Opinion ID: 2100487
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Testimony of Julie Griffey regarding Habit and Profile Characteristics

Text: Appellant next argues that reversible error occurred when Ms. Griffey testified regarding the general habits and characteristics of the typical child sex abuse perpetrator. Because such testimony is expressly prohibited pursuant to Dyer v. Commonwealth, 816 S.W.2d 647, 652 (Ky.1991) and Miller v. Commonwealth, 77 S.W.3d 566, 572 (Ky.2002), we must reverse Appellant's conviction and remand for a new trial. Ms. Griffey testified that in her twenty-seven years of experience counseling child sex abuse victims, she found that perpetrators of such crimes tended to possess certain common characteristics  they tend to be members of the victim's family or have some kind of special access to the victim, they tend to be in a role of some power, such as a parental or supervisory position, and they tend to be older than the victim. Ms. Griffey went on to testify that it is common for the perpetrator to groom the potential victim, by providing praise, gifts, or economic assistance, as a way of breaking down the victim's defenses. Ms. Griffey further testified that it was not unusual for perpetrators to abuse only some of the children in a specific household and that perpetrators will tend to target only certain children whom they believe are easily intimidated by their authority and thus, more likely to capitulate to abuse and then keep it secret. Appellant's counsel objected to the testimony, however, his objection was overruled by the trial court. In Dyer, the prosecution presented evidence in a child sex abuse case which tended to show that the defendant possessed characteristics of a pedophile. 816 S.W.2d at 652. We held that such profile evidence is inadmissible in criminal cases to prove either guilt or innocence. Id. In Miller, where a victim had delayed reporting of abuse, we held improper the testimony of a seasoned child sex abuse investigator stating that it was common, in her experience, for sexually abused victims to delay reporting of the abuse. 77 S.W.3d at 571-72. We held that a party cannot introduce evidence of the habit of a class of individuals either to prove that another member of the class acted the same way under similar circumstances or to prove that the person was a member of that class because he/she acted the same way under similar circumstances. Id. (citing Johnson v. Commonwealth, 885 S.W.2d 951, 953 (Ky.1994)). Ms. Griffey's testimony regarding the typical sex abuse perpetrator unmistakably touched on both the habits and the profile characteristics of that class of individuals which we have held is not relevant or permissible for the jury to consider during the Commonwealth's case-in-chief. The Commonwealth contends that a portion of the testimony was offered in rebuttal to anticipated arguments and evidence which were to be offered by Appellant. We find this argument to be a non-issue in this case because there is absolutely no authority for the concept of preemptive rebuttals by the Commonwealth. Appellant was alleged to possess many of the characteristics and habits described by Ms. Griffey and the entirety of Ms. Griffey's testimony was reviewed a second time by the jury during its deliberations in this case. A careful review of these circumstances, when viewed in light of the entire record, compels us to deem the error in this case prejudicial and as such, Appellant is entitled to a new trial pursuant to the settled law. Due to our holding, we elect not to address Appellant's additional arguments regarding prosecutorial misconduct or the trial court's refusal to grant his motion to correct or modify the record pursuant to CR 75.08 because such alleged errors are either (1) unlikely to recur on retrial, or (2) they are rendered moot by this opinion. The judgments of the Barren Circuit Court are vacated; the case is remanded for a new trial consistent with this opinion. All concur. ROACH and WINTERSHEIMER, J.J., concur in result only.