Opinion ID: 2384341
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: exclusion of proposed evidence under the rape shield statute

Text: Drymon next asserts that the trial court abused its discretion by ruling that certain proposed incidents of prior sexual conduct by the victims were inadmissible. The admissibility of a victim's prior sexual conduct is determined pursuant to the Rape Shield Statute and is discretionary with the trial court. Laughlin v. State, 316 Ark. 489, 872 S.W.2d 848 (1994). In evaluating the admissibility of such evidence under the statute, the court must determine whether the probative value of the evidence outweighs its inflammatory nature. Id.; Logan v. State, 300 Ark. 35, 776 S.W.2d 341 (1989). We will not disturb the trial court's decision absent a manifest abuse of discretion. Id. We begin by addressing Drymon's claim that each of the victims initiated sexual contact with him on two separate occasions when he was intoxicated. It is settled law that acts of prior consensual conduct between the victim and the accused are admissible only when consent is at issue. State v. Sheard, 315 Ark. 710, 870 S.W.2d 212 (1994); State v. Small, 276 Ark. 26, 631 S.W.2d 616 (1982). Here, the two victims were younger than the age of consent at the time of the alleged conduct; thus, consent patently cannot be a defense in this case. Drymon maintains, however, that he was intoxicated and had no cognizant participation in the two sexual encounters with A.J. and H.J. But this assertion does not resolve the matter in his favor. Voluntary intoxication is not a defense to criminal prosecutions. Spohn v. State, 310 Ark. 500, 837 S.W.2d 873 (1992); Mauppin v. State, 309 Ark. 235, 831 S.W.2d 104 (1992); Cox v. State, 305 Ark. 244, 808 S.W.2d 306 (1991). Likewise, it is not a defense to having sexual relations with minor children. The trial court ruled correctly that this proffered evidence was irrelevant and of no significance in this case. With regard to individual masturbation by the victims, this is not included within the definition of sexual conduct under the Rape Shield Statute. See Ark.Code Ann. §§ 16-42-101(a), 5-14-101 (1987). This court, however, has previously reasoned that irrespective of the Rape Shield Statute incidents of individual masturbation by a victim have no relevance when the question at hand is whether a defendant raped that victim. Logan v. State, supra . Drymon argues that this evidence was intended to demonstrate that the victims had a propensity to initiate sex and to refute the testimony of Dr. Robert Irwin, who testified that the victims' vaginal injuries were caused by some kind of penetration. We view the probative value of this testimony as tenuous at best. Dr. Irwin testified that masturbation with a foreign object would have been painful because of vaginal infection. Moreover, as in the case of prior sexual conduct excluded under the Rape Shield Statute, there is a definite humiliation and embarrassment to the victims associated with such a line of inquiry which is not warranted when the evidentiary value of the evidence is so weak. In light of this, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion in denying the masturbation testimony. Lastly, we turn to the incident of the torn pants worn by A.J., and the testimony of the psychologist relating to the girls' exposure to pornography and the effects of a dysfunctional family. We also note that these acts do not constitute sexual conduct under the Rape Shield Statute. Ark.Code Ann. §§ 5-14-101 and 16-42-101(a) (1987). Furthermore, such evidence falls far short in probative value and, again, would serve only to humiliate the victims. It was not error to exclude this evidence on grounds of relevance. Slater v. State, 310 Ark. 73, 832 S.W.2d 846 (1992).