, no; remember that?” 

Gabriella mentioned that the police would be able to retrieve her phone 

records, including the texts they had exchanged. Aldana denied texting Gabriella. After 

Gabriella said, “we made love, for God’s sakes,” and she asked if it meant anything to 

Aldana. He replied, “You know what, um, there’s . . . when we talk to each other you, 

you have no idea, you know, um, how much it meant; okay. Alright . . . you have no 

idea.” Gabriella also expressed concern that she might have gotten a sexually transmitted 

disease from Aldana. Aldana responded, “what the hell. Do I have anything to worry 

about as far as you?” He also told her there was no evidence they had a sexual 

relationship, and he begged Gabriella not to say anything. 

While the conversation transpired, Sheehan had two sheriff’s deputies 

stationed outside of Aldana’s home to watch him. They described Aldana as “visibly 

shaken.” He paced and appeared to be involved in an “intense conversation.” When the 

call ended, a car pulled up in front of Aldana’s house. He walked out of his home, got 

into the car, and drove away, but Sheriff’s deputies quickly stopped the car and arrested 

him. 

Aldana’s Statement

After being Mirandized (Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436), Aldana 

told the officers he did not know why he had been arrested. He said the high school had

investigated Gabriella’s claims, and he had been reinstated. Police asked about phone 

calls and texts to Gabriella. Aldana said he had changed his phone number, “because of 

everything that was going on,” so he did not understand how Gabriella had been able to 
7

call him. Aldana complained because Gabriella had started saying “certain things” about 

him, and he felt threatened by her. 

Sheehan advised Aldana that she had his phone records, and she assured 

him Gabriella had already admitted her willing participation. Aldana said, “I never had 

intercourse with, with this girl . . . .” When Sheehan asked Aldana about “September 10, 

2011,” Aldana said Gabriella had come to his door at 3:00 a.m. She said she was afraid 

for her life. He offered to call the police, but Gabriella just wanted a ride home. Aldana

took her home about 10 to 15 minutes after her arrival. 

Sheehan told Aldana they had evidence he brought Gabriella back into her 

gated community in the early morning hours of September 11. Sheehan also said she had 

text messages. Aldana denied taking Gabriella home on September 11, or sending her 

texts. 

When pointedly questioned, Aldana denied having oral, anal, and vaginal 

sex with Gabriella. He denied Gabriella had ever been inside his home, let alone his 

bedroom. He denied touching her or “anything sexual.” Aldana considered himself to be 

Gabriella’s mentor. 

Aldana also told Sheehan he had received an anonymous letter that accused 

him of having sex with Gabriella, but he did not understand it. Furthermore, Susan had 

threatened to send Gabriella to boarding schools, which made Gabriella fearful and 

suicidal. Although Aldana admitted telling Gabriella that he loved her, he clarified that 

he loved “her as a person as a human being . . . .” 

Investigation

Police searched Aldana’s house and photographed his bedroom. They 

found a surfboard propped up in his courtyard. In Aldana’s bedroom, deputies found a 

dresser with cologne bottles and a flat screen television sitting on top, and a lighted air 

freshener. 
8

The People obtained Aldana’s and Gabriella’s phone records. Between 

June 3 and September 27, Aldana called Gabriella’s number 14 times, and he sent 232 

texts. Gabriella called Aldana 18 times and she sent 353 text messages. 

On June 10, Aldana and Gabriella exchanged 325 text messages, with 148 

texts originating from Aldana’s phone. On June 11, at 2:23 a.m., Aldana called Gabriella

and the call lasted 20 minutes. He called back a few minutes later, and the call lasted for 

50 minutes. At 9:41 a.m., Gabriella called Aldana and talked for about three minutes. 

On September 10, Gabriella called Aldana at 9:09 p.m., 10:07 p.m., and 

10:09 p.m., and she sent two texts, one at 9:10 p.m., and the other at 9:16 p.m. At 10:16 

p.m., Aldana called Gabriella, and the call lasted a little over two hours. 

Between September 30 and November 12, Aldana made 23 phone calls and 

sent 28 text messages to Gabriella. During October and November, Gabriella called 

Aldana 30 times and sent 49 texts. 

