Opinion ID: 1578391
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: evidence of complainant's lifestyle

Text: Defendant asserts that the trial court denied his Sixth Amendment right of confrontation and cross-examination by precluding any inquiry into evidence of complainant's lifestyle. Defendant maintains that this evidence was essential to impeach complainant's credibility and to show her bias against defendant. Specifically, defendant argues that the evidence would have refuted complainant's testimony that she was naive and unsophisticated and supported his defense of consensual intercourse. The trial court excluded the evidence on the ground that it was immaterial to the charges in the instant case. The Court of Appeals stated: Defendant also argues that the trial court erred in restricting the cross-examination of complainant and her mother with regard to complainant's allegedly `streetwise' life-style. A trial judge is afforded wide discretionary latitude in limiting cross-examination, and his decision will not be reversed on appeal absent a clear abuse of that discretion. People v Taylor, 386 Mich 204, 208; 191 NW2d 310 (1971). Here, defendant was given the opportunity to cross-examine complainant and her mother on all aspects of the case. It was only when the questioning turned to complainant's character and life-style that the court restricted the line of inquiry. We are not persuaded that the court abused its discretion. See 1 Gillespie, Michigan Criminal Law & Procedure (2d ed), § 401, p 613. Unpublished opinion per curiam of the Court of Appeals, decided September 16, 1981 (Docket No. 52145). We agree with the conclusion of the Court of Appeals. [15] In People v Williams, 416 Mich 25; 330 NW2d 823 (1982), this Court was confronted with a similar issue in a first-degree criminal sexual conduct case. There we held that evidence of the complainant's reputation as a prostitute was irrelevant to impeach her credibility and to the issue of consent. The exclusion of evidence regarding complainant's lifestyle is even more compelling in the present case. First, as previously mentioned, there is no issue of consent in a statutory rape charge because a victim below the age of consent is conclusively presumed to be legally incapable of giving his or her consent to sexual intercourse. [16] Second, any evidence that complainant was sexually experienced would be irrelevant to attack her character for truthfulness. MRE 608. Finally, we find no logical connection between such evidence and complainant's alleged bias in filing charges against defendant. Thus, on the basis of the foregoing, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in excluding this evidence.