Opinion ID: 2170937
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Rape-Shield Evidence

Text: For his final point on appeal, Martin argues that the trial court erred in refusing to allow him to present evidence about Cassy's sexual conduct with two boys occurring after Martin was arrested, but prior to trial. The record reflects that during the pretrial in camera hearing, Martin proffered evidence showing that after Cassy made the allegations against him, she had been having sexual relations with two boys, both of whom Martin claims that he had been attempting to keep her away from. He also proffered evidence that Cassy had admitted to the prosecutor that she had become pregnant by one of the boys and later delivered a child out of wedlock. Martin argued that the evidence was relevant to support his theory that Cassy had fabricated the charges against him in order to get him removed from the house, so that she could date the boys that Martin had prohibited her from seeing. In response, the prosecutor argued that the evidence of Cassy's prior sexual conduct was not essential to the defense's theory. He contended that Martin could fully pursue his defense without referring to her prior sexual conduct. The prosecutor even averred that Martin could ask Cassy whether Martin had disciplined her because he believed that she was having sexual intercourse with a boy. He asserted, however, that whether Martin's belief was true was irrelevant to his defense. Finally, the prosecutor argued that the proffered evidence was inappropriate character evidence that would be unfairly prejudicial to the State's case. The trial court ruled that the evidence was not totally irrelevant to Martin's defense, but that any probative value of the evidence was outweighed by the prejudicial effect on the victim and the State's case. We find no error with this ruling. The rape-shield statute, section 16-42-101, provides that evidence of a victim's prior sexual conduct is inadmissible at trial except where the court, at an in camera hearing, makes a written determination that such evidence is relevant to a fact in issue and that its probative value outweighs its inflammatory or prejudicial nature. Graydon v. State, 329 Ark. 596, 953 S.W.2d 45 (1997). This court has interpreted the phrase prior sexual conduct broadly, such that it encompasses sexual conduct that occurs prior to trial, not just conduct occurring prior to the time of the alleged rape. Short v. State, 349 Ark. 492, 79 S.W.3d 313 (2002); Laughlin v. State, 316 Ark. 489, 872 S.W.2d 848 (1994). The purpose of the statute is to shield victims of rape or sexual abuse from the humiliation of having their personal conduct, unrelated to the charges pending, paraded before the jury and the public when such conduct is irrelevant to the defendant's guilt. State v. Babbs, 334 Ark. 105, 971 S.W.2d 774 (1998); Graydon, 329 Ark. 596, 953 S.W.2d 45. Accordingly, the trial court is vested with a great deal of discretion in determining whether the evidence is relevant, and we will not overturn the trial court's decision unless it constituted clear error or a manifest abuse of discretion. Id. The evidence sought to be admitted by Martin is just the sort of evidence that the rape-shield statute prohibits. It was improper character evidence offered to show that the victim was an immoral person. This fact is evidenced by Martin's brief on appeal, in which he states that the jury should have been informed that the victim was capable of other immorality and was not an innocent little child wronged by the Defendant. Given the obvious potential that this evidence could be used to inflame the jury, the trial court conducted the appropriate balancing test set out in section 16-42-101(c) and concluded that the probative value of the evidence outweighed its prejudicial nature. See Butler, 349 Ark. 252, 82 S.W.3d 152 (citing Harris v. State, 322 Ark. 167, 907 S.W.2d 729 (1995); Ark.Code Ann. § 16-42-101(c) (Repl.1999)). We cannot say that the trial court's ruling was clearly erroneous or a manifest abuse of discretion. Affirmed. THORNTON, J., not participating.