State v. Skinner

2011 NMCA 070, 256 P.3d 969, 150 N.M. 26
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 24, 2011
Docket28,815; 32,921
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 2011 NMCA 070 (State v. Skinner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Skinner, 2011 NMCA 070, 256 P.3d 969, 150 N.M. 26 (N.M. Ct. App. 2011).

Opinion

OPINION

CASTILLO, Chief Judge.

{1} Defendant appeals his conviction of criminal sexual penetration of a minor (CSPM). His primary contention is that the district court erred in allowing Dr. Karen Carson, a pediatrician, to testify as to hearsay statements made by the child victim (Child) during a sexual assault nurse examination (SANE exam). We hold that Dr. Carson’s testimony concerning Child’s account of the abuse, as well as the identification of Defendant as the perpetrator, was properly admitted pursuant to Rule 11-803(D) NMRA. Dr. Carson’s testimony regarding Child’s statements about a drawing of a penis were admitted in error, but this error was harmless. Defendant failed to preserve his argument that the drawing itself was inadmissible hearsay and that Child’s statements were inadmissible because they were more prejudicial than probative. We are unpersuaded by Defendant’s sufficiency of the evidence and Sixth Amendment confrontation clause arguments. Accordingly, we affirm.

I. BACKGROUND

{2} Defendant was charged with two counts of CSPM, in violation of NMSA 1978, Section 30-9-11 (2007) (amended 2009), and one count of criminal sexual contact with a minor (CSCM), in violation of NMSA 1978, Section 30-9-13 (2003). All three counts were based on allegations that Defendant engaged in sexual activity with Child who is his granddaughter and who was six years old at the time. Several witnesses testified at Defendant’s trial, among them Child and Dr. Carson.

{3} Child took the stand and testified that Defendant put his hand underneath her underwear, touched her vagina, and performed the act of cunnilingus on her. Dr. Carson, who performed a SANE exam of Child shortly after the sexual abuse came to light, also testified. Dr. Carson was asked what history she obtained from Child during the exam in relation to Defendant. As she began testifying about what Child told her, Defendant objected on grounds of hearsay and confrontation. The district court asked the State for additional foundation, which the State provided. The district court then overruled Defendant’s objection concluding that Dr. Carson was engaged in medical diagnosis and treatment during the SANE exam and, thus, could testify as to hearsay statements Child made during the exam pursuant to Rule 11-803(D) that provides that statements made for purposes of medical diagnosis or treatment are not excluded by the hearsay rule,

{4} After the ruling, Dr. Carson proceeded to explain that Child identified Defendant as the perpetrator of the abuse and then described the nature and scope of the abuse. Dr. Carson testified that Child told her that Defendant inserted his fingers into her vagina and anus, that he performed cunnilingus on her, and that he made her perform fellatio. Dr. Carson further testified that, after obtaining Child’s medical history, she studied Child’s vagina with specialized medical equipment and observed that Child’s hymen had been torn in abnormal areas suggesting that Child’s vagina had been deeply penetrated with either a finger or some other object.

{5} The district court also admitted, over Defendant’s objection, a drawing Child made for Dr. Carson during the SANE exam. The drawing was of a penis, and Dr. Carson testified that Child told her the drawing depicted Defendant’s penis. Defendant objected that the drawing was irrelevant because Child had testified that the drawing depicted her uncle’s penis.

{6} A directed verdict was granted as to the one count of CSCM and as to one of the two counts of CSPM. The jury found Defendant guilty on the remaining count of CSPM. Defendant was sentenced based on this conviction.

II. DISCUSSION

{7} On appeal, Defendant makes four arguments. First, Defendant argues that the district court made several errors relating to the admissibility of the evidence. Specifically, Defendant claims that the district court wrongly permitted Dr. Carson to testify as to statements Child made during the SANE exam. Defendant also argues that the district court erred in admitting the drawing Child drew during the SANE exam. Third, Defendant argues that there was insufficient evidence to support the conviction. Finally, Defendant argues, pursuant to State v. Franklin, 78 N.M. 127,129, 428 P.2d 982, 984 (1967), and State v. Boyer, 103 N.M. 655, 658-60, 712 P.2d 1, 4-6 (Ct.App.1985), that allowing Dr. Carson to testify about Child’s statements during the SANE exam violated Defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to confrontation. We address these matters in turn.

A. Evidentiary Matters

{8} “Generally speaking, a reviewing court defers to the trial court’s decision to admit or exclude evidence and will not reverse unless there has been an abuse of discretion. However, our review of the application of the law to the facts is conducted de novo.” State v. Martinez, 2008-NMSC-060, ¶ 10, 145 N.M. 220, 195 P.3d 1232 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). “A misapprehension of the law upon which a court bases an otherwise discretionary evidentiary ruling is subject to de novo review.” Id. We begin our analysis by examining Defendant’s arguments relating to Dr. Carson’s testimony and then turn to Defendant’s claims concerning the drawing.

1. Statements by Child to Dr. Carson

{9} Relying on State v. Ortega, 2008-NMCA-001, ¶ 27, 143 N.M. 261, 175 P.3d 929, overruled in part by State v. Mendez, 2010-NMSC-044, 148 N.M. 761, 242 P.3d 328, Defendant asserts that hearsay statements made by a victim of sexual abuse during a SANE exam do not fall within Rule 11-803(D) as such statements are not for the purpose of medical diagnosis or treatment but are primarily for evidentiary purposes to prosecute a crime. Accordingly, Defendant contends that the district court improperly admitted Dr. Carson’s testimony concerning statements made by Child during the SANE exam. However, our Supreme Court overruled Ortega to the following extent: “Under DOrtega, 2008-NMCA-001, ¶¶ 16-27, 143 N.M. 261, 175 P.3d 929], hearsay statements made to a [SANE] nurse ... during an examination of a victim of alleged sexual abuse, are rarely admissible at trial, even if some of those statements pertain to ‘medical diagnosis or treatment’ under Rule 11-803(D) ..., and even if the declarant testifies at trial.” Mendez, 2010-NMSC-044, ¶ 1, 148 N.M. 761, 242 P.3d 328. The Court concluded that “Ortega went too far in its hearsay analysis and in categorically excluding statements made to SANE nurses,” and “reverse[d] the evidentiary ruling of the trial court, and the affirming opinion of the Court of Appeals that relied on Ortega,” which the Supreme Court partially overruled. Mendez, 2010-NMSC-044, ¶ 1,148 N.M. 761, 242 P.3d 328.

{10} “The hearsay rule excludes from admissible evidence statements that are inherently untrustworthy because of the risk of misperception, failed memory, insincerity, ambiguity, and the like.” Mendez, 2010-NMSC-044, ¶ 19, 148 N.M. 761, 242 P.3d 328.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2011 NMCA 070, 256 P.3d 969, 150 N.M. 26, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-skinner-nmctapp-2011.