Witness Testimony

Bridget testified she met Gabriella in middle school, and they were 

classmates and close friends freshman year of high school. Gabriella frequently spent the

night at Bridget’s house. Bridget noticed that Gabriella talked about Aldana and spent a 

lot of time with him. Bridget saw some of the text messages Gabriella received. During 

one phone call, Gabriella said Aldana wanted to know if Bridget and Gabriella had a 

sexual relationship. The “emotional intimacy” between Gabriella and Aldana made 

Bridget uncomfortable.

Bridget remembered when Gabriella came back to her school in her old 

uniform. Bridget caught them “standing very close together alone in an empty 

classroom.” Aldana gave Bridget a “look that was very frightening to [her].” 

Gabriella told Bridget about her sexual experience with Aldana a couple of 

days after the fact. Gabriella told her Aldana had picked her up outside her gated 

community. He drove her to his house, and snuck her past his roommates. When they 
9

sat on Aldana’s bed, they kissed and removed their clothes. Gabriella told Bridget they 

had engaged in oral, vaginal, and anal intercourse, and she described a tattoo on Aldana’s 

arm. Gabriella said they used protection, but she was afraid. They ended up at a CVS 

store near Gabriella’s house and debated whether to buy a pregnancy kit.

Bridget and Gabriella told Bridget’s aunt, Mary K., about the possibility of 

pregnancy. Mary assured Gabriella she could not be pregnant. However, Mary also

looked at the high school’s Web site and concluded Gabriella was talking about Aldana. 

She wrote an anonymous letter to him accusing him of molestation. 

Houshyar believed Gabriella was “traumatized” by her parents’ divorce. 

Gabriella confided in Houshyar that she felt like she was the mother in her family.

Gabriella often said she was running away from home, and Gabriella once jumped from a 

moving car. Houshyar said Gabriella was “just not okay” during the divorce, and 

Houshyar knew Gabriella once accused her father of hitting her. 

Houshyar knew Gabriella had a crush on Aldana, and that she stayed in 

Aldana’s classroom after school. She had also noticed a pattern of behavior with 

Gabriella involving older men. Gabriella once texted Houshyar and said her older, 

married, karate teacher had a crush on her, and she believed other teachers had crushes on 

her. On September 10, Gabriella sent over 150 texts to Houshyar. In the texts, Gabriella

advised Houshyar that “Pollito” was picking her up. Then, in the early hours of 

September 11, Gabriella texted, “I did it,” and the sex was “beautiful.” Although 

Houshyar “thought it was stuff [Gabriella] was imagining,” she also contacted Susan.

Susan noticed something unusual in Aldana’s relationship with Gabriella. 

For instance, Gabriella had once asked Susan for permission to go to the movies with 

him. Susan also knew Gabriella had Aldana’s phone number. She said one of her “red 

flags” had been a suspicious phone call she witnessed between Gabriella and another 

person.
10

Eric Stroupe, a school administrator, contacted the Diocese of Orange 

(Diocese) for directions on how to proceed with Gabriella’s accusations. The Diocese

recommended placing Aldana on paid administrative leave during the investigation. 

Stroupe interviewed Aldana. Aldana said he had last seen Gabriella at school in 

September 2011. He admitted offering to tutor Gabriella in Spanish, but he denied 

making phone contact with her. 

Stroup said he wanted to interview Gabriella and Susan, but Susan would 

not permit it. Because Gabriella and Susan did not cooperate with the Diocese’s 

interview request, Stroupe advised the school to reinstate Aldana, and he informed Susan 

of his decision. 

M.Z. met Aldana in 1996 when she was 16 years old, and he was her 21-

year-old soccer coach. They became friends, but within about six months, the 

relationship became sexual. M.Z. lied to her mother and said she was going on a field 

trip the first time they had intercourse. M.Z. and Aldana married two years later, but 

there was an “ugly” divorce in 2001. M.Z. never told her parents that Aldana had sex 

with her before marriage.

Defense

Madison C., a friend of Bridget’s, testified that after Aldana’s arrest,

Bridget said Gabriella had “start[ed] to tell some crazy stories” about Aldana, and her 

stories “keep changing.” She also testified that Bridget said Gabriella claimed to go to 

Aldana’s house for dinner and intercourse when her mother was out, and Bridget feared 

talking to the police because it would hurt Gabriella. 

