### IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL AP PEALS OF TENNES SEE ATJAC KSON A ssi gne d onBrie fs Augus t 5, 200 8 STA TE OFTEN NES SEE v. NIC HOLA S A LLENMON TIETH D irec t A p p ea l f

ro m th e C ircu it C o u rt fo r H a rd em a n C o u n ty N o. 07- 01- 0431 J. W eber M cG raw , Judge
N o. W 2008- 00266- C C A - R 3- C D - F i l ed M arch 9, 2010
Fol l ow i ng a j ur yt r i al , D efe ndant , N i chol as A ll en M ont i eth, w as found gui l t yof s exual bat t erybyan author i t yfi gur e. T he tr i al cour ti m pos ed a s ent ence of t hr ee y ear s as a R ange O ne off ender
. T he sol e i s s ue ra i s ed on appea l i s w hethert he tr i al cour terr ed bynotal l ow i ng D efe ndantt o i m peac h t he vi ct i m w i t h t es t i m onyof a pr i ori ncons i s t ents t at ement
. Fol l ow i ng o u r r e v ie w o f

th e re c o rd , w e re v e rs e th e ju d g m e n t o f th e tr ia l c o u rt
. T en n . R . A p p . P . 3 A p p ea l as o f R igh t; Judgm ent of

t he C i rcui t C ourt R ever s ed and R em anded T HOMAS T. W O O D A LL , J
. , del i ver ed t he opi ni on of t he C our t , i n w hi ch N ORMA M C G EE O G LE a n d D. K EL L Y T HO MAS , J R ., J J
. , j oi ned. L l oy d R
. T atum , H ender s on, T ennes s ee, fort he appe l l ant , N i chol as A l l en M ont i eth. Rob e r tE. Coo p e r , J r . , At t o r n e yGen e r a l a n d Re p o r t e r ; La c yW i l b e r , As s i s t a n tAt t or ney G ener al ; D
. M ichael D unavant , D i s t r i ctA t t or neyG ener al ; and J oe V an D y ke, A s s i s t ant D i s t r i ctA t t or neyG ener al , fort he appe l l ee, t he St at e of Tennes s ee. OP I NI ON I . Backg r ound T h e th ir te e n -ye a r- o ld v ic tim in th is c a s e , w h o w ill b e re f e rr e d to b yh e r i n itia ls S .M ., tes tifie d th a t f

ro m N o v e m b e r 1 7 , 2 0 0 6 , u n til Ja n u a ry1 2 , 2 0 0 7 , sh e liv e d w ith D e f e n d a n t, w ho w as h er fa ther, C onni e G r een, and M s . G r een’ s s on and thr ee ne phew s . S. M
. had pr evi ous l yl i v e d wi t h h e rf a t h e ra n d s t e p moth e r , Le s l i e M o n t i e t h , s i n c e t h e a g e o f o n e or tw o .-2-

O ne ni ght i n J anuary of 2007, D efe ndant came hom e fr om w or k ar ound t hr ee a . m . and s t ay ed out s i de w hi l e S. M
. w as i ns i de w at chi ng t el evi s i o n . W hen D efe ndantcame i ns i de, S
. M
. c o u l d t e l l t h a t h e h a d b e e n d r i n k i n g b e e r b e c a u s e s h e c o u l d s me l l i to n h i s b r e a t h
. He began t al ki ng to h er a bouts chool and then he s t ar t ed t i ckl i ng her
. S. M
. t es t i fi ed that D efe ndantputhi s hands dow n herj eans underherunderw ear w hi l e t hey w er e si t t i ng on t he c o u c h . H e th e n to ld h e r th a t “if a b o yd id so m e th in g lik e w h a t h e w a s d o in g to [ h e r] to tell h im n o a n d stu f

f.” T h e f o llo w in g e x c h a n g e to o k p lac e a t trial: [ S tate ]: W h a t d id [ D e f e n d a n t] d o th a t n ig h t? [S
. M
. ]: H e pu this han ds do w n m ypan t s. [St at e] : W hatw er e y ou w ear i ng? [S
. M
. ]: S om e blue j eans. [S t at e]: D i d y ou hav e pan t i es on u nd er y ou r bl ue jeans? [S
. M
. ]: Y es. [St at e] : W hen he put hi s hands i n y our pant s , di d he put t hem on t op of

