Dennis Ray Allen v. State of Arkansas
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SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS
No.
CR08-47
DENNIS RAY ALLEN,
Opinion Delivered
September 25, 2008
APPELLANT,
VS.
STATE OF ARKANSAS,
APPELLEE,
APPEAL FR O M THE LONOKE
COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT,
NO. CR-2006-58,
HON. LANCE LAMAR HANSHAW,
JUDGE,
AFFIRMED.
ANNABELLE CLINTON IMBER, Associate Justice
1.
EVIDENCE — RAPE-SHIELD
STATUTE
— APPELLANT ’S
RAPE -SHIELD ARGUMENT WAS NOT
PRESERVED BECAUSE APPELLANT FAILED TO FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURE IN REQUESTING
EXCEPTION .
— Section 16-42-101(c) is clear: a defendant must file a written motion, and
written record must be made of the in camera hearing on the motion when the defendant
seeks to establish relevancy and admissibility of evidence otherwise excluded by the rapeshield statute; the admissibility of a victim’s prior sexual conduct as an exception under the
rape-shield statute must therefore be determined in accordance with the procedures set forth
in that section; the record did not contain a written motion requesting an exception for
relevant evidence, nor did it contain a written record of an in camera hearing; because
appellant failed to follow the required procedure, the circuit court’s decision to exclude
testimony regarding an alleged sexual relationship between one of the victims and his mother
was affirmed.
2.
EVIDENCE — RULE 404(b) PEDOPHILE EXCEPTION — NO REQUIREMENT THAT PRIOR ACT BE
CHARGED OR SUBSTANTIATED . — Under the pedophile exception to Rule 404(b), evidence
of a defendant’s similar acts with the same or other children is admissible when it is helpful
in showing a proclivity for a specific act with a person or class of persons with whom the
defendant has an intimate relationship; application of this exception does not, however,
require that the prior act be charged or substantiated; accordingly, the trial court did not err
in admitting evidence that a witness was abused by appellant even though the alleged prior
abuse was never substantiated and appellant was never charged for that conduct.
3.
EVIDENCE — RULE 404(b) PEDOPHILE EXCEPTION — NO REQUIREMENT THAT VICTIM OF
PRIOR ACT BE A MEMBER OF ABUSER ’S FAMILY AS LONG AS THERE IS SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
OF AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP . — In order for the pedophile exception to Rule 404(b) to
apply, there must be a sufficient degree of similarity between the evidence to be introduced
and the sexual conduct of the defendant; there must also be an intimate relationship between
the perpetrator and the victim of the prior act; here, the alleged prior bad acts and the conduct
underlying the present charges were sufficiently similar for application of the pedophile
exception, even though the victim of the prior bad acts was not a member of appellant’s
family or household at the time of the alleged abuse; the State successfully established the
existence of an intimate relationship between appellant and the victim of the prior acts
through testimony that the victim viewed appellant as a role model, that they referred to each
other as father and son, that appellant purchased things for the victim, that appellant took the
victim out to eat, that appellant gave the victim special attention, and that appellant told
another person that the victim was his son.
4.
EVIDENCE — RULE 404(b) PEDOPHILE EXCEPTION — TRIAL COURT ’S DECISION
TO ADMIT
EVIDENCE OF PRIOR ACTS THAT WERE REMOTE IN TIME WAS NOT ERROR WHERE TESTIMONY
REGARDING PRIOR ACTS HELPED TO DEMONSTRATE APPELLANT ’S INTENT AS IT RELATED TO
THE PRESENT CHARGES . — The supreme court has allowed testimony regarding alleged prior
sexual conduct even when a significant time gap exists; remoteness determinations have
generally been upheld when the similarities between the alleged prior act and the charged
offense tend to show an intent to commit the charged offense; here, the victim of the prior
acts was between the ages of thirteen and eighteen when the abuse allegedly occurred, and
at the time of his testimony in the immediate case, he was thirty; because the testimony of
the victim of the prior acts helped to demonstrate appellant’s intent as it related to the present
charges, it was not error for the trial court to admit this evidence.
5.
