Opinion ID: 2633881
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Exclusion of List of Names in Sorensen's Address Book

Text: During the cross-examination of Lanciann Sorensen's mother, Stephanie Bradish, defense counsel inquired whether she had any evidence that Lanciann was sexually active at about the time of her disappearance. The prosecution objected on relevance grounds. A sidebar discussion was held, at which the defense made an offer of proof that Bradish found a book containing a list of men or boys with whom Sorensen had sexual relations. Defense counsel argued this evidence showed Sorensen was sexually active and therefore it was more likely she made the supposed unwelcome sexual advance toward defendant that caused him to become enraged and strangle her. The trial court sustained the prosecutor's objection, subject to revisiting the issue outside the presence of the jury. At the following noon recess, defendant clarified his offer of proof, contending a list of the names and ages of 16 males found on a page in Sorensen's address book was a list of her sexual partners, and a police report prepared by Officer Valerie Miller, who was investigating the initial missing person's report, mentioned that Bradish told Miller that Sorensen kept a list of men she slept with. Bradish and Officer Miller then testified outside the presence of the jury regarding the list. Bradish said she did not remember telling Miller there was a list of men with whom Sorensen had had sexual relations. In fact, Bradish stated she had no information about Sorensen's sexual activity in general or about the meaning of the list. Bradish did not find the address book until after Sorensen was missing, and Sorensen never had mentioned a list of individuals with whom she had had sexual relations. In Bradish's opinion it was equally likely the list was, or was not, a list of Sorensen's sexual partners. Officer Miller testified that after the missing person's report was. filed, Bradish frequently furnished the officers with the names of individuals who might have had information concerning Sorensen's whereabouts. At some point there was a discussion of Sorensen's boyfriends and sexual partners, which Miller found noteworthy because Sorensen was a minor. Miller did not know where Bradish had obtained her information, but was under the impression Bradish was working off some reference to guide us. It was Miller's understanding that a list of Sorensen's boyfriends existed, and some of the names on this list were those of persons with whom Sorensen had had sexual relations. Miller never saw an actual list of names, and did not recognize the list of 16 names in Sorensen's address book as a list of boyfriends. The trial court found that, even assuming the list was admissible under a hearsay exception and did not constitute prohibited character evidence, defendant had not established a sufficient foundation for its admission. The trial court therefore sustained the prosecutor's objection and excluded the proffered evidence of Sorensen's sexual activity. On appeal, defendant challenges the trial court's decision. We conclude the trial court did not err. [22] Of course, only relevant evidence is admissible. (Evid.Code, § 350.) Sometimes the relevance of evidence depends on the existence of a preliminary fact. [Citations.] The court should exclude the proffered evidence only if the `showing of preliminary facts is too weak to support a favorable determination by the jury.' [Citations.] The decision whether the foundational evidence is sufficiently substantial is a matter within the court's discretion. ( People v. Lucas (1995) 12 Cal.4th 415, 466, 48 Cal.Rptr.2d 525, 907 P.2d 373 ( Lucas ); see also Evid.Code, § 403, subd. (a)(1) [when the relevance of proffered evidence depends upon the existence of a preliminary fact, the proponent of the evidence has the burden of producing sufficient evidence of that fact].) Here, defendant failed to establish as preliminary facts that Bradish and Officer Miller were competent to testify concerning Sorensen's sexual history in general or, specifically, the meaning of the list of names. At most, if one accepts Miller's testimony to the extent it conflicts with that of Bradish, Miller testified only that she believed Bradish had a list of Sorensen's boyfriends, some of whom had had sexual relations with Sorensen. There was no testimony from Miller that the list in Sorensen's address book was the presumed list of sexual partners, and Bradish likewise testified she did not know the significance of the list, having discovered it only after Sorensen was missing. In short, defendant failed to establish as a preliminary fact that the list was what he claimed it to be. Rather, defendant's belief that the list of names chronicled Sorensen's sexual partners was only speculation. The list therefore was irrelevant, and the trial court properly excluded it. ( People v. Scheid (1997) 16 Cal.4th 1, 14, 65 Cal. Rptr.2d 348, 939 P.2d 748 [trial court lacks discretion to admit irrelevant evidence].) In addition, because Bradish testified she only could guess with whom Sorensen may have been sexually involved and Officer Miller also knew of no specifics, the two witnesses had no other relevant evidence to present in that regard. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in excluding the proffered evidence of Sorensen's sexual activities. [23]