Lindsay Journo the vice-principal of academics at Gabriella’s home school 

testified that she told Child Protective Services Gabriella “has a history of fabricating 

things and pushing the envelope.” Todd, Gabriella’s father, denied physically abusing 

Gabriella, and one of Aldana’s former students testified he saw Gabriella in Aldana’s 

classroom “once in awhile,” and Aldana used scantron sheets for testing.
11

STANDARD OF REVIEW

We review a trial court’s evidentiary rulings under the abuse of discretion 

standard. (People v. Avila (2006) 38 Cal.4th 491, 578.) The court abuses its discretion 

by acting “in an arbitrary, capricious, or patently absurd manner that result[s] in a 

manifest miscarriage of justice [citation].” (People v. Rodriguez (1999) 20 Cal.4th 1, 9-

10; see also Evid. Code, §§ 353, 354 [erroneous exclusion, or admission, of evidence 

must result in a “miscarriage of justice” to justify reversal of the judgment].) 

Evidentiary error is analyzed under the standard set out in People v. Watson

(1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836 (Watson), which provides for reversal only when “it is 

reasonably probable that a result more favorable to the appealing party would have been 

reached in the absence of the error.” Due process is violated only when the error causes a 

fundamentally unfair trial. (People v. Partida (2005) 37 Cal.4th 428, 439.)

DISCUSSION

Aldana challenges three of the court’s evidentiary rulings: (1) the 

admission of M.Z.’s propensity evidence; (2) the admission of Bridget’s testimony 

Gabriella reported having sex with Aldana within days of the incident under the fresh 

complaint doctrine, and as prior consistent statements; and (3) the exclusion of a rumor 

Gabriella told Bridget, who told an unidentified female high school student, that she had 

been dating and having sex with a Long Beach State University professor before the acts 

alleged against Aldana. We perceive no error in these rulings.

1. Propensity Evidence

a. Background

Aldana had sexual intercourse with M.Z. when she was 16 years old. The

prosecutor argued Evidence Code section 1108 authorized the admission of Aldana’s 

lewd acts with M.Z. during her minority to establish his “sexual appetite for young girls,” 

and his pattern of targeting and pursuing young girls under his supervision. 
12

Citing Evidence Code section 352, defense counsel asserted M.Z. and 

Aldana had been through “a contentious divorce, including infidelity on her part, getting 

caught cheating with a police officer, all of which would go to her motive, bias, interest 

in testifying, because there’s that discrepancy in the age, because there’s a discrepancy in 

the facts, that would cause essential litigation of their divorce . . . .” 

Counsel also argued the incidents were too dissimilar for the evidence to be 

relevant, emphasizing that Aldana’s relationship with M.Z. stemmed from a family 

connection, and not a teacher-student relationship. Plus, with M.Z., Aldana engaged in 

courtship and marriage. 

The court admitted M.Z.’s testimony, but limited it to “when their 

relationship started, how old was she, and what relationship she had to [Aldana] before 

their relationship started. Was he her teacher, was he her brother’s soccer coach. That’s 

it. Nothing else about . . . what happened during the marriage or the various allegations 

which each spouse made against the other.” 

b. Analysis

Aldana argues the court abused its discretion by admitting M.Z.’s testimony

as prior sexual misconduct evidence under Evidence Code section1108. We disagree.

Evidence Code section 1108 allows evidence of a defendant’s uncharged 

sex misconduct to be admitted if the probative value of the evidence is not “substantially 

outweighed by the probability that its admission will . . . create substantial danger of 

undue prejudice, of confusing the issues, or of misleading the jury.” (People v. Hollie

(2010) 180 Cal.App.4th 1262, 1274, citing Evid. Code, § 352.) A court must “consider 

such factors as its nature, relevance, and possible remoteness, . . . the likelihood of 

confusing, misleading, or distracting the jurors . . . , its similarity to the charged offense, 

its likely prejudicial impact on the jurors, the burden on the defendant in defending 

against the uncharged offense, and the availability of less prejudicial alternatives . . . . 

[Citations.]” (People v. Falsetta (1999) 21 Cal.4th 903, 916-917.) In this case, Aldana
13

acted as 16-year-old M.Z.’s soccer coach, and 14-year-old Gabriella’s teacher, when he 

had sex with both girls. Thus, he occupied a position of trust with both young girls. He 

used his position to lavish attention on the girls and justify the time he spent with them. 

With time and attention, Aldana eventually persuaded both girls to have sex with him by 

professing romantic love. Although the acts with M.Z. occurred 15 years before the 

charged crimes, and Aldana eventually married her, the court carefully considered the 

similarity, remoteness, and potential for confusion posed by M.Z.’s testimony, and 

properly limited the possible scope of M.Z.’s testimony to her early relationship with 

Aldana. The presentation of M.Z.’s testimony took little time, and there was a small risk 

for jury confusion. In other words, the court properly admitted M.Z.’s testimony under 

Evidence Code sections 1108 and 352. 