EVIDENCE — RULE 404(b) PEDOPHILE EXCEPTION — FACT THAT VICTIM OF PRIOR BAD ACTS
WAS HIMSELF AN ADMITTED PEDOPHILE WAS AN ISSUE OF WITNESS CREDIBILITY FOR THE JURY
TO RESOLVE . — It is well settled that
credibility of witnesses is an issue for the jury and not
the court; the fact that the victim of prior sexual abuse by appellant was himself an admitted
pedophile was an issue of witness credibility for the jury, which was free to believe all or part
of the victim’s testimony.
6.
EVIDENCE — RULE 403 — EVIDENCE OF PRIOR SEXUAL ABUSE WAS PERMISSIBLE BECAUSE
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN PRIOR ACTS AND THE CONDUCT CHARGED WERE PROBATIVE OF ISSUE
OF THE ACCUSED ’S DEVIATE SEXUAL IMPULSES. — In cases involving evidence subject to the
pedophile exception, the appellate court looks to similarities between the alleged prior
conduct and the conduct charged to determine whether they make the evidence probative on
the issue of the accused’s motive, intent, preparation, plan, and scheme; more specifically,
the evidence is permissible when the similarities make it probative on the issue of the
accused’s deviate sexual impulses; appellant was alleged to have fondled the victim of the
prior sexual abuse as well as the victims in the instant case, and to have forced them all to
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perform oral sex on him; in addition, all of the victims were, to a certain degree, under
appellant’s care at the time of the abuse; these similarities are significant and probative on
the issue of appellant’s sexual impulses; accordingly, it could not be said that the probative
value of the evidence at issue was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.
7.
APPEAL & ERROR — EVIDENCE OF PRIOR SEXUAL ABUSE — ARGUMENT NOT PRESERVED FOR
APPEAL. — It is a well-settled principle of appellate law that arguments not raised at trial will
not be addressed for the first time on appeal; appellant never objected to witness testimony
regarding his subsequent sexual abuse of a child and his belief that appellant was to blame;
accordingly, the supreme court was precluded from addressing this argument on appeal.
Appeal from Lonoke Circuit Court; Lance Lamar Hanshaw, Judge; affirmed.
Teresa M. Smith, Attorney at Law, PLLC: by, Teresa M. Smith, for appellant.
Dustin McDaniel, Att’y Gen., by: Farhan Khan, Ass’t Att’y Gen., for appellee.
Appellant Dennis Ray Allen was convicted by a Lonoke County jury of four counts
of rape and four counts of second-degree sexual assault in connection with the alleged abuse
of four of his minor step-grandchildren. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in the
Arkansas Department of Correction on each of the rape convictions and to twenty years’
imprisonment on each of the sexual-assault convictions, totaling four life sentences plus eighty
years. The circuit court accepted the jury’s recommendation that the sentences be served
consecutively. Allen now appeals, alleging two points of error: 1) the circuit court erred in
refusing to allow him to question one of the State’s witnesses regarding her alleged sexual
relationship with her son; and 2) the circuit court erred in allowing testimony over his
objections pursuant to Arkansas Rules of Evidence 404(b) and 403, when the alleged prior
bad acts occurred many years ago and were not similar in nature to the charged acts, and
when the prejudice to Allen far outweighed any probative value.
Because Allen was
sentenced to terms of life imprisonment, our jurisdiction is pursuant to Arkansas Supreme
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Court Rule 1-2(a)(2) (2008). We find no error and affirm.
In August of 2003, Allen and his wife had legal guardianship of three female children.
Their mother was one of his wife’s daughters from a prior marriage. At that time, the
Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division interviewed C.H., A.C., and C.C.,
who were approximately eleven, nine, and eight years old, respectively, in an effort to
determine whether Allen was abusing them. Each of the children denied that they were being
abused. Due to the statement of a witness, the children were interviewed again in March of
2004, by both the Crimes Against Children Division and the local police department. They
again denied any abuse. In December of 2005, however, K.K., the children’s thirteen-yearold male cousin, reported that he had been abused by Allen. K.K. disclosed to his mother,
Allen’s other stepdaughter, that Allen had touched his penis and forced him to perform oral
sex on multiple occasions while he was staying at his grandparents’ house. K.K.’s mother
notified the local police department and informed her sister of the allegations. C.H., A.C.,
and C.C., who by that time had returned to their mother’s custody, disclosed that they had
been abused as well. Allen was arrested on January 17, 2006, and charged with four counts
of rape and four counts of sexual assault in the second degree.
