Opinion ID: 1790359
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: testimony of sexual abuse by children

Text: The Appellant's son, Donald Oakes, testified about Appellant's sexual abuse of him, both in Kentucky and Rhode Island, prior to, and after, the alleged murder of his mother, Marlene Major. In fact, Marlene had caught Appellant sexually abusing him and had confronted Appellant about it, indicating she was going to divorce him. This event was noted in her diary, which she intimated to others would turn up if anything happened to her. It did. Oakes also testified about arguments he witnessed between his parents over his sexual abuse by the Appellant and about being beaten by Appellant after he had been questioned about the sexual abuse by the Kentucky police in Rhode Island, the Appellant having accused Oakes of giving information about him to the police. His daughter, Lalona Bramble, was allowed to describe in detail the sexual abuse she also suffered, a death threat made to her by her father, as well as her father's arrest in Rhode Island on the charges of sexual abuse that occurred in Rhode Island. However, the sexual abuse of the daughter, Lalona, did not begin until sometime after Marlene's disappearance, after Appellant and the children had relocated to Rhode Island. Accepting the Commonwealth's arguments that this evidence was admissible, not only to prove motive, but for reasons it was so inextricably intertwined with other essential evidence, the trial court denied the Appellant's motions and objections to its entry into evidence. Relevant evidence which is probative of an element of the charged crime is admissible, even though the evidence may also prove commission of other crimes. Sanders v. Commonwealth, 801 S.W.2d 665 (Ky.1990). Yet, the question of whether the probative value of the evidence outweighs the prejudicial effect is within the discretion of the trial court. Rake v. Commonwealth, 450 S.W.2d 527 (Ky.1970). And lastly, the trial court's determination as to the balance is subject to review under an abuse of discretion standard. Johnson v. Commonwealth, 105 S.W.3d 430 (Ky.2003). Although the judge has discretion in balancing the probative value as against the danger of prejudice, the judge must apply KRE 404 cautiously and eliminate evidence which is relevant only as proof of a defendant's propensity to commit a certain type of crime. Commonwealth v. English, 993 S.W.2d 941, 945 (Ky.1999) and Daniel v. Commonwealth, 905 S.W.2d 76 (Ky.1995). Indeed, in reviewing the trial judge's balancing under KRE 403, the appellate court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to its proponent, giving the evidence its maximum reasonable probative force and its minimum reasonable prejudicial value. Turpin v. Kassulke, 26 F.3d 1392, 1399, 1400 (6th Cir.1994). Although evidence is not admissible to show a lustful inclination, Pendleton v. Commonwealth, 685 S.W.2d 549, 552 (Ky.1985), we have noted the same evidence may be admissible for other reasons, including motive. Price v. Commonwealth, 31 S.W.3d 885, 888 (Ky.2000); KRE 404(b)(1) and (2). Having considered the above evidence within the context of its presentation, the testimony of Donald Oakes, as to his sexual abuse by the Appellant, both prior to, and after the disappearance of Marlene Major, was appropriate and admissible under KRE 404(b)(1) as proof of motive. Price, supra . His testimony about Appellant beating him after his interview by the police officers is evidence which we have recognized as an expression of a sense of guilt. Rodriguez v. Commonwealth, 107 S.W.3d 215, 219, 220 (Ky.2003). The jury could well believe the beating was designed to cover up evidence of Appellant's guilt or to prevent further disclosures. However, the testimony of the daughter, Lalona Bramble, as to her sexual abuse, though terrible, had no relevance to the issues involved in the murder; nor could it be said to be so inextricably intertwined with the other evidence as to have necessarily been admissible. The key to understanding this exception is the word inextricably. The exception relates only to evidence that must come in because it is so interwoven with the evidence of the crime charged that its introduction is unavoidable. Funk v. Commonwealth, 842 S.W.2d 476, 480 (Ky.1993). The abuse of Lalona Bramble did not occur until after the disappearance of Marlene Major and then, only sometime after they relocated to Rhode Island. There is simply nothing in the evidence from which we could conclude Lalona's abuse was in anyway tied to the motive for the murder of Marlene. Nor does it supply, or support, any other reasonably related issue. In Price, supra , we held testimony of the sexual assault shortly after the murder, admissible. But there was implicit evidence tying the sexual abuse in as a motive for the murder and the sexual abuse had also pre-existed the murder. Here it's simply a matter of logic. Marlene knew of Donald's abuse by the Appellant and had even recorded it in her diary and threatened to leave Appellant over it. As in Price , one could argue Appellant's lust for the son was, at least in part, the reason for her murder; or that otherwise, she was killed since she had threatened to, or might, disclose it. One theory (motive) makes the continuation of his abuse in Rhode Island relevant in support of this notion. KRE 404(b)(1). Proof of its continuation in Rhode Island is important so as to show its significance to Appellant  its absence would have made the theory less likely  its continuation made it more likely. KRE 401. However, the fact of Donald's abuse (does not, by itself) make Lalona's later abuse in Rhode Island relevant under KRE 404(b)(1) and (2), since there is no evidence we can discern, even implicit, that it played a part in the dynamics of any confrontation between Appellant and Marlene at least from Marlene's state of mind (It had not happened yet). And there was no evidence from which it could be reasonably argued Donald's abuse played any part in Appellant's state of mind. As to Lalona, it was an unconnected crime for which he served ten years. Thus, the introduction of evidence of the subsequent abuse of Lalona Bramble, occurring only after the family moved to Rhode Island, was an abuse of discretion, erroneous and prejudicial.