Opinion ID: 870427
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Efficacy of Alternative Evidence

Text: Evidence regarding uncharged prior bad acts occurring outside of this state was unnecessary inasmuch as the presence of alternative evidence, i.e., evidence of acts within this state, was more than ample to establish Petitioner's guilt for the charged offenses. Efficacy of alternative evidence refers to the availability of other evidence on the same issues[.] HRE Rule 403 cmt. In the instant case, the evidence relating to acts that occurred in Hawai'i satisfied this requirement, inasmuch as such evidence was far more probative of the charged offenses. The majority concedes that the conduct in South Dakota was in substance the same as that in Hawai'i, i.e., alleged sexual contact between [complainant] and [Petitioner]. Majority opinion at ___, 237 P.3d at 1172. However, the Hawai`i evidence also explained how Petitioner was able to engage in sexual relations with complainant while living with others as to the acts actually charged. Assuming, arguendo, that it was necessary to show Petitioner's opportunity to obtain complainant's acquiescence and to avoid detection, the evidence relating to acts in Hawai'i was far more effective in explaining Petitioner's ability to commit the charged offenses.
As noted before, Count 1 covered the period when Petitioner, complainant, and sister lived at the Kamani Trees house with other members of complainant's family. Complainant testified that at the time that she, sister, and Petitioner moved back to Hawai'i and lived in the Kamani Trees house with complainant's parents, she had a close [f]riendship with Petitioner. She confided in Petitioner, he bought her presents, and he was always sticking up for [her], like he was there for [her]. Manifestly, then, their relationship was one of trust, support, and confidence, positioning Petitioner as someone who was the central figure in her life. Complainant's failure to cry out or report the first time Petitioner sexually assaulted her in Hawai'i while sleeping in the same bed with sister was understandable when viewed in the context of how she felt towards Petitioner at that time. Complainant emphasized her need for Petitioner's affection, his help in coping with her troubled relationship with her parents, as well as his role as a supportive friend. The jury could easily infer from their close physical proximity of sleeping in the same bed and living in the same house, and their close personal relationship that she would submit to his advances and not inform others of their relationship. Moreover, the strained relationships she had with her sister and parents made her unwillingness to report such conduct entirely comprehensible under the circumstances. The other instances of Petitioner's sexual relations with complainant were more surreptitious. Complainant testified that she had sexual relations with Petitioner approximately three to five times per month while living in the Kamani Trees house in either the bedroom or the bathroom while others were not present.
Count 2 related to the period of time when the complainant lived with sister and Petitioner at the Aloha Kona house. Complainant's testimony relating to the Aloha Kona house shows how Petitioner continued his pursuit of complainant by lavishing her with attention and affection. She testified that Petitioner would come into her curtained off area early in the morning before he left for work to have her braid his hair and talk to her, telling her [h]ow much he loved [her]. Petitioner continued to create conflict between complainant and her family. According to complainant, Petitioner would tell complainant what sister was doing, what they argued about, if they did, and that her parents [were] trying to take [her] away from him[.] The evidence for Count 2 also established that Petitioner would come into her curtained off area to have sex with complainant at night once or twice a week. Again, this evidence demonstrated how he obtained complainant's acquiescence to sexual acts and avoided detection.
Count 3 covered the period of time when complainant, sister, and Petitioner were living at the Pumehana house, again with complainant living in a curtained off area. Complainant testified that as a result of her closeness with Petitioner, her relationship with sister deteriorated. Petitioner told complainant that sister did not want them to be together. At trial, complainant recounted that she began to call Petitioner [h]igna[,] the Lakota Indian name for husband. When complainant tried to distance herself from Petitioner, she found it difficult because [i]t still felt like [Petitioner] was in control of [her], like he was [her] dad or [her] brother... [or] an older person who was taking care of [her.] Given complainant's view of Petitioner, it would not be surprising that she did not report the abuse. Complainant's references to Petitioner as a companion and husband made her submission to Petitioner manifestly understandable to the jury.
Underlying Counts 1-3 is the evidence that sister did little to prevent the abuse or act on her suspicions, creating the opportunity for Petitioner to engage in sexual acts with complainant. With regard to the Hawai'i evidence, sister testified that she confronted Petitioner about his behavior towards complainant. Sister recounted seeing Petitioner holding hands and kissing complainant, and asserted that they were taking showers together. When sister approached Petitioner about his conduct, she said that he became angry with her. However, she maintained that Petitioner stopped showering with complainant after being confronted. She also knew that Petitioner was going into complainant's room in the middle of the night, but made no attempts to prevent this conduct. Petitioner continued treating complainant like a wife, sending her notes saying he loved her, and wearing rings they had given to each other. When sister asked Petitioner if she and Petitioner could move away but not take complainant with them, Petitioner refused. Sister's testimony established an emotionally abusive relationship in which she was competing with complainant for Petitioner's affection. Moreover, it plainly explained how Petitioner's advances toward complainant were either ignored by sister or were met with no serious challenge. Sister related numerous instances of Petitioner's conduct that manifested Petitioner was having a sexual relationship with complainant, but sister made no meaningful attempt to curb the behavior, alert others, or separate the two. Plainly, sister's self denial in closing her eyes to Petitioner's behavior is probative of how Petitioner had the opportunity to commit the acts in Hawai'i. Because sister was not actively intervening further explains why complainant did not report the sexual acts. Petitioner was the principle authority figure in their household, and, as was apparent from her own testimony, sister's unwillingness to address the issue was apparent. Obviously, then, the evidence of acts within this state constituted substantial alternative evidence of Petitioner's sexual relations and the circumstances that permitted Petitioner to avoid detection. Consequently, the efficacy of the evidence of acts occurring in Hawai'i would exclude prior bad acts evidence.
Additionally, complainant's and sister's testimony regarding the circumstances in Hawai'i provided an abundance of evidence to explain how Petitioner was able to engage in sexual acts with complainant without being reported. It established that complainant had a close relationship with Petitioner and submitted to the sexual relationship. It also revealed that the difficulties complainant had in moving back to Hawai'i and living with her family contributed to fostering such a relationship. The efficacy of this evidence in establishing Petitioner's dominance over complainant and his ability to have unreported sexual relationships would appear self-evident. Furthermore, the superiority of the Hawai'i evidence is clear because it related directly to the charged offenses. Evidence of conduct occurring within this state provided sufficient alternative evidence to the prior act evidence to support the convictions and to explain why complainant consented to Petitioner's sexual advances and did not resist or inform others. Such evidence was efficacious in and of itself. In light of the foregoing, the majority's assertion that Petitioner's conduct of suddenly engag[ing] in sexual acts after having lived with complainant for three years would have been inexplicable, majority opinion at ___, 237 P.3d at 1173, is incorrect. The Hawai`i evidence detailed Petitioner's role as the central figure in complainant's life. The testimony regarding acts occurring outside of this state portrayed Petitioner in much the same way. Plainly, testimony relating to Petitioner's ability to take advantage of his position of influence in complainant's life while in Hawai'i was more than simply alternative evidence of the prior acts occurring outside of Hawai'i. The evidence of prior bad acts had no value other than to show that Petitioner had a propensity to engage in such acts in violation of HRE Rule 404.