At trial, each of the four children testified that Allen had forced them to touch his penis
and to perform oral sex on him. The girls testified that Allen had penetrated them digitally
and with toys and markers. C.H., A.C., and K.K. all testified to Allen’s use of dildos; K.K.
indicated that Allen had inserted them into K.K.’s anus on approximately three occasions.
C.H. and A.C. both testified that Allen had attempted sexual intercourse with them. C.H.
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and A.C. also testified that Allen forced them to remove their clothing and dance for him and
for other adults, took photographs of them naked, and showed them pornography. According
to C.H.’s testimony, Allen also forced the girls to “do stuff” to each other and forced K.K.
to perform oral sex on the girls. K.K. testified that Allen tried to force him and A.C. to
attempt sexual intercourse, in the presence of another adult. Finally, each of the girls
explained that they had not disclosed the abuse earlier because Allen had threatened to kill
them if they told anyone. C.C. testified that Allen had showed her his gun. K.K. testified
that Allen beat them and that they were therefore afraid to disclose the abuse. The only
witness called by the defense was a board-certified urologist who testified to having treated
Allen for erectile dysfunction and a painful condition on his penis. The jury returned guilty
verdicts on all eight of the charges.
Allen’s first challenge on appeal involves the trial testimony of K.K.’s mother. Upon
being called by the State, she testified that she noticed a change in her son’s behavior,
including depression and weight gain, prior to his informing her of the abuse. At that point
in her testimony, Allen asked, “Is that when you were having sex with him?” Allen’s counsel
indicated a desire to question K.K.’s mother about this allegation, in an effort to show that she
and her son brought false accusations against Allen in response to Allen’s threat to expose their
sexual relationship. The State moved to exclude such testimony as prohibited by the rapeshield statute. Following an off-the-record bench conference, the circuit court granted the
State’s motion.
Allen contends that the court’s ruling was in error.
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Specifically, he claims that
evidence of a sexual relationship between K.K. and his mother was relevant to attack their
credibility and was not barred by the rape-shield statute, as it was directly related to the issue
of his guilt or innocence.
In discussing our standard of review for evidentiary rulings
generally, we have said that circuit courts have broad discretion and that a circuit court’s
ruling on the admissibility of evidence will not be reversed absent an abuse of that discretion.
Hickman v. State, 372 Ark. 438, 443, ___ S.W.3d ___, ___ (2008). More specifically, with
regard to evidence subject to the rape-shield statute, we have said that the circuit court is
vested with a great deal of discretion in ruling whether evidence is relevant. Rounsaville v.
State, ___ Ark. ___, ___ S.W.3d ___ (Jan. 31, 2008). This court will not reverse the circuit
court’s decision as to the admissibility of rape-shield evidence unless its ruling constituted clear
error or a manifest abuse of discretion. Id. at __, __ S.W.3d at __.
We are precluded from addressing Allen’s rape-shield argument, as it was not preserved
for our review. The rape-shield statute provides that evidence of specific instances of the
victim’s prior sexual conduct with any person is not admissible by the defendant, either
through direct examination of any defense witness or through cross-examination of the victim
or other prosecution witness, to attack the credibility of the victim or for any other purpose.
Ark. Code Ann. § 16-42-101(b) (Repl. 1999). However, evidence directly pertaining to the
act upon which the prosecution is based or evidence of the victim’s prior sexual conduct with
any person may be admitted if its relevancy is determined by the court. Id. § 16-42-101(c).
To establish such relevancy, the defendant must file a written motion, before resting, stating
that the defendant has an offer of relevant evidence prohibited by the statute and describing
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the purpose for which the evidence is believed relevant. Id. § 16-42-101(c)(1). The court
then holds an in camera hearing on the motion. Id. § 16-42-101(c)(2)(A). A written record
must be made of the hearing. Id. § 16-42-101(c)(2)(B). If the court determines that “the
offered proof is relevant to a fact in issue, and that its probative value outweighs its
inflammatory or prejudicial nature,” the court makes a written order detailing what evidence
is admissible and what testimony may be elicited based upon that evidence. Id. § 16-42101(c)(2)(C).
