Case Name: COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania, Appellee v. Darrell Larue BLACK, Appellant
Court: Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1985-01-11
Citations: 337 Pa. Super. 548
Docket Number: No. 15
Parties: COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania, Appellee v. Darrell Larue BLACK, Appellant.
Judges: Before SPAETH, President Judge, and CAVANAUGH, WIEAND, CHULLO, MONTEMURO, POPOVICH and HOFFMAN, JJ.
Reporter: Pennsylvania Superior Court Reports
Volume: 337
Pages: 548–563

Head Matter:
487 A.2d 396
COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania, Appellee v. Darrell Larue BLACK, Appellant.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
Argued May 7, 1984.
Filed Jan. 11, 1985.
David H. Acker, Public Defender, New Castle, for appellant.
William A. Behe, Deputy Attorney Gen., Harrisburg, for Commonwealth, appellee.
Before SPAETH, President Judge, and CAVANAUGH, WIEAND, CHULLO, MONTEMURO, POPOVICH and HOFFMAN, JJ.

Opinion:
CAVANAUGH, Judge:
Appellant, 48-year-old Darrell L. Black, was charged with statutory rape, corruption of minors, incest, and attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with respect to his thirteen-year-old daughter, Cynthia. After a jury trial, he was found guilty of all counts and sentenced to a term of imprisonment of two and one-half to five years. This appeal followed. Appellant challenges the lower court's application of Pennsylvania's Rape Shield Law, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3104, which prevented him from introducing evidence of prosecutrix' prior sexual conduct with one of her brothers. We agree with appellant and remand for a new trial.
Black was accused of committing the present offenses during the 1979 Christmas holiday season. The trial testimony revealed that during this time appellant resided with his family, including prosecutrix, in a four- or five-bedroom, single family dwelling. On the night in question, the house was filled beyond capacity by out-of-town guests, bringing the total number of occupants to twelve or thirteen persons. The minor prosecutrix testified as follows. After everyone had retired for the evening, her father asked her to come into his bedroom to massage his legs, a treatment required by his diabetic condition and routinely performed by members of his family in his bedroom. She agreed to do this and after she finished, he motioned her to lie down on the bed with her back toward him. He then pulled her underwear down and had sexual intercourse with her. The victim maintained that the entire sexual episode occurred without a word being spoken.
Appellant's version of the events that evening was that although his daughter was present in his room, no sexual contact occurred. As is common in sexual offense cases, the prosecutrix and appellant provided the only direct evidence for their respective versions and the case thus turned on their comparative credibility.
While the sexual incident was found to have occurred during Christmas, 1979, testimony indicated that Cynthia's complaints began to surface almost three months later, near the end of March, 1980. These complaints coincided with violent arguments between appellant and prosecutrix' fifteen-year-old brother, which culminated in the brother leaving home and separating from the family, including prosecutrix. Cynthia admitted wanting her brother back in the home, and other testimony indicated that as soon as appellant was arrested and removed, the fifteen-year-old brother contacted the family and sought to return home. In his defense, appellant offered to show through cross-examination that Cynthia had maintained an ongoing, consensual sexual relationship with this brother, which ended when the brother left home. Appellant contends that the true extent of prosecutrix' bias against him could only be revealed by showing the abnormal, sexual relationship which she had with her brother and which had been terminated by appellant's dispute with her brother. Specifically, appellant urges that Cynthia's testimony can only be weighed fairly when measured against her desire, first, to punish appellant for his interference with her sexual relationship with her brother, and, second, to remove appellant from the home so that her brother might return and resume the relationship. As noted above, the lower court excluded this evidence of prosecutrix' prior sexual conduct with her brother, relying on the Rape Shield Law.