y ou r pant i es or und er y ou r pant i es? [S
. M
. ]: U n d er. [St at e] : W er e y ourbl ue j eans fas t ened? [S
. M
. ]: Y es. [St at e] : H ow l ong w oul d y ou s ayt hatw enton? [ S .M .]: A b o u t 1 7 m in u te s . [St at e] : For y ou, a l ong t i m e? [ S
. M
. ] : Um- h mmm . [St at e] : W er e y ou s i t t i ng on the couch orl y i ng on t he couc h orw hat

w hen thi s happene d?-3-

[S. M
. ] : I w as s i t t i ng on t he couc h. S .M . sa id th a t s h e to ld D e f e n d a n t to sto p , b u t h e c o n tin u e d to u c h in g h e r. S h e a ttem p ted to getup off the couc h, butD efe ndantputhi s ar m ar ound herand hel d herdow n. D efe ndant eventual l yr emo v ed h is h and fr om herpant s and l eftt o t ake a s how er . S. M
. t es t i fi ed that C o n n ie G ree n w as a sleep o n the co u ch d u ri n g the in cide n t, b u t S.M
. w as a fra id to w ak e h er.
S
. M
. t est i fi ed thatshe eve ntual l yt old L esl i e M on t i et h w hat happ e n e d, and M s. M on t i e th c a lled D efen dan tand M s. G reen. A ft erw ards, D efen dan t , M s. G reen, M s. M ont i eth, and S. M
. m etatM s . M ont i eth’ s hous e. T heyt ol d S. M
. nott o t el l any one about t he i nci dent unl es s i t happene d agai n. S. M
. t es t i fi ed t hat s he eve ntual l yt ol d one herfr i ends ats chool t hatD efe ndantt ouched he rand thatherfr i end r epor t ed i tt o a t eac her
. T he t eac her t hen t ook S. M
. t o a couns el or , and S. M
. t ol d t he couns el orw hat happene d. T he couns el or r epor t ed the i nci dentt o empl oy ees of t he D epart m en t o f C hi l dr en’ s Ser vi ces ( D C S) , and S. M
. l at ergave a s t at ement t o t hem i n B ol i var . S. M
. t es t i fi ed thats he f elt s car ed af

t er D efe ndantt ouched he rand thats he w as st i l l ups etabouti t
. She admi t t ed thatpr i ort o t he incid en t, sh e w as a “li tt le” m ad at D ef en d an t bu t sai d that sh e w o u ld n o t m ak e u p a sto ry s uch as t hi s t o gethi m i n t r oubl e. S. M
. t es t i fi ed thats he and D efe ndantgotal ong befor e the to u c h in g o c c u rr e d
. O n cr oss- exam i nati on , t he fo l l ow i ng exch ang e t oo k p l ace be t w een S
. M
. and D efen se C o u n se l: [D efe ns e C ouns el ] : . . . H av e y ou ever t ol d C onni e G r een t hat w hen he put

h is [ h a n d ] d o w n h e re - - D o y o u k n o w w h e re y o u r b e lly bu t t on i s? [S
. M
. ]: Y es. [D efe ns e C ouns el ] : D i d y ou t el l M s. G reen t hat he put hi s hand bel ow y our

bel l ybut t on? [S. M
. ] : N o. [ D e f e n se C o u n se l]: D id n ’t tell h e r th a t. [ S
. M
. ] : I d i d n ’ tt e l l Co n n i e . I t o l d mys t e p mo m. [D efe ns e C ouns el ] : M s . L es l i e?-4-

[ S .M .]: Y e s . [D efe ns e C ouns el ] : T hat y our dad put hi s hand bel ow y our bel l y but t on, y our

n a v e l? [ S .M .]: Y e s . [ D e f e n se C o u n se l]: N a v e l an d b e llyb u tto n is th e sa m e th in g ; rig h t? [S
. M
. ]: Y es. [D efe ns e C ouns el ] : D i d y ou us e the w or d “bel l ybut t on” or“nave l ”? [S
. M
. ]: I j ustt old her that he pu this han ds do w n m ypan t s. [D efen se C ou nsel ]: O kay
. A nd didn’t t hey ask y ou abo ut w hether i t w as j ust

