People v. Gerald Wells

302 N.W.2d 232, 102 Mich. App. 558, 1980 Mich. App. LEXIS 3160
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedDecember 16, 1980
DocketDocket 45831
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 302 N.W.2d 232 (People v. Gerald Wells) 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. Gerald Wells, 302 N.W.2d 232, 102 Mich. App. 558, 1980 Mich. App. LEXIS 3160 (Mich. Ct. App. 1980).

Opinion

Per Curiam.

On March 22, 1979, defendant was convicted by a jury in Saginaw County Circuit Court of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in violation of MCL 750.520b(l)(d)(ii); MSA 28.788(2)(l)(d)(ii). Defendant appeals as of right, raising six issues.

First, defendant claims reversible error occurred when Dr. Adler, the examining physician, testified at trial that he felt "this was a legitimate case of sexual assault”. Defendant relies on People v McGillen #2, 392 Mich 278, 285; 220 NW2d 689 (1974), which states:

"that in no event is the doctor permitted to lend his expert testimony as to the crucial issue of whether or not the prosecutrix was actually ’raped’ at a speciñc time and place.” (Emphasis added.)

Defendant contends that Dr. Adler’s statement *561 falls within the McGillen #2 prohibition and, although unobjected to, constitutes reversible error. However, defendant is mistaken. McGillen #2 is distinguishable from the present case.

In McGillen #2, the defendant was charged with statutory rape. Therefore, the prosecution did not need to prove that the act took place against the will of the victim as the law presumes that fact if the victim is below the statutory age of consent. All that need be proven on a charge of statutory rape is penetration by the defendant. Additionally, in McGillen #2, the prosecutrix admitted that a second rape had occurred subsequent to the charged offense and prior to her being examined by the doctor. The prosecutrix testified at trial as to her version of the alleged statutory rape. The examining doctor then testified that he accepted as fact the prosecutrix’s version of what happened and that, in his expert opinion, his medical examination supported and was consistent with the prosecutrix’s version. The McGillen #2 Court held this to be reversible error. The Court noted that in that factual situation the doctor was lending his expert opinion to support the claim made by the prosecutrix which is beyond the realm of his medical capabilities and expertise.

"The doctor in this case could not testify as to whether or not the prosecutrix had intercourse on the date in question. Medical science has not yet advanced to this point under these circumstances.” Id.

The circumstances alluded to are that when only the element of penetration is relevant and the prosecutrix admits a subsequent rape prior to medical examination, the examining physician is not a qualified expert on the question of whether *562 or not the prosecutrix was raped by the defendant on the alleged date.

The defendant in the present case has overlooked the instructive language in McGillen #2 which holds:

"[T]he examining physician in a rape case is a proper witness as long as his testimony may assist the jury in their determination of the existence of either of two crucial elements of the offense charged, (1) penetration itself and (2) penetration against the will of the victim.” Id., 284.

In the present case, the defendant admitted having sexual intercourse with the complainant. Therefore, the only element to which the examining physician could testify is penetration against the will of the victim. This is exactly what occurred. Dr. Adler testified that based upon his physical findings in examining the victim, the history received from the patient, the emotional condition of the patient, and his many years of experience and many cases of examining victims of alleged sexual assaults, it was his opinion that this was a legitimate case of sexual assault. Dr. Adler did not act as a human lie detector who gave a stamp of scientific legitimacy to the truth of the complainant’s factual testimony concerning the alleged rape. People v Izzo, 90 Mich App 727, 730; 282 NW2d 10 (1979). Dr. Adler did not testify that he believed that the defendant raped the complainant at a specific time and/or place or that he believed the complainant’s claim. Dr. Adler merely stated that in his expert opinion there had been penetration against the will of the victim. Thus, even had defendant entered a timely objection to Dr. Adler’s statement, the trial court would not have erred by allowing the statement.

*563 Defendant’s second claim of error attacks the constitutionality of MCL 750.520; MSA 28.788(10), which bars evidence of a complainant’s past sexual conduct and reputation concerning sexual conduct. It is well settled in Michigan case law that MCL 750.520j; MSA 28.788(10) is constitutional and does not abridge a defendant’s right to confrontation. People v Arenda, 97 Mich App 678; 296 NW2d 143 (1980), People v Kahn, 80 Mich App 605; 264 NW2d 360 (1978), People v Thompson, 76 Mich App 705; 257 NW2d 268 (1977).

The defendant is incorrect in his assertion that the trial court abused its discretion in denying defendant’s motion for a court-ordered psychological examination of the complainant. Defendant claims the sexual intercourse was consensual and that a psychological examination of the complainant would bear directly on the assertion of consent. However,

"introduction of a general psychological profile as to one’s sexual propensities would have little bearing on the issue of consent in any particular case. Such a procedure would be analogous to the introduction of opinion evidence of a defendant’s general criminal tendencies in order to prove commission of a certain crime. The practice of psychiatry has not as yet advanced to such an exact science whereby the probative value of such opinion testimony would exceed the prejudicial impact on the trier of fact.” People v Davis, 91 Mich App 434, 441; 283 NW2d 768 (1979).

See also People v Freeman (After Remand), 406 Mich 514; 280 NW2d 446 (1979). Davis, supra, 442, and Freeman, supra, 516, also support the lower court’s ruling upholding the physician-patient and social worker-client privilege concerning the complainant since defendant has not shown the privi *564 leged information to be "demonstrably relevant” to the defendant’s theory of consent.

Defendant’s fourth contention of error involves the propriety of the prosecution’s questioning of a police officer concerning the substance of the defendant’s statement given to the police after defendant’s arrest. Defendant does not dispute the voluntariness or admissibility of his statement to the police. Rather, defendant contends his constitutional right to silence was violated when the prosecutor asked the police officer if the defendant indicated in his statement that the complainant had consented to sexual intercourse. The police officer answered in the negative. Defendant’s reliance on People v Bobo, 390 Mich 355; 212 NW2d 190 (1973), is misplaced. Bobo, supra,

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
302 N.W.2d 232, 102 Mich. App. 558, 1980 Mich. App. LEXIS 3160, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-gerald-wells-michctapp-1980.