Court Opinion

ID: 9566829
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 19:43:45.593347+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:40:36.347526
License: Public Domain

SACKETT, Judge
(dissenting).
I have no disagreement with the majority’s opinion except I cannot find in this record clear proof defendant engaged in a series of acts over a period of time with the victim. The objectionable medical evidence indicates someone penetrated the victim in a series of episodes and repeated times.
Defendant is charged with indecent contact with a child. The crime with which defendant is charged does not require penetration nor is there any evidence of penetration of the victim by defendant at the time of the alleged indecent contact.
The medical evidence1 defendant objected to clearly indicates the victim’s vagina had been dilated by some object and her hymen had been stretched and was not continuous. The medical evidence was also clear that this occurred over a series of episodes and would have been done repeated times. However, there is no evidence connecting this defendant with penetration of the victim’s vagina in a series of episodes or repeated times.2
The doctor’s testimony about vaginal stretching is highly prejudicial. State v. *697Spaulding, 313 N.W.2d 878, 881 (Iowa 1981). The evidence clearly allows the jury to speculate that defendant was involved in a series of episodes or incidents with the victim. See State v. Johnson, 224 N.W.2d 617, 620 (Iowa 1974). In balancing the probative value of other crimes evidence against its potential prejudice, the court must consider the strong tendency on the part of the jury to use the evidence for an improper purpose. See State v. Roth, 403 N.W.2d 762, 766 (Iowa 1987).
Clarity and certainty is required in order to admit evidence of prior acts as an exception to Iowa R.Evid. 404(b):
The proof of similar transactions involving crime must be clearly shown. More suspicion is not enough. The evidence must be such that there can be no room for speculation in the minds of the jury whether the similar crimes attempted to be shown were actually committed or not. (Citations omitted.) However, commission of such offenses need not be established beyond a reasonable doubt.
State v. Fetters, 202 N.W.2d 84, 92 (Iowa 1972) (citations omitted) (emphasis added). See State v. Spargo, 364 N.W.2d 203, 209 (Iowa 1985). In Johnson the court stated:
Proof of the other offenses must be clear. “Mere suspicion is not enough. There must be no room for speculation in the minds of the jury whether the similar crimes attempted to be shown were actually committed or not.” State v. Yarham, 206 Iowa 833, 840, 221 N.W. 493, 496 (1928). As part of this burden, the State must present clear proof that the defendant was culpable in the other acts in question. Crimes of third persons are not relevant. State v. Armstrong, 183 N.W.2d 205, 209-209 (Iowa 1971), cert. denied, 414 U.S. 857, 94 S.Ct. 163, 38, L.Ed.2d 108; State v. Porter, 229 Iowa 882, 886, 294 N.W. 898, 900 (1940); State v. Wackernagel, 118 Iowa 12, 14, 91 N.W. 761, 762 (1902); see State v. Hopkins, 192 N.W.2d 747, 749 (Iowa 1971); cf. United States v. Spica, 413 F.2d 129, 131 (8 Cir.1969) (“it is essential to the admissibility of another distinct offense that the proof be plain, clear, and conclusive, and evidence of a vague and uncertain character is not admissible).”
>|i id # # ⅛ #
In McCormick on Evidence, supra, § 190 at 453-454, the author summarizes the considerations involved in this balancing process:
“... [T]he problem is ... one of balancing, on the one side, the actual need for the other-crimes evidence in the light of the issues and the other evidence available to the prosecution, the convinc-ingness of the evidence that the other crimes were committed and that the accused was the actor, and the strength or weakness of the other-crimes evidence is supporting the issue, and on the other, the degree to which the jury will probably be aroused by the evidence to overmastering hostility.
“Such a balancing calls for a large measure of individual judgment about the relative gravity of imponderables. Accordingly, some opinions stress the element of discretion. It should be recognized, however, that this is not a discretion to depart from the principle that evidence of other crimes, having no substantial relevancy except to ground the inference that accused is a bad man and hence probably committed this crime, must be excluded. The leeway of discretion lies rather in the opposite direction, empowering the judge to exclude the other-crimes evidence, even when it has substantial independent relevancy, if in his judgment its probative value for this purpose is outweighed by the danger that it will stir such passion in the jury as to sweep them beyond a rational consideration of guilt or innocence of the crime on trial. Discretion implies not only leeway but responsibility. A decision clearly wrong on this question of balancing probative value against danger of prejudice will be corrected on appeal as an abuse of discretion.”
... Without question the level of prejudice inherent in this type of evidence is high.
*698Johnson, 224 N.W.2d at 620 (emphasis added). See State v. Munz, 355 N.W.2d 576, 579 (Iowa 1984); State v. Tharp, 372 N.W.2d 280, 282 (Iowa App.1985).
The only evidence of defendant being involved in any sex act with the victim other than the act for which he was charged was the victim’s answer “yes” to the leading question, “Did Loren ever put his finger inside you?” The answer to this question is not sufficient to connect the defendant to dilation which occurred from a series of events over a period of time. Defendant points out the term inside her was not defined or demonstrated to the jury. The state does argue there is little doubt but that the victim meant defendant inserted his finger in her vagina. There was testimony the victim knew what her vagina was. However, what she said could arguably be construed as meaning the defendant put a finger in other body orifices.
In addition, the victim’s testimony of the defendant’s putting a finger inside her came in through an answer given by the victim to a leading question. While leading questions may be proper and necessary where the witness is of tender age and testifying as to some form of sexual abuse there is a potential for influencing the testimony of a person the victim’s age.3 See State v. Mueller, 344 N.W.2d 262, 267 (Iowa 1983).
The trial court also did not state the basis on which the evidence was admitted. I have reviewed the record for additional evidence to support the trial court. Exhibits excluded from the jury’s consideration can properly be considered by the court in determining the probative value of a witness’ testimony. Spargo, 364 N.W.2d at 209. I viewed two video tapes made of the victim being questioned by police officers and social workers about the abuse, one on January 22, 1985, and one on May 21,1985. There is no reference made by the victim on either videotape about anything other than touching. The victim does not testify on either tape the defendant put his finger inside her or penetrated her vagina in any manner at any time.
The doctor's testimony lacks probative value because the defendant’s culpability for it is not clearly shown. The evidence falls short of the clear proof necessary to prove defendant was responsible for the dilation the doctor determined occurred from repeated incidents or a series of episodes. To be admissible, the evidence must be complete enough to find the commission of a prior sex act by defendant without resorting to speculation or mere suspicion. Spargo, 364 N.W.2d at 209.
I would find under this record the trial court abused its discretion in admitting the evidence and would reverse and remand for new trial.
SCHLEGEL, J., joins this dissent.