bel ow y ourbel l ybut t on and notal l t he w aydow n? [S. M
. ] : N o. [ Def e n s e Cou n s e l ] : T hey d i d n ’ t
. Di d y o u e v e r t e l l t h e m t h a t t h i s , wha ty ou

t ol d ear l i er , t hatt hatdi dn’ thappen? [S. M
. ] : H uh? [D efe ns e C ouns el ] : D i d y ou evert el l C onni e thatt hatdi dn’ thappen? [S. M
. ] : N o. [ D e f e n s e C o u n s e l ] : D o yo u r e m e m b e r t a l k i n g t o h e r a b o u t t w o o r t h r e e d a ys

l at erand t el l i ng heri tdi dn’ thappen? [S. M
. ] : N o. [D efe ns e C ouns el ] : T hi s J os eph H or n, t he s i xt een y ear ol d boy , w as he i n t he

r oom w hen y ou t al ked t o C onni e? [S. M
. ] : N o. H e w as ata fr i end’ s hous e.-5-

[D efe ns e C ouns el ] : W hat a b o u t M s. L es l i e? W as s he i n t he r oom t w o or

t hree day s l at er w hen y ’al l t al ked abo ut this ? [S. M
. ] : N o. [D ef en se C o u n sel]: S h e w asn ’t
. D id y o u ev er tel l M s. L esli e that this didn ’t

h ap p en - - [ S .M .]: N o . [D ef en se C o u n sel]: - - th e w ayy o u tal k ed ea rl ier? [S. M
. ] : N o. [D efe ns e C ouns el ] : W hen t hi s happene d, y ou s ai d t hat he w as t al ki ng about

b o y s; rig h t? [ S .M .]: Y e s . [D efe ns e C ouns el ] : A nd i tw as - - he w as t r y i ng t o s how y ou w hat t o do i f a

b o ytried to d o th is; is th a t rig h t? [S
. M
. ]: Y es. S
. M
. a d mi t t e d t h a ts h e s t o l e a n i P o d f r o m s o me o n e a ts c h o o l a n d t h a ts h e a l s o s t o l e s o me m o n eyfro m h er f

o ster m o ther. B o th o f th ese incid en ts o cc u rred af ter D ef en d an t t o u ch ed h er. I nves t i gat orM i ke K ennamor e of the H ar deman C ount ySher i ff’ s Dep a rtme n tt e s t i f i ed t hathe i nt er vi ew ed S. M
. on M ar ch 9, 2007, aft err ece i vi ng a compl ai ntfr om D C S about p o s s i b l e s e x u a l a b u s e . H e s a i d t h a tt h e i n t e r v i e w w a s c o n s i s t e n tw i t h S
. M
. ’ s t r i a l t e s t i m o n y. Inv esti g ator K en n am o re the n interview ed D ef en d an t atthe H a rd em an C o u n tyS h eriff ’s D e p a rtm e n t, an d D e f

e n d a n t w a iv e d h is M ira n d a rig h ts a n d g a v e a sta tem e n t. D e f e n d a n t sa id th a t o n th e n ig h t o f th e o f f e n se , h e d ra n k f

o u r b e e rs b e f

o re g o in g in to th e h o u se . H e c o u ld notr emem beri f he t ouched S. M
. ’ s vagi na, buts t at ed thati f he di d, “i tw as an ac ci dent , ” and h e d id n o t r e a liz e th a t h e “ to u c h e d it.” D e f e n d a n t s a id th a t h e w a s a tte m p tin g to s h o w S .M
. w hat boy s m i ght do t o her
. H e s ai d t hatw hen he t ouched S. M
. , “[s ] he j um ped bac k and got aw ayfr om m e w hi ch i s w hats he i s s uppos ed t o do. ” D efe ndants ai d t hatS. M
. t hen s atback dow n bes i de hi m , and they t al ked abouts chool , gr ades , and fr i ends
. H e s ai d t hatM s . G r een w a s a s le e p o n th e c o u c h d u ri n g th e in c id e n t.-6-

