Opinion ID: 1143057
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: sexual propensities

Text: We reach the same conclusion with regard to Gibson's last claim of error during the guilt phase. During the trial, the prosecutor was permitted, over the objections of defense counsel, to question both Gibson's wife, Roxanne, and his girlfriend, Tracy Grass, about Gibson's requests to have anal intercourse with them. In response to defense counsel's objection, the prosecution argued that inquiry about Gibson's sexual habits was relevant because the medical examiner had found a slight tear in Luevano's anal area, and hence this evidence would establish Gibson's identity as the perpetrator of the crime. Both the wife and the girlfriend testified over objection that Gibson had asked to have anal intercourse with them. However, on cross-examination they both testified that they had declined his invitation, and that he in no way attempted to have anal intercourse with them. This case is similar to our recent decision in Hayes v. State, 660 So.2d 257 (Fla. 1995), where we held that a defendant's altercation with a prior girlfriend was not admissible to prove a subsequent violent attack on another woman. In Hayes we stated: In the instant case, the State sought to prove the identity of the murderer by showing a pattern of allegedly similar behavior by Hayes on a prior occasion. We conclude that, consistent with Drake [ v. State ], [400 So.2d 1217 (Fla. 1981)], there are insufficient points of similarity to the instant offense to warrant admitting evidence of the previous attack. We note that the victim in the prior offense had voluntarily gone out with Hayes before she and Hayes returned to her room, that the victim did not testify that Hayes had sexually assaulted her, that Hayes was charged with only a simple assault (a charge that was later dropped), and that Hayes released the victim and allowed her to leave the room. We also find that any marginal relevance the prior attack may have had to the instant case was substantially outweighed by its prejudicial effect. See § 90.403, Fla. Stat. (1993). In fact, the differences in this case are considerably greater than the differences in Drake. Accordingly, we find that the trial judge erroneously admitted the evidence of the previous attack. Id. at 261-62. As in Hayes, we find that Gibson's conversations with his wife and girlfriend about anal intercourse do not constitute materially relevant evidence to establish that he was the person that violently abused the victim here. This evidence has no more relevance, for example, than a defendant's consensual sexual activities would go to prove the same defendant's commission of a violent sexual battery. Rather, it appears this evidence was used exclusively for the improper purpose of showing Gibson's bad character and sexual propensities. Further, in view of the overwhelming evidence against the defendant, this appears to be a classic case of prosecutorial overkill. However, like the error concerning the cross-examination of Gibson's wife, we conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the error in allowing presentation of this testimony was harmless. See State v. DiGuilio, 491 So.2d 1129, 1139 (Fla. 1986). We have already noted that both the wife and the girlfriend testified that Gibson did not press his request for anal intercourse with them. Fortunately, also, this matter was not emphasized or made a feature of the trial. More importantly, the evidence against Gibson, as outlined above in great detail, was overwhelming. Absent eyewitness identification and a confession, it is difficult to imagine a case in which the State could assemble a more compelling body of evidence. Considering the entire record, we conclude that the error was harmless because it is not reasonably possible that the error could have affected the verdict.