Opinion ID: 1414421
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Police Statements

Text: Petitioner argues post-arrest statements he made to police were erroneously admitted into evidence. We agree. [17] At trial, Sergeant Belk testified when he and Detective Frazier went to interview Petitioner, he requested that Sergeant Belk come back another time without Detective Frazier because he was uncomfortable around adult women. When Belk came back later alone, Petitioner told him he had fantasies about children. Detective Frazier testified to essentially the same thing. No written statement was admitted into evidence. The trial judge overruled Petitioner's objection to any testimony concerning any fantasies or likes or dislikes of females. Generally, only those parts of a confession or statement made to police which are relevant and material to the crime charged should be received into evidence. State v. Gamble, 247 S.C. 214, 146 S.E.2d 709 (1966), overruled on other grounds, State v. Torrence, 305 S.C. 45, 406 S.E.2d 315 (1991). For the same reasons as discussed supra in Issue I, we find Petitioner's general sexual attitudes were not relevant or material to the crime charged because they were admitted to show character. See, e.g., Stevens v. State, 748 P.2d 771, 774 (Alaska Ct.App.1988) (error, in trial for attempted sexual abuse of a minor, in admitting defendant's statements to police regarding his sexual fantasies about homosexuality and children because it was relevant, if at all, only to show [defendant's] propensity to commit a sex crime); Erickson v. State, 565 So.2d 328, 330-31 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.1990), cert. denied, 576 So.2d 286 (Fla.1991) (error in admitting defendant's statements to psychiatrist regarding sexual fantasies about female children). Therefore, the judge committed error in allowing the jury to hear these statements. For the foregoing reasons, we find it was error to admit the above evidence and testimony. [18] The opinion of the Court of Appeals affirming Petitioner's conviction is therefore reversed and the case is hereby remanded for a new trial. REVERSED AND REMANDED. BURNETT, J., GEORGE T. GREGORY Jr., and THOMAS W. COOPER Jr., Acting Associate Justices, concur. MOORE, Acting C.J., dissenting in separate opinion.