D e f e n d a n t to ld In v e stig a to r K e n n a m o re th a t h e , M s . G re e n , an d M s. M o n tieth di s cus s ed the t ouchi ng an d that the y“det er m i ned that[D efe ndant ] di dn’ tdo anyt hi ng and [ S .M .] d id n ’t n e e d to g o b lab b in g h e r m o u th to o th e r p e o p le u n le s s it h a p p e n e d a g a in , if s o m e th in g w e re to h a p p e n a g a in .” C onni e G r een t es t i fi ed thats he us ual l ys l epton t he couch unt i l 3: 00 or4: 00 a. m . w hen D efe ndant arr i ved hom e fr om w or k and w oke her up. A t t r i al , t he fol l ow i ng excha nge t ook pl ace : [D efe ns e C ouns el ] : W hat , if an y thing , d id [S
. M
. ] sa y to y ou about an i n c i d e n tt h a tw e ’ r e h e r e a b o u ti n c o u r tt o d a y? [M s . G r een] : [S. M
. ] di dn’ t t el l m e about t he i n cide n t. S h e tol d her

m o th e r a n d th e n h e r m o th e r h a d to ld m e . [ D e f e n se C o u n se l]: D id , at s o m e p o in t, y o u talk to [ S .M .] ab o u t th e in c id e n t? [M s. G ree n ]: Y es, si r. [ D e f e n se C o u n se l]: A n d w h e n w a s th a t? [M s . G r een] : T hatw as pr obabl yar ound J anuary30
. th [D efe ns e C ouns el ] : D o y ou r emem berw hatdayof t he w eek i tw as on? [ M s . G r e e n ] : I tw a s o n a S u n d a y. [D efe ns e C ouns el ] : O n a Sunday
. A nd w her e w as t hi s conver s at i on? [M s . G r een] : I n M o’ s hous e on G eneva L ane. [D efe ns e C ouns el ] : N ow , w ho i s M o? [M s . G r een] : L es l i e M ont i eth. [D efe ns e C ouns el ] : O kay
. G eneva L ane i s w her e? [ M s . G re e n ]: In H e n d e rs o n . [D efe ns e C ouns el ] : I n H ender s on. So y ou and Lesl i e and w ho el s e?-7-

[M s . G r een] : I t w as m e and L es l i e and N i ck

- - W el l , fi r s t , i t w as m e,

L esl i e and [S
. M
. ], and t hen w hen she w as t al king t o u s, t hen w e t al ked t o N i ck. [D efe ns e C ouns el ] : T hen y ou t al ked t o N i ck. [M s. G reen] : Y es. [D efen se C ou nsel ]: O k a y . N o w , so N ick w a sn ’tp re se n t d u rin g th is

co n v ersa ti o n -- [M s . G r een] : N o. [D efe ns e C ouns el ] : - - w i t h [S. M
. ]
. W hat di d [S. M
. ] t el l y ou on J anuary30 th

i n H ender s on? [M s. G ree n ]: S h e told u s tha t her d ad h ad - - [ P r o s e c u t o r ] : W o u l d t h a tb e h e a r s a y? [ T h e C o u r t ] : O b j e c t i o n t o h e a r s a y? [D ef en se C o u n sel]: Y o u r H o n o r - - [The C our t ] : A nyexce pt i on? [D efe ns e C ouns el ] : M ayw e appr oach? ( W H E R E U PO N , a bench conf er ence w as had on the r ecor d i n t he pr es ence of the ju ryb u t ou t of

the h ea ri n g o f the ju ryan d the f o ll o w ing p roc ee d ing s w ere h a d , to- w it: ) [The C our t ] : I s t her e anyexce pt i on? [D efe ns e C ouns el ] : Y our H onor , i t ’ s not bei ng offe r ed forthe p roo f. T he

w itn ess, [ S
. M
. ], d en ied m ak ing an ystat em en t th at sh e’s a b o u t to g iv e . [P rosecut or] : W el l , t hen i ti s m ade f or t rut hfu l ness.-8-

[ Def e n s e Cou n s e l ] : T hi s i s t he s t at emen t whe r e s he s ay s i t happene d,

to u c h in g w a s b e lo w th e b e lly b u tto n o r n a v e l. [ P ro s e c u to r] : O k a y . T h e n it is m a d e f o r t ru th f u ln e s s . [ D e f e n se C o u n se l]: S h e d e n ied th a t. [The C our t ] : W hy i s t he ques t i on bei ng as ked? W hat ’ s t he purpos e of