We begin by noting the modern rule that prior sexual conduct with third persons is ordinarily inadmissible to attack the character of the prosecutrix in sex offense cases. 1A Wigmore, Evidence § 62 (Tillers rev. 1988). However, in this case the evidence of prior sexual conduct was not offered merely to show any general moral turpitude or defect of the prosecutrix, but rather to reveal a specific bias against and hostility toward appellant and a motive to seek retribution by, perhaps, false accusation. Particularly, appellant contends, if a parent and child were simply quarrell-ing, one would not normally expect a sibling to harbor a strong bias against the parent and in favor of the child. However, as appellant suggests, an ongoing, consensual sexual relationship between Cynthia and her brother would be a telling factor in understanding where her allegiance lay. In this regard, it is well settled that a party has the right to show by cross-examination that an adverse witness has a bias against him, or otherwise has an interest in the outcome of the trial. Commonwealth v. Cheatham, 429 Pa. 198, 239 A.2d 293 (1968); Commonwealth v. Ervin, 262 Pa.Super. 322, 396 A.2d 776 (1978); 3A Wigmore, Evidence § 948 (Chadbourn rev. 1970).
In contrast to the broad, common law rule permitting cross-examination to show bias, we are confronted with Pennsylvania's Rape Shield Law, which provides, in pertinent part, that "[e]vidence of specific instances of the alleged victim's past sexual conduct, . shall not be admissible in prosecutions under [Chapter 31] .", relating to sexual offenses. 18 Pa.C.S. § 3104(a). The lower court relied on this plain statutory language, as well as our recent opinion in Commonwealth v. Duncan, 279 Pa.Super. 395, 421 A.2d 257 (1980), in holding the evidence inadmissible.
Appellant, however, contends that the Rape Shield Law, as applied below, improperly infringed upon his right of confrontation guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. ' Although the United States Supreme Court has not ruled directly on any of the numerous, recently enacted rape shield laws, in Davis v. Alaska, 415 U.S. 308, 94 S.Ct. 1105, 39 L.Ed.2d 347 (1974), it considered a criminal defendant's Sixth Amendment right of confrontation with respect to a juvenile law which shielded a prosecution witness from cross-examination based on his juvenile record.
In Davis, the prosecution witness testified that he had found abandoned and recently stolen property near his home and reported this to police. The witness also identified the defendant as a man he had seen in the vicinity the night before he discovered the stolen property. The defendant sought to impeach the witness by introducing evidence of the witness' juvenile record for burglary and his current probationary status. The defendant argued that since the stolen property turned up suspiciously close to the witness' home, the witness himself could easily have been a prime suspect. The fact and nature of the witness' juvenile record and probationary status would tend to cast more suspicion on the witness and thus augment his motive to falsely identify defendant in order to shift official attention away from himself. The lower court in Davis excluded evidence of the witness' juvenile history relying on a state statute flatly prohibiting admission of such evidence against the juvenile in subsequent proceedings.
In holding that the lower court's application of the state statute had violated the defendant's Sixth Amendment right of confrontation, the Davis court stated:
The Sixth Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the right of an accused in a criminal prosecution "to be confronted with the witnesses against him." This right is secured for defendants in state as well as federal criminal proceedings under Pointer v. Texas, 380 US 400, 13 L Ed 2d 923, 85 S Ct 1065 (1965). Confrontation means more than being allowed to confront the witness physically. "Our cases construing the [confrontation] clause hold that a primary interest secured by it is the right of cross-examination." Douglas v. Alabama, 380 US 415, 418, 13 L Ed 2d 934, 85 S Ct 1074 (1965)....
Cross-examination is the principal means by which the believability of a witness and the truth of his testimony are tested. Subject always to the broad discretion of a trial judge to preclude repetitive and unduly harassing interrogation, . the cross-examiner has traditionally been allowed to impeach, i.e., discredit, the witness. . [One] attack on the witness' credibility is effected by means of cross-examination directed toward revealing possible biases, prejudices, or ulterior motives of the witness as they may relate directly to issues or personalities in the case at hand. The partiality of a witness is subject to exploration at trial, and is "always relevant as discrediting the witness and affecting the weight of his testimony." 3A J. Wigmore Evidence § 940, p 775 (Chad-bourn rev 1970). We have recognized that the exposure of a witness' motivation in testifying is a proper and important function of the constitutionally protected right of cross-examination. Greene v McElroy, 360 US 474, 496, 3 L Ed 2d 1377, 79 S Ct 1400 (1959).
Davis v. Alaska, 415 U.S. at 315-17, 94 S.Ct. at 1109-1111 (footnote omitted). See also Commonwealth v. Slaughter, 482 Pa. 538, 394 A.2d 453 (1978); Commonwealth v. Mines, 321 Pa.Super. 529, 468 A.2d 1115 (1983).