. Over objection, Dr. David Thornton, a pediatric physician, testified with reference to a physical examination conducted on the victim some nine days after the alleged incident. He testified about the victim:
Q. Doctor, can you tell us what your impression was, based upon your physical exam, of the victim? A. She had an abnormal vaginal caliber, which means that the opening to the vagina was quite a bit larger than it should have been. It was fairly obvious_ So my impression was that she had been dilated with some object. There was also some suggesting that the hymen had been stretched and that it was not continuous.... When you get to 4 millimeters, it's suspicious, and that’s when we use a caliper, and hers was above 4 millimeters. ... When we did do the vaginal exam, the vaginal tone was also decreased, so when you stick something in the vagina and press down close to your wall so you can get a better look, it gave open easier than we expect it to. In a normal child, it’s very difficult to get any relaxation. In this case, the opening opened quite easily and with minimal discomfort.
Q. Do you have an opinion, to a medical degree of certainty, as to whether the size of her vaginal orifice is consistent with digital penetration? A. It would be consistent with that.
******
... A. My best medical opinion would have been that it would have been over a series of episodes. If it would have been a recent episode, we would have expected some trauma. For dilation like that to occur, we would think it has been done repeated times, especially with the vaginal laxia.
Q. So you are not talking about one penetration? A. No. My best estimate would be it would have been more than one.
Q. Over what period of time? A. There would be no way to know. It can be over a year or two_ [Tjhere was no recent evidence of trauma.
******
Q. That could be any object then other than a digital penetration?
A. True.
Q. In fact, you can’t say that in fact there was digital penetration, can you? A. No, I can’t.

. At trial the victim testified (using a doll) that on the day in question defendant touched her between her legs and had her touch him. The victim testified further:
Q. [Djid Loren ever touch you before the last time you were there? Did he ever touch you between the legs before? A. Yes.
Q. Where did he touch you before? A. In the same place.
*697Q. [D]id Loren ever put his finger inside of you? A. Yes.

. The child was born April 13, 1980. The alleged incident happened January 19, 1985. She testified on January 6, 1986.