t he ques t i on? [ D e f e n s e C o u n s e l] : It g o e s to s h o w [ S .M .’s ] u n tr u th f u ln e s s . [ P ro se c u to r]: T h e n it’s m a d e f o r tru th f u ln e ss o f th e sta tem e n t w h ich is h e a r s a y. [The C our t ] : Y eah. I t ’ s goi ng t o be hear s ay . In o rde r to - - Y ou can

a sk h e r re g a rd in g h e r re p u tatio n b u t y o u c a n ’t g e t in to s p e c if ic a c ts
. M s . G r een t es t i fi ed thats he had know n S. M
. for appr oxi m at el yone y earand thats he w as of t h e o p i n i o n t h a tS
. M
. w o u l d “ l i e i f s h e t h i n k s s h e n e e d s t o . ” S h e a l s o s a i d t h a t S
. M
. “ r a r e l y” to ld th e tr u th
. L es l i e M ont i eth t es t i fi ed thats he had know n S. M
. for el even y ear s and thatS. M
. l i ved i n her h o us ehol d w hen M s . M ont i eth w as m arr i ed t o D efe ndant
. She s ai d t hatS. M
. w as “ p ro n e to ly in g .” B a se d o n h e r c o n v e rsa tio n s w ith f rie n d s, f a m ily , a n d S .M .’s p sy c h iatris t, M s . M o n tie th te s tif

ie d th a t S .M . h a d a re p u ta tio n f o r n o t te llin g th e tr u th
. T he St at e r eca l l ed I nves t i gat or K ennamor e t o t he s t and, and t he fol l ow i ng excha nge t ook pl ace : [Pr os ecut or ] : I nves t i gat orK ennamor e, i n t he cour s e of y our

in v e stig a tio n o f

th is c a se d id y o u sp e a k w ith L e slie M ont i eth? [ K e n n a m o re ]: Y e s , I d id
. [ P ro se c u to r]: D id sh e g iv e y o u a sta tem e n t - - D id y ’a ll d is c u s s th is

cas e?-9-

[ K e n n a m o re ]: Y e s , w e d id d is c u s s th e c a s e . [Pr os ecut or ] : I n w hatcapa ci t ydi d y ou t al k t o M s . M ont i eth? [K ennamor e] : I s poke t o heral ong w i t h D epart m entof C hi l dr en

S e rv ice s w a s a lso th e re . W e sp o k e w ith h e r ju st s h o rtly aft ert he i nt er vi ew of [S. M
. ]. A ft ert he i nt er vi ew w as over , w e s atdow n and spoke w i t h her , t al ked t o herabout t he ent i r e ca s e and the i nt er vi ew and eve r y t hi ng, and s he n ev er g av e a n y- - [D ef en se C o u n sel]: O b

jecti o n . H ea rsay , Y o u r H o n o r. [Pr os ecut or ] : J udge, i t ’ s r ebut t i ng her t es t i m ony t hats he gave i n open

c o u rt. [ T h e C o u r t ] : I ’ m g o i n g t o a l l o w t h e t e s t i m o n y. [ K e n n a m o re ]: S h e n e v e r g a v e a n y in d ica tio n o r m a d e a n ysta tem e n ts to

i ndi cat e that[S. M
. ] w as atanyt i m e a l i arornotbei ng tr u th f u l. O n cr os s - exami n ati o n , Inv esti g ator K en n am o re testi fied that w h at M s. M ont i eth t ol d hi m w as not“verydi ffe r ent ” fr om w hatS. M
. t ol d hi m . H e s ai d, “The di ffe r ence i s - - l etm e thi nk of w hatI ’ m t r y i ng t o s ayher e t o m ake s ur e I s ayi tr i ght
. W her e [S. M
. ] s ai d t hatherdad t ouched he rpr i vat es , t he w i fe t ol d m e thats he di dn’ tt hi nk he ac tual l yt ouched the vagi nal ar ea. ” II . A n a ly sis D e f e n d a n t co n ten d s th a t th e trial c o u rt e rre d b yre f u sin g to a llo w h im to a ttem p t to i m peac h S. M ’ s cr edi bi l i t yw i t h t es t i m ony t hatS. M
. t ol d M s . G r een thatD efe ndant ’ s hand d id n o t go b elow h er w aistw h en h e tou ch ed h er. T h e S tate c o n c e d e s th a t th e tri al co u rt e rr e d b u t c o n te n d s th a t th is w a s h a rm le s s e rr o r. Att r i a l , S
. M
. t e s t i f