2. Fresh Complaint Doctrine & Prior Consistent Statements

a. Background

The People moved to admit evidence Gabriella told Bridget, Houshyar, and 

Soto, about having sex with Aldana within hours and days of the incident under the fresh 

complaint doctrine. The People argued these statements were not being offered for the 

truth of the matter, but to provide “when and under what circumstances the complaints 

were made.” 

Defense counsel did not object. In fact, she said, “for strategic reasons, I’ve 

decided not to object given the nature of the statements and how they came about over 

the period of time and all of [the] things of that nature. I have decided not to object.” 

At trial, Bridget testified she saw one text between Aldana and Gabriella. 

Aldana asked Gabriella if she and Bridget had ever “hooked up.” Bridget had also seen 

Gabriella alone with Aldana in his classroom the day Gabriella came to visit. Bridget 

testified they were standing very close together. When Aldana saw Bridget, he looked at 

her in a way that made her feel very uncomfortable. 
14

When the questioning shifted to September 10 and 11, the prosecutor asked 

Bridget about Gabriella’s “report to you, what did that include, what did she tell you?” 

Defense counsel objected on hearsay grounds. The court overruled the objection, but 

argument continued outside the presence of the jury. 

Defense counsel argued the fresh complaint doctrine did not permit the 

prosecution to introduce evidence about “an entire relationship.” The defense wanted to 

limit the prosecution to evidence Gabriella told Bridget she was afraid of getting pregnant 

because she had sex with Aldana. Defense counsel argued no other hearsay statements 

concerning the details of Aldana’s acts with Gabriella should be admitted. 

The court decided Gabriella’s statement to Bridget about having sex with 

Aldana was admissible under the fresh complaint doctrine, and gave the following 

admonition to the jury: “All these complaints that Gabriella may or may not have made 

to Bridget are not to be used for the truth of the matter asserted. They are not to be used 

to show that these incidents happened, but to assist the jury in evaluating the credibility 

of Gabriella when she testified.” 

b. Analysis

Under the fresh complaint doctrine, a trial court may admit evidence of an 

extrajudicial complaint made by a victim of a sexual offense for a nonhearsay purpose. 

(People v. Brown (1994) 8 Cal.4th 746, 749-750.) As our Supreme Court explained,

“proof of an extrajudicial complaint, made by the victim of a sexual offense, disclosing 

the alleged assault, may be admissible for a limited, nonhearsay purpose—namely, to 

establish the fact of, and the circumstances surrounding, the victim’s disclosure of the 

assault to others—whenever the fact that the disclosure was made and the circumstances 

under which it was made are relevant to the trier of fact’s determination as to whether the 

offense occurred.” (Ibid.) “The jury may consider the evidence ‘for the purpose of 

corroborating the victim’s testimony, but not to prove the occurrence of the crime. 

[Citation.]’” (People v. Manning (2008) 165 Cal.App.4th 870, 880.)
15

Aldana’s argument about the scope of Bridget’s testimony ignores one 

point. Bridget’s testimony did not contain the details of Aldana’s sexual assault. Bridget 

merely testified Gabriella said she and Aldana engaged in oral, anal, and vaginal

intercourse. This testimony is much less detailed than testimony found to be acceptable 

in other cases. (See, e.g., People v. Butler (1967) 249 Cal.App.2d 799, 804 [victim stated 

that “‘the man was sucking his thing’”]; People v. Cordray (1963) 221 Cal.App.2d 589, 

594 [victim stated “he had pulled her pants down and he had kissed her between the 

legs”].) In our view, Bridget’s testimony fell within the scope of the fresh complaint 

doctrine. 

The court also ruled Gabriella’s hearsay statements to Bridget were 

admissible as prior consistent statements. (Evid. Code, §§ 791, subd. (b), 1236.) Aldana 

argues the fact Bridget testified before Gabriella improperly enhanced Gabriella’s 

credibility and deprived him of his constitutional rights, but we are not convinced. 

Although Bridget was the People’s first witness, the court has broad 

discretion to control the order of witnesses. (Pen. Code, § 1044 [“It shall be the duty of 

the judge to control all proceedings during the trial, and to limit the introduction of 

evidence and the argument of counsel to relevant and material matters, with a view to the 

expeditious and effective ascertainment of the truth regarding the matters involved”].) 

