Opinion ID: 1256218
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to Present Expert Testimony

Text: The State argues that the PCR judge erred in granting Dempsey relief on the basis that counsel was ineffective for failing to offer expert testimony on child sexual abuse to rebut the testimony of the state's expert witness. We agree. At trial, the State called Dr. Donald Elsey, a therapist at the Low Country Children's Center, to testify as an expert on child sexual abuse. Dr. Elsey testified that it was his opinion that the victim had been sexually abused. In addition, the State presented expert testimony from Dr. Elizabeth Baker who performed the victim's physical examination. Dr. Baker testified that she found no physical evidence that the victim was sexually abused, but that it was likely that if someone was assaulted in the manner in which the victim alleged, there would be no physical evidence of the assault. Dempsey's counsel did not call an expert to rebut the State's expert testimony because he believed that the lack of physical evidence of abuse, by itself, was enough to rebut the state's expert testimony. First, because Dempsey failed to have an expert on child sexual abuse testify at the PCR hearing, we hold that any finding of prejudice is merely speculative. Second, we find that counsel's decision not to call an expert witness to rebut the state's expert witness was a legitimate trial strategy. See McLaughlin v. State, 352 S.C. 476, 483-484, 575 S.E.2d 841, 844-845 (2003) (holding that where counsel articulates a valid reason for employing a certain trial strategy, such conduct will not be deemed ineffective assistance of counsel.) Accordingly, we hold that the PCR court erred in granting relief on the basis that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to call an expert witness on child sexual abuse.