i e d t h a ts h e t o l d L e s l i e M o n t i e t h t h a t De f e n d a n t p u t h i s h a n d s d o wn herpant s . She al s o t es t i fi ed thatt he “a dul t s ” di d not as k her i f D efe ndantt ouched be l ow her nav el or al l t he w aydo w n h er pant s. S
. M
. den i ed that she had ever t old M s. G reen or M s. M o n ti eth th at t h e inc iden t did n o t hap p en . D ef en d an t th en a tte m p ted to im p ea ch S
. M
. ’s cred ib ili tyt hroug h M s. G reen. In a ben ch co nference, defense co un sel argued t hat M s.-10-

G ree n’ s t es t i m onyw oul d s how S. M
. ’ s unt rut hful nes s aboutt he t ouchi ng. T he tr i al court r e f u s e d t o a l l o w t h e t e s t i m o n y b e c a u s e t h e t r i a l c o u r t c o n c l u d e d i t w a s i n a d m i s s i b l e h e a r s a y. T he courtal l ow ed def

ens e couns el t o as k aboutt he vi ct i m ’ s r eput at i on fort rut hful nes s , but notabouts peci fi c act s . A l t hough D efe ndant di d not m ake an offer of pr oof att r i al as t o t he excl uded t es t i m ony , he att ache d aff i davi t s fr om M s . G r een a nd J os eph H or n t o hi s m ot i on fornew t r i al
. A ccor di ng t o t he af fi davi t s , M s . G r een w oul d have t es t i fi ed thatS. M
. t ol d her t hatD efe ndantdi d nott ouch herpubi c ar ea a nd t hathi s hand “di d not go dow n fur t hert han th e b u tto n o n th e f

ro n t o f h e r p a n ts [ .]” J o s e p h H o rn w o u ld h a v e te s tif ie d th a t h e h e a rd S .M
. t el l M s . G r een t hat D efe ndantdi d not“t ouch heri n t he pubi c ar ea. ” See St at e v. G oad , 707 S. W
. 2d 846, 853 ( T enn. 1986) ( I f an i nadequa t e off erof proof

i s m ade a tt r i al , couns el m ay su p p o rtthe m o ti o n fo r ne w tr ial b y“a n af fid av ito r oth er rep o rt
. ”) T e n n e ss e e R u le o f

E v id e n c e 6 1 3 (b ) p ro v id e s th a t: E xt r i ns i c evi dence of a pr i ori ncons i s t ents t at ement bya w i t nes s i s not a d m iss ib le u n les s a n d u n til th e w itn e ss is a f f o rd e d a n o p p o r tu n ityto e x p lain o r d e n yth e sa m e a n d th e o p p o site p a rtyis a f f o rd e d a n o p p o rtu n ityto i nt err ogat e t he w i t nes s t her eon, or t he i nt er es t s of j us t i ce ot herw ise requi r e. T h is p ro v isio n d o e s n o t a p p ly to a d m iss io n s o f a p a rtyo p p o n e n t as d e f in e d in T en n esse e R u le of

E v iden ce 8 0 3 (1.2). See al s o St at e v. R eec e , 637 S. W
. 2d 8 5 8 , 8 6 1 (Tenn. 1982)
. T ennes s ee Rul e of Evi dence 613( b) all o w s the intr o d u cti o n o f o therw ise i n ad m issi b le ex tr insic ev i dence fori m peac hm ent p u rp o s e s . S ta te v . M

a rtin , 964 S. W
. 2d 564, 567 ( T enn. 1998)
. I m peac hm entevi dence , l i ke a n y e v id e n c e , m u s t b e re le v a n t. St at e v. Leach , 148 S. W
. 3d 42, 56 ( T enn. 2004)
. “‘ R el evant evi dence ’ m eans evi dence havi ng anyt endenc yt o m ake the exi s t ence of anyfac tt hati s of c o n se q u e n c e to th e d e ter m in a tio n o f th e a c tio n m o re p ro b a b le o r les s p ro b a b le th a n it w o u ld b e w ith o ut the ev i den ce. ” T enn . R
. E vid. 40 1. T herefore, “[i ]m peach m ent byextr i nsic evi denc e a s c o n t e mpl a t e d b y Rul e 6 1 3 mus t r e l a t e t o f a c t s r e l e v a n t t o a ma t e r i a l i s s ue at t r i al
. ” Leach , 148 S. W
. 3d at 56. Q ues t i ons r egar di ng t he r el evanc yof evi dence ar e entrus t ed t o t he s ound di s cr et i on of t he tr i al cour t , and a tr i al cour t ’ s rul i ng on evi dence w i l l be d is tu rb e d o n ly u p o n a c le a r s h o w in g o f a b u s e o f d is c re tio n . St at e v. R obi ns on , 146 S. W
. 3d 469, 490 ( T enn. 2004)
. A tt he t i m e of D efe ndant ’ s t r i al , a p ri ori ncons i s t ents t at ement in tro d u c e d f