Allen failed to follow the procedure set forth in Arkansas Code Annotated section 1642-101(c) for establishing relevancy and admissibility of evidence otherwise excluded by the
rape-shield statute. The record does not contain a written motion filed by Allen requesting
an exception for relevant evidence, nor does it contain a written record of an in camera
hearing. The record does indicate that the circuit court held an off-the-record bench
conference with counsel after the State moved to prohibit the testimony. However, section
16-42-101(c) is clear: the defendant must file a written motion, and a written record must
be made of the in camera hearing on the motion.
We have noted that admissibility of a victim’s prior sexual conduct as an exception
under the rape-shield statute must be determined in accordance with the procedures set forth
in section 16-42-101(c). Laughlin v. State, 316 Ark. 489, 497, 872 S.W.2d 848, 853 (1994).
“In order to set in motion a relevancy decision by the trial court regarding prior sexual
conduct, § 16-42-101(c)(1) requires that the defendant file a written motion with the court
before resting to the effect that the defendant desires to present evidence of the victim’s past
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sexual activity.” Id., 872 S.W.2d at 853. In Laughlin, where no written motion was filed and
no in camera hearing was conducted as required by section 16-42-101(c), the procedure
followed was “defective and insufficient to invoke a relevancy determination under the Rape
Shield Statute.” Id. at 497-98, 872 S.W.2d at 853. This court thus rejected the appellant’s
relevancy arguments on appeal. Id., 872 S.W.2d at 853. We must similarly reject Allen’s
arguments. Because Allen failed to follow the proper procedure in requesting an exception,
we affirm the circuit court’s decision.
Allen’s second challenge on appeal involves the testimony of James Sweeny, another
prosecution witness. Sweeny testified that he was approximately twelve years old when he
met Allen, who was his grandmother’s next-door neighbor. At that time, Allen would have
been in his early thirties. The two began a friendship, which Sweeny characterized as a “role
model type situation at first.” Sweeny testified that Allen called him “son” and that he called
Allen “dad.” He also testified that Allen bought things for him, took him out to eat, and gave
him special attention at a time when he needed it, due to his recent discovery that he had
been adopted. According to Sweeny’s testimony, Allen talked about “sexual things” with him
and started sexually abusing him when he was thirteen years old. The abuse began with Allen
touching Sweeny’s leg and groin and progressed to fondling and oral sex. Sweeny testified
that the abuse continued until he was nearly eighteen years old. At the time of trial, Sweeny
was incarcerated for the sexual abuse of a two-year-old boy. He testified that, based on what
he had learned in sex-offender counseling, his offending could be attributed in part to his own
victimization and the “grooming” process employed by Allen to lure him.
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Sweeny also testified that he had maintained a friendship with Allen in his adult years
and that Allen made sexual comments about his step-granddaughters. Sweeny testified that,
on one occasion, Allen had C.H. remove her clothes and “strip dance” for them. On another
occasion, Allen gave A.C. marijuana and had her perform oral sex on Sweeny, while Sweeny
performed oral sex on her. Immediately after that, Allen had A.C. perform oral sex on him,
and he later performed oral sex on her. Sweeny also testified that he witnessed Allen force
K.K. and A.C. to attempt sexual intercourse. The circuit court permitted Sweeny to testify
as a fact witness to what he had observed. In addition, the court eventually overruled Allen’s
objections under Arkansas Rules of Evidence 404(b) and 403 and permitted the testimony
regarding the alleged prior bad acts.
Allen contends on appeal that the evidence was improper under Rule 404(b) because
the alleged abuse of Sweeny was never substantiated or charged, was not similar in nature to
the conduct underlying the present charges, was too remote in time to be relevant, and was
presented through the testimony of an admitted pedophile. He also claims error under Rule
403, arguing that the sole purpose of the presentation of Sweeny’s testimony was to inflame
the jury. The State maintains that the circuit court correctly applied the pedophile exception
to Rule 404(b), and that the probative value of the evidence at issue was not substantially
outweighed by any danger of unfair prejudice. The admission or rejection of evidence under
Rule 404(b) is committed to the sound discretion of the circuit court, which this court will
not disturb on appeal absent a showing of manifest abuse. Echols v. State, 326 Ark. 917, 964,
936 S.W.2d 509, 533 (1996). We review a circuit court’s decision to admit evidence over
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a Rule 403 objection under an abuse-of-discretion standard as well. Flanery v. State, 362 Ark.