The court determined Gabriella’s probable testimony from the parties’ 

offers of proof, and the defense argued during opening statement that Gabriella fabricated 

her story for financial gain. (Evid. Code, § 791, subd. (b) [prior consistent statement 

admissible when an express or implied charge of recent fabrication has been made].) 

When Gabriella did testify, her statements were consistent with the parties’ 

representations. Thus, assuming the court misapplied the fresh complaint doctrine, 

Gabriella’s hearsay statements to Bridget were admissible as prior consistent statements 

under Evidence Code sections 791, subdivision (b) and 1236. 
16

3. Prior Sexual Conduct Evidence

The People moved to exclude, under Evidence Code section 782 and 352,

evidence of a rumor Gabriella told Bridget, who told another female high school student, 

that she was having a sexual relationship with a male, Long Beach State University 

professor in his 30’s before the acts alleged against defendant. According to the 

prosecutor, Bridget denied the incident occurred. The court granted the People’s motion 

and prevented Aldana from questioning Gabriella about it at trial.

Aldana argues Evidence Code section 782 did not apply, and the court’s 

ruling violates Evidence Code sections 210 and 352, and his right to a fair trial under the 

Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments. We find any error harmless.

The Evidence Code generally bars questioning a sexual assault victim about 

specific instances of his or her prior sexual activity. (Evid. Code, § 1103, subd. (c)(1); 

People v. Bautista (2008) 163 Cal.App.4th 762, 781). But, the general rule gives way 

when evidence of the complaining witness’s prior sexual history is “offered to attack the 

credibility of the complaining witness as provided in [Evidence Code] Section 782.” 

(Evid. Code, § 1103, subd. (c)(5).) 

However, Evidence Code section 782 requires the proponent of the 

evidence to file a written motion accompanied by an affidavit containing an offer of 

proof. (Evid. Code, § 782, subd. (a).) “If the trial court finds that the offer of proof is 

“sufficient,” it must conduct a hearing out of the presence of the jury and allow the 

alleged victim to be questioned ‘regarding the offer of proof . . . .” (People v. Sims 

(1976) 64 Cal.App.3d 544, 553 (Sims).)

Aldana did not file a motion to introduce evidence Gabriella claimed to 

have a sexual relationship with an older, male teacher before Aldana, nor did he submit 

an affidavit with an offer of proof. His failure to file a proper motion under Evidence 

Code section 782 arguably forfeited any complaint about the court’s exclusion of this 

potential impeachment evidence. (Sims, supra, 64 Cal.App.3rd at p. 554.) 
17

Furthermore, even if Evidence Code section 782 does not apply, Evidence 

Code section 352 permits the court to exclude otherwise relevant evidence if its probative 

value is substantially outweighed by the probability that admitting the evidence will 

unduly prolong the proceeding, prejudice the opposing party, confuse the issues, or 

mislead the jury. (People v. Zepeda (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 25, 34-35.) 

In this case, the court conducted the required Evidence Code section 352 

analysis and excluded the disputed evidence of Gabriella’s alleged prior sexual 

relationship, primarily because Bridget denied the incident occurred. The court 

concluded litigating the issue would necessitate the undue consumption of time, and also 

posed a great risk of confusing the issues and misleading the jury. In our view, the court 

acted well within its discretion under Evidence Code section 352

Moreover, any error in the exclusion of this potential impeachment 

evidence was harmless under any standard of review in light of the overwhelming 

evidence of Aldana’s guilt. (Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24; People v. 

Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836.) When confronted with Gabriella’s allegations, 

Aldana not only denied having sex with her, he also denied texting or calling her. 

However, the parties’ phone records showed numerous contacts between the two during 

the relevant time period. In addition, Gabriella accurately described a surfboard in 

Aldana’s home, items in his bedroom, and a sun tattoo on his shoulder he normally 

covered with clothing, and she made contemporaneous reports of having sex with him to 

her friends. In sum, any error in excluding Bridget’s testimony about the rumor to 

impeach Gabriella would not have resulted in a more favorable verdict for Aldana. 

(People v. Cudjo (1993) 6 Cal.4th 585, 612.)
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DISPOSITION

The judgment is affirmed.

THOMPSON, J.

WE CONCUR:

MOORE, ACTING P. J.

ARONSON, J.