o r pu rp o se s o f im p e a c h m e n t c o u ld b e c o n sid e re d o n lyo n th e iss u e o f c re d ib ili ty a n d n o t as s u b s ta n tiv e e v i d e n c e . S ta te v . Sm ith , 24 S. W
. 3d 274, 279 ( T enn. 2000) ( quot i ng Jones v. Leni orC i t

y C arW or ks , 2 1 6 T e n n . 3 5 1 , 3 9 2 S .W .2 d 6 7 1 , 6 7 3 (T e n n . 1 9 6 5 ); R eec e , 6 3 7 S .W .2 d a t 8 6 1 ; St at e v. Jones , 1 5 S
. W
. 3 d 8 8 0 , 8 9 1 (T en n . C ri m . A p p . 1 9 9 1 ). H o w ev er, eff ect i ve J ul y1, 2009, T ennes s ee Rul e of Evi dence 803 w as amended t o per m i ts om e pr i or in c o n s is te n t s ta te m e n ts to b e tr e a te d a s s u b s ta n tiv e e v id e n c e . See T en n . R
. E v id. 80 3 (26 ). In-11-

an yev en t, the tri al co u rt in this c ase erred b y n o t al low ing M s. G ree n to testi fyab o u t S.M
. ’s p ri o r i n c o n s is te n t s ta te m e n t. W e c an n o t con clud e tha t th e tr ial co u rt ’s error d id n o t aff ec t th e v erd ictto D ef

en d an t’ s detr i m ent
. A n err orw i l l notbe gr ounds for r ever s al unl es s , “cons i der i ng t he w hol e r ecor d, e rro r in v o lv in g a su b sta n tial rig h t m o re p ro b a b lyth a n n o t af f e c ted th e ju d g m e n t o r w o u ld r es ul ti n pr ej udi ce t o t he j udi ci al pr oces s . ” Tenn. R
. A pp. P. 36( b)
. T he St at e cont ends t hat t he tr i al cour t ’ s err ori n excl udi ng t he evi dence i n t hi s cas e w as har m l es s beca us e ther e w as t es t i m onyt hatS. M
. had a r eput at i on forunt rut hful nes s and bec aus e the vi ct i m admi t t ed that she had com m i t t ed thefton t w o o ccasi on s. H ow ever, th e th eft s occurred aft er the o ffen se i n t hi s cas e. A l t hough t he tr i al cour tw oul d notal l ow M s . G r een a nd J os eph H or n t o t es t i fy th a t S .M . s a id D e f

e n d a n t d id n o t to u c h h e r p u b ic a re a , the c o u rt a llo w e d th e S tate to c a ll I nves t i gat or M i ke K ennamor e as a r ebut t al w i t nes s aft erM s . M ont i eth t es t i fi ed thatS. M
. w as pr one t o l y i ng and had a re put at i on for not t el l i ng t he t rut h. T he courtal l ow ed I nves t i gat or K ennamor e t o t es t i fyt hatM s . M ont i eth nevert ol d hi m t hatS. M
. w as a l i ar . H e al s o t es t i fi ed th a t w h a t M s. M o n tieth to ld h im w a s n o t “v e ry d if f e re n t” f ro m w h a t S .M . told h im . H e sa id t hatM s. M o n t i eth di d notagr ee w i t h w hatS. M
. s ai d and thats he di d nott hi nk D efe ndant a c tu a lly to u c h e d S .M .’s va g in a l a re a . In c lo sin g , th e p ro se c u to r fo c u se d o n th e c re d ib ili ty o f M s. M o n tieth a n d m a d e th e f o llo w in g sta tem e n t: T hen h e wan t s t o s h o w t h a t s h e d o e s n ’ t t e l l t h e t ru t h
. So h e p u t s up t he defe ndant ’ s gi r l fr i end w ho knew her for about s i x m ont hs and he put s up t he gi r l ’ s s t epmom w ho i s notdi vor ced f r om t he def

