Court Opinion

ID: 9543728
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:48:42.457047+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:11:04.119156
License: Public Domain

KEETON, Justice.
If the opinion of Justice THOMAS can be construed as holding that the victim or prosecuting witness in a prosecution for statutory rape, Sec. 18-6101, I.C., or lewd and lascivious conduct in violation of Sec. 18-6607, I.C. puts in issue her chastity, or if it be construed that the victim can be impeached by proof of unchaste conduct, I am not in accord with such holding.
In my opinion such witness may be impeached by the party against whom he (she) is called by contradictory evidence, or by evidence that Ins (her) reputation for truth, honesty or integrity is bad, or by showing that the witness has been convicted of a felony, not otherwise. R 9-1209, I.C. See also Sec. 9-1302, I.C.
In a prosecution for statutory rape in violation of Sec. 18-6101, I. C, or lascivious conduct in violation of Sec. 18-6607, I.C., general reputation that the victim is of unchaste character or that specific unchaste acts have been committed by the victim is, in my opinion, not grounds for impeachment, and immaterial to the issues.
Such testimony, if admitted, simply clouds the issues and confuses the jury, and, in effect, puts on trial the prosecuting witness instead of the perpetrator of the crime.
In the case before us the victim was eleven years of age. She could be impeached the same as any other witness. Her chaste or unchaste conduct was not an issue.
Hence, I am not in accord with that part of the opinion which at least inferentially holds that lack of chastity of a victim is ground of impeachment. In the definition of rape, Sec. 18-6101, I.C. and lewd and lascivious conduct, Sec. 18-6607, I.C., the legislature makes no distinction in defining the crime between a victim of chaste or unchaste character, and the well recognized grounds of impeachment of a witness, make no such exception.
Such character of the victim might be material for a court to consider in determining the enormity of the crime and the punishment to be imposed; it is not a matter for the jury to consider in the first instance.