Opinion ID: 2570086
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: {2} On the night in question, Stephen F., who was then fifteen, and B.G., who was sixteen, engaged in sexual intercourse. Stephen, a long-time friend of B.G.'s brother, was spending the night at her family's house, as he often did. B.G., Stephen, and her brother shared an alcoholic beverage while they watched a movie in her bedroom. After initially leaving her bedroom to sleep on the living room couch, Stephen came back to her room and, according to B.G., forced her to engage in oral, vaginal, and anal sex. Stephen then left her room, and spent the rest of the night in the living room. In the morning, B.G. told her mother that Stephen had raped her. {3} There is no dispute that Stephen and B.G. engaged in sexual intercourse. Stephen's sole defense was that B.G. consented, and then fabricated the rape allegation to avoid being punished by her parents. Stephen based his defense on B.G.'s deposition testimony. During the deposition, B.G. explained that her parents are opposed to premarital sex because of their deeply held religious convictions. Significantly, B.G. also explained that she had previously been punished when her parents learned from her brother that she had engaged in consensual sex with someone else. To establish a motive to lie about the present event, Stephen wanted to cross-examine B.G. about this prior incident. {4} Stephen requested a hearing pursuant to Rule 11-413 NMRA, Sex crimes; testimony; limitations; in camera hearing, to determine the admissibility of his proffered evidence. Rule 11-413 provides: A. Evidence of the victim's past sexual conduct. In prosecutions under Sections 30-9-11 to 30-9-15 NMSA 1978, evidence of the victim's past sexual conduct, opinion evidence thereof or of reputation for past sexual conduct shall not be admitted unless, and only to the extent that the court finds, that evidence of the victim's past sexual conduct is material and relevant to the case and that its inflammatory or prejudicial nature does not outweigh its probative value. B. Pretrial motion required. If such evidence is proposed to be offered, the defendant must file a written motion prior to trial. The court shall hear such pretrial motion prior to trial at an in camera hearing to determine whether such evidence is admissible under Paragraph A of this rule. . . . If such proposed evidence is deemed admissible, the court shall issue a written order stating what evidence may be introduced by the defendant and stating the specific questions to be permitted. See also NMSA 1978, § 30-9-16 (1993) (New Mexico's rape shield statute). {5} The trial court held a pre-trial hearing on Stephen's motion. Stephen argued that he had a right under the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and under Article II, Section 14 of the New Mexico Constitution, to cross-examine B.G., and reveal her motive to lie. The trial court, after denying Stephen's motion for an in camera hearing, prohibited Stephen from cross-examining B.G. or any other witness, such as her parents, about the prior sexual encounter, finding specifically that the prejudicial aspects of this would greatly outweigh the probative value. The trial court explicitly chose not to address Stephen's Sixth Amendment argument. The Court of Appeals, analyzing the issue under Stephen's Sixth Amendment constitutional right to confront witnesses, reversed the trial court and remanded for a new trial. State v. Stephen F., 2007-NMCA-025, ¶¶ 13-18, 22, 141 N.M. 199, 152 P.3d 842.