endant
. W el l , now , I as ked h e r - - E x c u se m e . I as k e d th e ste p m o m , w e ll, n o w , this re p u tatio n , this b ig r e p u t a t i o n f

o ru n t ru t h f

u l n e s s , w h e r e d i d i tc o m e f r o m ? F r i e n d s a n d f

a m i l y. W ho? H ow m anyi ns t ance s ? W el l , a bunch. She w as rea l vague. She s tum bl ed ar ound w i t h herans w erand s he r eal l y coul dn’ t come up w i t h m uch.

T hen I sa i d, “D i d y ou t el l t he i nves t i gat ort hats he w as unt rut hful , t hats he had th is re p u tatio n f

o r u n tru th f

u ln e ss ? ” “ D id I ta lk to h im ? Y e s, I d id talk to h im .” W e ll, n o w , th a t w a s a re a lly p la in a n s w e r. I g le a n e d a lo t f ro m th a t. I h o p e y o u g o t m o re th a n I did . I ca lled th e in v e stig a to r b a c k to c h e c k o n th a t.
“ N o , s h e n e v e r t o ld m e th a t [ S .M .] h a d a re p u ta tio n f o r b e in g u n tr u th f

u l.” O kay
. N ow , l et ’ s l ook at t hi s . I f y our hus band i s underi nves t i gat i on fors exual b att erybyan author i t yfi gur e, don’ ty ou t hi nk t hatw oul d be a t i dbi tt hatt he i nves t i gat or m i ght need? O h, by t he w ay , s he’ s know n t o l i e. D on’ ty ou t hi nk that w o u ld b e h elpf

u l? I th ink that w o u ld b e a b o u t on e o f th e f ir st on es I’d t hr ow i n. She di dn’ tt el l hi m t hat
. M r . T atum s ay s t her e’ s m or e than one w ay-12-

t o s a y s h e ’ s n o t t e l l i n g t h e t ru t h
. D i d t h e i rs t o r i e s c o r r e s p o n d ? A n d , b a s i c a l l y, t he i nves t i gat or ’ s ans w erw as y eah, t heyw er e pr et t ym uch on. T he pr os ecut oral s o not ed t hat S. M
. ’ s t es t i m onyconce r ni ng t he t ouchi ng w as undi s put ed at t r i al
. T he onl y pr oof of t he t ouchi ng came fr om S. M
. ’ s t es t i m ony . A tt r i al , S. M
. t es t i fi ed th at she t old M s. M on t i et h, no t M s. G reen t hat D efen dan t pu t his han d belo w h e r b e lly but t on. She deni ed t el l i ng M s . G r een orM s . M ont i eth t hatt he i nci dentdi d nothappen a nd t hatD efe ndant , M s . G r een, orM s . M ont i eth di d notas k heri f D efe ndantt ouched be l ow her navel oral l t he w aydow n herpant s . She al s o t es t i fi ed thatJ os eph H or n w as noti n t he r oom w h e n s h e ta lk e d to M s . G re e n . I n l i ghtof t he att ack on M s . M ont i eth’ s cr edi bi l i t yconce r ni ng t he vi ct i m ’ s r eput at i on forunt rut hful nes s , t he evi dence pr es ent ed att r i al , and the pr os ecut or ’ s r emark s in c l os i ng s t at ement s , w e ar e not per s uaded t hat t es t i m ony conce r ni ng t he t heft s t hat occurr ed aft ert he t ouchi ng and S
. M
. ’ s r eput at i on for unt rut hful nes s al one i s s uffi ci ent t o m ake “ har m l es s ” the trial c o u rt’s e rro r. A c c o r d in g ly, th e c o n v ictio n f o r se x u a l b a ttery by an a u th o rityf ig u re is re v e rs e d , a n d th e c a u s e is re m a n d e d f o r a n e w tr ia l. CO NC L US I ON For t he for egoi ng r eas ons , t he j udgm entof t he tr i al cour ti s r ever s ed.

_________________________________ T HOMAS T
. WOODAL L , J UDGE