People v. Duenaz

854 N.W.2d 531, 306 Mich. App. 85
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 10, 2014
DocketDocket No. 311441
StatusPublished
Cited by258 cases

This text of 854 N.W.2d 531 (People v. Duenaz) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Duenaz, 854 N.W.2d 531, 306 Mich. App. 85 (Mich. Ct. App. 2014).

Opinion

Per Curiam.

Defendant appeals by right his convictions by a jury of three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC-I), MCL 750.520b(1)(a), and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC-II), MCL 750.520c(1)(a). The trial court sentenced defendant as a fourth-offense habitual offender, MCL 769.12, to 50 to 75 years in prison. We affirm defendant’s convictions but remand for correction of the sentencing information report and resentencing.

I. EVIDENCE OF PRIOR ASSAULT

Defendant first argues that the trial court abused its discretion by ruling inadmissible evidence regarding a sexual assault that the victim’s then stepfather perpetrated on her about one year before the instant offenses. The Stepfather had pleaded guilty to reduced charges of two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC-III), MCL 750.520d, and one count of CSC-II, and was sentenced to 10-15 years in prison. The trial court reviewed the police reports in the instant case and those from the earlier case and ruled that under the rape-[90]*90shield statute, MCL 750.520j, the defense could not inquire into the prior case involving the victim.

Defendant argues that the evidence was admissible under exceptions to the rape-shield statute for sources of disease and to show an alternate source of the victim’s age-inappropriate sexual knowledge. He also contends that the probative value of this evidence outweighed any prejudicial effect. Further, defendant asserts the trial court’s ruling denied him his constitutional the right to present a defense and confront his accusers. We disagree.

A. STANDARD OF REVIEW

This Court reviews de novo both constitutional claims and preliminary questions of law regarding admissibility of evidence. People v Gursky, 486 Mich 596, 606; 786 NW2d 579 (2010); People v Pipes, 475 Mich 267, 274; 715 NW2d 290 (2006). We review the trial court’s ultimate decision regarding admissibility of evidence for an abuse of discretion. People v Burns, 494 Mich 104, 110; 832 NW2d 738 (2013). An abuse of discretion occurs when trial court’s decision is outside the range of principled outcomes. People v Benton, 294 Mich App 191, 195; 817 NW2d 599 (2011).

B. ANALYSIS

We conclude the proposed evidence was not relevant, MRE 401; therefore, it was not admissible, MRE 402. Moreover, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by excluding the evidence because any marginally probative value of the evidence was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice or confusion of the issues. MRE 403; People v Ackerman, 257 Mich App 434, 442; 669 NW2d 818 (2003). Finally, defendant’s consti[91]*91tutional rights to present a defense and confront the witnesses against him were not violated. People v Arenda, 416 Mich 1, 8; 330 NW2d 814 (1982) (stating that the right to confront and cross-examine witnesses does not include a right to cross-examine regarding irrelevant issues).

The rape-shield statute, MCL 750.520j, provides:

(1) Evidence of specific instances of the victim’s sexual conduct, opinion evidence of the victim’s sexual conduct, and reputation evidence of the victim’s sexual conduct shall not be admitted under sections 520b to 520g unless and only to the extent that the judge finds that the following proposed evidence is material to a fact at issue in the case and that its inflammatory or prejudicial nature does not outweigh its probative value:
(a) Evidence of the victim’s past sexual conduct with the actor.
(b) Evidence of specific instances of sexual activity showing the source or origin of semen, pregnancy, or disease.

Similarly, MRE 404(a)(3) provides an exception to the general rule excluding character evidence for, in a case involving criminal sexual conduct (CSC), “evidence of the alleged victim’s past sexual conduct with the defendant and evidence of specific instances of sexual activity showing the source or origin of semen, pregnancy, or disease . . . .”

The rape-shield statute “ ‘bars, with two narrow exceptions, evidence of all sexual activity by the complainant not incident to the alleged rape.’ ” People v Adair, 452 Mich 473, 478; 550 NW2d 505 (1996), quoting People v Stull, 127 Mich App 14, 17; 338 NW2d 403 (1983). Because the statute excludes evidence that in mostreases would be only minimally relevant, the statute’s prohibitions do not deny or significantly di[92]*92minish a defendant’s right of confrontation. Arenda, 416 Mich at 11. Moreover, evidence of a complainant’s sexual history also “is usually irrelevant as impeachment evidence because it has no bearing on character for truthfulness.” Adair, 452 Mich at 481, citing MRE 608. This is especially so in this case, given that the evidence was not intended to show “bias, motive, or a pattern of false accusations . ...” Id. at 481 n 5. Under the statutory language, if one of the exceptions in the statute applies, the trial court must determine whether the inflammatory or prejudicial nature of the evidence “outweigh[sJ” its probative value. MCL 750.520j.1

The evidence defendant sought to admit concerning the victim’s prior sexual experience did not fit within either of the narrow exceptions provided by the rape-shield statute. MCL 750.520j(1). The statute was enacted to prohibit inquiry into a victim’s prior sexual encounters, which were historically used by defendants charged with CSC involving an adult in an effort to prove the defense of consent. The statute reflects a legislative policy determination that sexual conduct or reputation regarding sexual conduct as evidence of character and for impeachment, while perhaps logically relevant, is not legally relevant. People v Hackett, 421 Mich 338, 346; 365 NW2d 120 (1984). Although consent is not a relevant defense to a CSC charge involving an underage minor, Michigan courts have applied the rape-shield statute in cases involving child victims. See Arenda, 416 Mich at 6, 13; Benton, 294 Mich App at 197-199; People v Morse, 231 Mich App 424, 430; 586 NW2d 555 (1998); People v Garvie, 148 Mich App 444, 448-449; 384 NW2d 796 (1986).

[93]*93Although the proffered evidence does not fit within one of the rape-shield exceptions, in limited situations evidence the statute excludes may nevertheless be relevant and admissible to preserve a defendant’s constitutional right of confrontation. Hackett, 421 Mich at 348-349; Benton, 294 Mich App at 197. Our Supreme Court has directed that trial courts inform the exercise of their discretion in regard to such a constitutional claim by conducting an in camera hearing. Hacket, 421 Mich at 349. In this case, defendant asserts that evidence of the prior assault was relevant and admissible as an alternative explanation for the victim’s inappropriate sexual knowledge. The trial court reviewed police reports of the earlier offenses and heard arguments of counsel at a bench conference and on the record. As the prosecution notes, the only similarity between the two cases was that both involved anal and vaginal penetration. The two cases were certainly not “significantly similar.” See Morse, 231 Mich App at 437. In addition, defendant’s theory of relevance was just that.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
854 N.W.2d 531, 306 Mich. App. 85, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-duenaz-michctapp-2014.