311, 315, 208 S.W.3d 187, 191 (2005).
Rule 404(b) provides as follows:
Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the
character of a person in order to show that he acted in conformity therewith.
It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive,
opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of
mistake or accident.
Ark. R. Evid. 404(b) (2008). Evidence offered under Rule 404(b) must be independently
relevant to make the existence of any fact of consequence more or less probable than it would
be without the evidence. Lamb v. State, 372 Ark. 277, 283, ___ S.W.3d ___, ___ (2008).
In other words, the prior bad act must be independently relevant to the main issue, in that it
tends to prove some material point rather than merely proving that the defendant is a
criminal. Id., __ S.W.3d at __.
This court has long recognized a “pedophile exception” to Rule 404(b). Id., S.W.3d
at __. We have approved allowing evidence of the defendant’s similar acts with the same or
other children when it is helpful in showing a proclivity for a specific act with a person or
class of persons with whom the defendant has an intimate relationship. Id. at 283-84, ___
S.W.3d at ___. The rationale for this exception is that such evidence helps to prove the
depraved sexual instinct of the accused. Id. at 284, ___ S.W.3d at ___. For the pedophile
exception to apply, we require that there be a sufficient degree of similarity between the
evidence to be introduced and the sexual conduct of the defendant. Hamm v. State, 365 Ark.
647, 652, 232 S.W.3d 463, 468 (2006).
We also require that there be an “intimate
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relationship” between the perpetrator and the victim of the prior act. Id. at 652, 232 S.W.3d
at 468-69.
Allen contends that the pedophile exception is not applicable here for several reasons.
First, he points out that the abuse alleged by James Sweeny was never substantiated and that
Allen was never charged for that conduct. Rule 404(b), however, makes no distinction
between substantiated and unsubstantiated conduct, or between charged and uncharged
conduct. This court has explicitly held that our application of the pedophile exception does
not require that the prior act be charged or substantiated. Bell v. State, 371 Ark. 375, 385, ___
S.W.3d ___, ___ (2007).
Second, Allen asserts that the alleged prior bad acts and the conduct underlying the
present charges were not sufficiently similar for application of the pedophile exception.
Specifically, he notes that Sweeny was not a member of Allen’s family, nor did they reside in
the same household at the time of the alleged abuse. This court has specifically rejected a
requirement that the alleged victim of a prior bad act be a member of the defendant’s family
or household for the evidence to be ruled admissible under the pedophile exception. Parish
v. State, 357 Ark. 260, 270, 163 S.W.3d 843, 849 (2004); Berger v. State, 343 Ark. 413, 41920, 36 S.W.3d 286, 290-91 (2001). Moreover, we hold that the State has successfully
established the existence of an “intimate relationship” between Allen and Sweeny. See
Thompson v. State, 322 Ark. 586, 589, 910 S.W.2d 694, 697 (1995). As previously noted,
Sweeny testified that he viewed Allen as a role model and that they referred to each other as
father and son. He also testified that Allen purchased things for him, took him out to eat, and
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gave him special attention. In addition, C.H. testified that Allen told her that Sweeny was
his son. This evidence is sufficient to demonstrate a relationship “close in friendship or
acquaintance, familiar, near, or confidential.” Parish v. State, 357 Ark. at 270, 163 S.W.3d at
849.
Third, Allen contends that the alleged prior bad acts were too remote in time to be
relevant and admissible under the pedophile exception. He notes that Sweeny was between
the ages of thirteen and eighteen when the abuse allegedly occurred, and that at the time of
trial Sweeny was thirty years old. This court has allowed testimony regarding alleged prior
sexual conduct “even when a significant time gap exists.” Flanery v. State, 362 Ark. at 315,
208 S.W.3d at 190. More specifically, we have permitted evidence of conduct occurring
nearly twenty years prior to the charged conduct. Lamb v. State, 372 Ark. at 284-85, ___
S.W.3d at ___. We noted in Lamb that the circuit court is given sound discretion over the
matter of remoteness and will be overturned only when it is clear that the questioned
evidence has no connection with any issue in the present case. Id. at 284, ___ S.W.3d at ___.