Although Alaska's legitimate interest in promoting rehabilitation by preserving a juvenile's anonymity was recognized, the Court held that where a criminal defendant sought to introduce significant evidence of bias, the defend ant's right of confrontation was paramount to the state's policy of protecting and rehabilitating juveniles. The Court stated that
[wjhatever temporary embarrassment might result to Green or his family by disclosure of his juvenile record— if the prosecution insisted on using him to make its case — is outweighed by petitioner's right to probe into the influence of possible bias in the testimony of a crucial identification witness.
Davis v. Alaska, 415 U.S. at 319, 94 S.Ct. at 1112.
We find the juvenile statutes in Davis and the Rape Shield Law in this case strikingly similar. Both laws are designed to protect designated classes of persons by shielding them from the public humiliation and opprobrium which would naturally flow from the disclosure of the suppressed evidence; both laws seek to afford the designated classes an opportunity to start anew. Compare In re Gault, 387 U.S. 1, 87 S.Ct. 1428, 18 L.Ed.2d 527 (1967) with Commonwealth v. Strube, 274 Pa.Super. 199, 418 A.2d 365 (1979), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 992, 101 S.Ct. 527, 66 L.Ed.2d 288 (1980). We can not distinguish the present case from Davis v. Alaska, supra, and therefore are constrained to reverse and remand for a new trial. In so holding, we note that other jurisdictions which have considered like challenges to their rape shield laws are in accord. See State v. LaClair, 121 N.H. 743, 433 A.2d 1326 (1981); Marion v. State, 267 Ark. 345, 590 S.W.2d 288 (1979); State v. Jalo, 27 Or.App. 845, 557 P.2d 1359 (1976); Maryland v. Delawder, 28 Md.App. 212, 344 A.2d 446 (1975); Annot., 1 A.L.R. 4th 283 (1980). See also Tanford and Bocchino, Rape Victim Shield Laws and the Sixth Amendment, 128 U.Pa.L.Rev. 544 (1980).
While we hold that Pennsylvania's Rape Shield Law may not be used to exclude relevant evidence showing witness' bias or attacking credibility, we do not hold that all material evidence is necessarily admissible. Although logically relevant, evidence tending to show the victim's prejudice or lack of credibility may be excluded if "it would so inflame the minds of the jurors that its probative value is outweighed by unfair prejudice." Commonwealth v. Stewart, 304 Pa.Super. 382, 387, 450 A.2d 732, 734 (1982) (quoting Commonwealth v. Strube, 274 Pa.Super. 199, 216, 418 A.2d 365, 374 (1979) (citations omitted), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 992, 101 S.Ct. 527, 66 L.Ed.2d 288 (1980)). Cf. Fed.R. Evid. 403 ("Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.... "). This balancing determination between probative value and unfair prejudice should be made by the trial court at an in camera hearing similar to that outlined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3104(b). At this hearing, the trial court should determine the following as a matter of record to be preserved for appellate review: (1) whether the proposed evidence is relevant to show bias or motive or to attack credibility; (2) whether the probative value of the evidence outweighs its prejudicial effect; and (3) whether there are alternative means of proving bias or motive or to challenge credibility.
We emphasize that our holding today is not meant to limit the importance of the general principles embodied in the Rape Shield Law, particularly, that evidence of sexual conduct with third persons is irrelevant to prove either general moral defect or consent of the victim. We also reaffirm the trial court's responsibility to limit repetitive and unnecessarily harrassing cross-examination in all cases, but especially these most sensitive situations. But, in spite of the trial court's appropriately broad discretion in controlling the examination of witnesses, we cannot approve the complete elimination of a relevant and crucial line of cross-examination. We therefore hold that insofar as the Rape Shield Law purports to prohibit the admission of evidence which may logically demonstrate a witness' bias, interest or prejudice or which properly attacks the witness' credibility, it unconstitutionally infringes upon an accused's right of confrontation under the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.
Reversed and remanded to the lower court for a hearing in accordance with this Opinion. If, as a result of that hearing, the court decides that the evidence offered in support of defendant's claim of bias or challenging the witness' credibility should be admitted, a new trial shall proceed. If the court decides that such evidence should not be admitted, a new appeal may be taken. Jurisdiction relinquished.
POPOVICH, J., concurs in the result of the opinion.
