Opinion ID: 2508156
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Exclusion of Evidence Pertaining to Victim's Prior Sexual Activity

Text: [¶ 29] Prior to trial, the State filed a Motion Regarding Victim's Prior Sexual Conduct or Reputation seeking to exclude any evidence of TD's prior sexual conduct or reputation on the basis that Watters had not complied with Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-312(a). That statute sets out a procedure for the introduction of evidence of a victim's prior sexual conduct or reputation in any prosecution for a defined set of crimes, including first- and second-degree sexual assault: (a) In any prosecution under W.S. 6-2-302 through 6-2-305 [6-2-304] or for any lesser included offense, if evidence of the prior sexual conduct of the victim, reputation evidence or opinion evidence as to the character of the victim is to be offered the following procedure shall be used: (i) A written motion shall be made by the defendant to the court at least ten (10) days prior to the trial stating that the defense has an offer of proof of the relevancy of evidence of the sexual conduct of the victim and its relevancy to the defense; (ii) The written motion shall be accompanied by affidavits in which the offer of proof is stated; (iii) If the court finds the offer of proof sufficient, the court shall order a hearing in chambers, and at the hearing allow the questioning of the victim regarding the offer of proof made by the defendant and other pertinent evidence; (iv) At the conclusion of the hearing, if the court finds that the probative value of the evidence substantially outweighs the probability that its admission will create prejudice, the evidence shall be admissible pursuant to this section. The court may make an order stating what evidence may be introduced by the defendant, which order may include the nature of the questions to be permitted. (b) This section does not limit the introduction of evidence as to prior sexual conduct of the victim with the actor. (c) Any motion or affidavit submitted pursuant to this section is privileged information and shall not be released or made available for public use or scrutiny in any manner, including posttrial [sic] proceedings. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-312 (LexisNexis 2003). The trial court considered the motion at a hearing held the morning of trial. Initially, defense counsel stated there was no intent to introduce conduct or reputation evidence. However, he backed off that position and conceded that the defense did want to inquire of TD whether she had ever had sexual relations with her foster brother. Defense counsel attempted to maneuver around the prohibition of § 6-2-312(a) by arguing that there was a note in the police report indicating that TD had admitted prior sexual contact with that person and, therefore, the inquiry went towards TD's veracity rather than her reputation. The trial court rejected Watters' argument. The court concluded that Watters was seeking to present conduct evidence and that he had failed to present a motion and affidavits for an offer of proof as required by § 6-2-312(a). The State's motion was granted, and Watters was prohibited from presenting any evidence of the prior sexual conduct of the victim or any reputation or opinion evidence as to her character. Watters was allowed to make inquiries into the victim's knowledge of sex and the scope and nature of any sex education she may have had. [¶ 30] On appeal, Watters argues that evidence of TD's alleged prior sexual relationship with her foster brother was relevant to the question of whether she had the capacity to consent and that the trial court erred in barring it. Watters' argument is fatally flawed by his assumption that defense counsel successfully distinguished this evidence from that generally excluded by § 6-2-312. Watters' sole reference in his brief to that statute reads: The defense distinguished this type of testimony from character or reputation testimony such as might fall under W.S. § 6-2-312. We agree that evidence of a sexual relationship between TD and her foster brother is not character evidence through reputation or opinion. It is, however, evidence of prior sexual conduct. Section 6-2-312 is clear and unambiguous  evidence of a victim's prior sexual conduct and reputation or opinion evidence of their character is not admissible in prosecutions for first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree sexual assault unless a written motion accompanied by affidavits in which an offer of proof of the relevancy of the evidence is made at least ten days prior to trial and the trial court finds the offer of proof sufficient. The statute uses the word shall indicating a legislative intent that this procedure is a mandatory prerequisite to the admission of this evidence. Heinrich v. State, 638 P.2d 641, 645-46 (Wyo.1981). The record shows that Watters never attempted to comply with the requirements of § 6-2-312 prior to seeking admission of the evidence. On appeal, Watters argues the relevancy of this evidence to his defense but he does not tell us why he should be excused from complying with the statute. Watters' argument is simply not responsive to the district court's ruling and is not cogent. We decline to address it further and summarily affirm the trial court's decision to bar the evidence of the victim's alleged prior sexual conduct.