We have generally upheld remoteness determinations when the similarities between the
alleged prior act and the charged offense tend to show an intent to commit the charged
offense. Id. at 284-85, ___ S.W.3d at ___ (citing Nelson v. State, 365 Ark. 314, 229 S.W.3d
35 (2006); Flanery v. State, supra). We hold that Sweeny’s testimony helped to demonstrate
Allen’s intent as it relates to the present charges.
Finally, Allen points out that the evidence of the alleged prior bad acts was presented
through the testimony of an admitted pedophile. He seems to suggest that a witness such as
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Sweeny should not have been deemed credible. It is well settled, however, that the credibility
of witnesses is an issue for the jury and not the court. Price v. State, ___ Ark. ___, ___ S.W.3d
___ (May 15, 2008). The trier of fact is free to believe all or part of any witness’s testimony
and may resolve questions of conflicting testimony and inconsistent evidence. Id. at __, __
S.W.3d at __.
We likewise find no merit in Allen’s Rule 403 argument. Rule 403 provides that,
“[a]lthough relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially
outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury,
or by consideration of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative
evidence.” Ark. R. Evid. 403 (2008). This court has noted that evidence offered by the State
is often likely to be prejudicial to the accused, but the evidence should not be excluded unless
the accused can show that it lacks probative value in view of the risk of unfair prejudice.
Morris v. State, 367 Ark. 406, 414, 240 S.W.3d 593, 599 (2006). Therefore, the fact that the
evidence would have inflamed the jury is insufficient to exclude it under Rule 403.
In cases involving evidence subject to the pedophile exception, we have looked to the
similarities between the alleged prior conduct and the charged conduct to determine whether
they make the evidence probative on the issue of the accused’s motive, intent, preparation,
plan, and scheme. Id., 240 S.W.3d at 599. When the similarities are significant, we have
permitted the evidence, despite the prejudice to the accused. Id., 240 S.W.3d at 599; Flanery
v. State, 362 Ark. at 315-16, 208 S.W.3d at 191. We have also noted that the evidence is
permissible when the similarities make it probative on the issue of the accused’s deviate sexual
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impulses. Flanery v. State, 362 Ark. at 316, 208 S.W.3d at 191. In the instant case, Allen is
alleged to have fondled Sweeny and his step-grandchildren and to have forced them all to
perform oral sex on him. In addition, Sweeny and the step-grandchildren were, to a certain
degree, under Allen’s care at the time of the abuse. These similarities are significant and
probative on the issue of Allen’s deviate sexual impulses. Accordingly, we cannot say that the
probative value of the evidence at issue was substantially outweighed by any danger of unfair
prejudice.
Finally, Allen argues that the circuit court erred in allowing Sweeny to testify that
Allen was partially to blame for Sweeny’s subsequent sexual abuse of a child. According to
Allen, Sweeny’s testimony allowed the jury to convict Allen for Sweeny’s criminal behavior.
However, this argument is not preserved for our review, as Allen failed to make this objection
below. It is a well-settled principle of appellate law that arguments not raised at trial will not
be addressed for the first time on appeal. Tavron v. State, 372 Ark. 229, 231, ___ S.W.3d ___,
___ (2008). An appellant is limited by the scope and nature of the arguments and objections
presented at trial and may not change the grounds for objection on appeal. Id. at 233, ___
S.W.3d at ___. Allen never objected to Sweeny’s testimony regarding his subsequent sexual
abuse of a child and his belief that Allen was to blame. Accordingly, we are precluded from
addressing this argument on appeal.
Pursuant to Rule 4-3(h) of the Rules of the Supreme Court, the record in this case has
been reviewed for all objections, motions, and requests made by either party, which were
decided adversely to Allen, and no prejudicial error has been found.
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Affirmed.
G LAZE, J., not participating.
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