WIEAND, J., files concurring and dissenting opinion.
CIRILLO and MONTEMURO, JJ., join concurring and dissenting opinion by WIEAND, J.
. 18 Pa.C.S. § 3122.
. 18 Pa.C.S. § 6301.
. 18 Pa.C.S. § 4302.
. 18 Pa.C.S. § 901 and 3123(5).
. Appellant also received three separate, but concurrent sentences of one and one-half to three years imprisonment each.
. 18 Pa.C.S. § 3104 provides:
§ 3104. Evidence of victim's sexual conduct.
(a) General rule. — Evidence of specific instances of the alleged victim's past sexual conduct, opinion evidence of the alleged victim's past sexual conduct, and reputation evidence of the alleged victim's past sexual conduct shall not be admissible in prosecutions under this chapter except evidence of the alleged victim's past sexual conduct with the defendant where consent of the alleged victim is at issue and such evidence is otherwise admissible pursuant to the rules of evidence.
(b) Evidentiary proceedings. — A defendant who proposes to offer evidence of the alleged victim's past sexual conduct pursuant to subsection (a) shall file a written motion and offer of proof at the time of trial. If, at the time of trial, the court determines that the motion and offer of proof are sufficient on their faces, the court shall order an in camera hearing and shall make findings on the record as to the relevance and admissibility of the proposed evidence pursuant to the standards set forth in subsection (a).
. The only express exception to this broad prohibition is where consent is an issue and the sexual conduct is with defendant. This case, however, involves statutory rape where consent is not at issue, and, further, the conduct here involves a third person, not defendant-appellant. Consequently, this exception does not come into play.
. The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides, "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right . to be confronted by the witnesses against him." The same right is protected by Article 1, Section 9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.
. We also note that in contrast to Commonwealth v. Duncan, supra, this constitutional question has been properly preserved for our review. Contrary to the contention of the Attorney General, the question was raised generally in post-verdict motions and fully briefed before the lower court. See Commonwealth v. Quartman, 312 Pa.Super. 349, 458 A.2d 994 (1983); Commonwealth v. Holmes, 315 Pa.Super. 256, 461 A.2d 1268 (1983). Cf. Commonwealth v. Burton, 491 Pa. 13, 417 A.2d 611 (1980); Commonwealth v. Davenport, 307 Pa.Super. 102, 452 A.2d 1058 (1982).
. Appellant also offered the evidence of prosecutrix' sexual relations with her brother to show her source of sexual knowledge. The prosecutrix' description of the sexual act in question was such that it demonstrated a knowledge of adult male physiology which was likely only acquired through actual experience. Appellant argued that if the source of prosecutrix' sexual knowledge were left unexplained, the jury would infer that a child of such tender years had obtained it from what appeared to be the only available source: the appellant. We agree with appellant that under these circumstances, the evidence may be relevant to show the witness' source of knowledge. See, e.g., State v. Howard, 121 N.H. 53, 426 A.2d 457 (1981). We emphasize, however, that evidence of prior sexual conduct to show source of knowledge should be admitted in only limited circumstances. On the record before us, we decline to decide whether such evidence will be admissible in this matter. That determination is properly left to the court below which must also weigh the potentially unfair prejudice to the prosecutrix against the probative value of the testimony. See Commonwealth v. Stewart, 304 Pa.Super. 382, 450 A.2d 732 (1982). See also 1A Wigmore, Evidence § 62, at 1311 (Tillers rev. 1983).
. The use of in camera hearing procedures to determine whether the proffered evidence is admissible has been adopted in other states. See, e.g., Marion v. State, 267 Ark. 345, 590 S.W.2d 288 (1979) (Arkansas rape shield statute provides for an in camera hearing and probative value — unfair prejudice assessment); State v. Clarke, Iowa, 343 N.W.2d 158 (1984) (Iowa rape shield law provides for written motion and offer of proof, in camera hearing, and probative value-unfair prejudice assessment); Commonwealth v. Frey, 390 Mass. 245, 454 N.E.2d 478 (1983) (Massachusetts rape shield act provides for an in camera hearing and a relevance-prejudice assessment).
. See note 10 supra.
. We find that other issues raised by appellant were either correctly decided by the court below, or unnecessary to reach in light of our holding.