PEOPLE OF MI V GEORGE MICHAEL GRESHAM
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
December 7, 2010
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 293580
Kent Circuit Court
LC No. 09-001515-FC
GEORGE MICHAEL GRESHAM,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: M. J. KELLY, P.J., and K. F. KELLY and BORRELLO, JJ.
M. J. KELLY, P.J. (dissenting).
I respectfully dissent. Because I conclude that the trial court erred when it permitted the
physician who examined the complainant to improperly vouch for the complainant’s credibility
and that this error deprived defendant of a fair trial, I would reverse defendant’s convictions and
remand for a new trial.
I. BASIC FACTS
Phyllis Gresham testified that she was defendant’s mother and that she had at one time
had several foster children. She said that EBT and her half-sister, BLB, came to live with her at
her home on Bemis in May 2007. She moved her family to a home on South Hampton in
December 2007. Phyllis stated that the girls left her care in October 2008. In November of that
same year, Bethany Christian Services contacted her about possibly taking the girls in again.
Later that same week, EBT made the allegations at issue. Phyllis said she lost her foster care
license, in part, because of these allegations.
EBT testified that she entered foster care when she was twelve. Her foster mother was
Phyllis. She went into foster care with her sister BLB. They first came to live with Phyllis at her
home on Bemis. However, they eventually moved to a home on South Hampton.
EBT stated that defendant started trying to “touch on me” at the home on South
Hampton. He later came into her room, which she shared with BLB, took her clothes off,
covered her mouth, and told her that “it wouldn’t hurt.” He then put his “private” in her
“private.” She said that he asked her if she liked it and she told him, “No” and “Get off me.”
She said this happened two or three times, that it hurt each time, and that each occurrence
happened in winter.
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EBT said that her sister was asleep in the room when defendant assaulted her. At one
point she testified that she did not scream because defendant had his hand over her mouth and at
another point she testified that she did scream and BLB heard her, at which point, “he ranned
[sic] out the room.” She admitted that she originally told an officer that she did not know if he
put his penis in her vagina, but that was only because she was a “virgin before he did what he
did” and she did not “know” what it felt like. She also said he never used a condom and never
told anyone that he did. Other testimony established that she reported that he used a condom
once, but took it off because it was too slippery. She also reported that he used a condom each
time, dropped it by the side of the bed, and took it with him when he left. There was also
testimony that she originally reported that it happened at least once in the summertime. When
asked about the discrepancies in the timing, she stated that she did not have an exact date
because it happened “so many times.”
She said that she told Phyllis and POS, who was an older foster child that also lived in
Phyllis’ home. She did not tell her own mother because Phyllis told her that her mother would
hurt someone and then she would never be able to go home. Phyllis testified that EBT never told
her about any abuse. She also denied that she ever told EBT not to tell her mother.
EBT said that everything came out when POS told her cousin about the abuse at school
and her cousin told her mother. JJ testified that she is EBT’s cousin. She said she knew POS
from school and that POS told her something about EBT. JJ said she then told EBT’s mom.
POS testified that she lived with Phyllis at the home on Bemis and later at the home on
South Hampton. Several people lived at the home on South Hampton; there were three other
foster children in addition to her: EBT, BLB, and Nadia. Phyllis’ two younger boys also lived in
the house along with Phyllis’ mother. She said that EBT shared a room with her sister, BLB, and
Nadia.
POS stated that she began to have a sexual relationship with defendant at about the time
that she turned seventeen. She said that she broke up with defendant because he had a “girlfriend
on the side and he had a newborn son.” POS said that EBT would come to her and tell her about
boys and came to her about some guy, but made it seem as though there was nothing going on.
MT testified that she was EBT’s mother and that she went to visit her children every
week after they were placed in foster care. She said that EBT and BLB both complained that
defendant’s “baby momma” was beating them while they were staying at the Bemis residence.
MT stated that she told someone with the department that handles foster care placements, but
“they wouldn’t do nothin’” so she went to the Bemis residence to take care of the problem
herself. A judge eventually told her not to go to the foster parent’s residence.
BLB testified that she and her sister left Phyllis’ care and went back to their mother’s
house. They later learned that they might have to go back to Phyllis’ home; she was mad about
that. Although she was not lying now, she admitted that EBT once told her that they should say
that defendant tried to touch EBT’s private parts so that they would not have to go back to
Phyllis’ home. She said that she never saw defendant on top of her sister or anything like that
and her sister never told her about any abuse.
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Defendant testified on his own behalf and denied having had sexual contact with EBT.
Moncheri Virgins testified that she was defendant’s fiancée and that they had dated since
he was 17 or 18 and she was 16. She said that they broke up in February 2008, which was when
he started having a relationship with POS. However, they got back together later that year and
she had his baby. She said that EBT had previously falsely accused her of choking EBT. She
said that EBT liked to tell stories.
Bernice Gresham testified that she was defendant’s grandmother and that she lived with
Phyllis. She said that she had a good relationship with EBT and was surprised to learn of the
allegations. She stated that she caught EBT stealing from her and that when she confronted
EBT, EBT lied to try and get out of it.
After hearing the evidence, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on two counts of criminal
sexual conduct in the first degree and not guilty on one count.
This appeal followed.
II. VOUCHING
A. STANDARDS OF REVIEW
Defendant argues that the physician who examined the complainant improperly vouched
for her credibility, and, in doing so, effectively testified that the sexual abuse actually occurred
and that defendant was guilty. Defendant’s trial counsel did not properly preserve this claim of
error by an objection before the trial court. Therefore, the proper review is for plain error
affecting defendant’s substantial rights. People v Carines, 460 Mich 750, 764-765; 597 NW2d
130 (1999). This Court reviews a trial court’s evidentiary decisions for an abuse of discretion.
People v Roper, 286 Mich App 77, 90; 777 NW2d 483 (2009). However, a trial court
necessarily abuses its discretion when it admits evidence that is inadmissible as a matter of law.
Id. at 91.
B. ANALYSIS
It is well-settled that a witness may not offer an opinion on the credibility of another
witness. People v Buckey, 424 Mich 1, 17; 378 NW2d 432 (1985). And, as our Supreme Court
has explained, this prohibition extends to expert witnesses who testify in criminal sexual conduct
cases: “an expert may not testify that the sexual abuse occurred,” may not “vouch for the
veracity of a victim,” and “may not testify whether the defendant is guilty.” People v Peterson,
450 Mich 349, 352; 537 NW2d 857 (1995), amended 450 Mich 1212 (1995), citing People v
Beckley, 434 Mich 691; 465 NW2d 391 (1990). An expert’s testimony will amount to an
impermissible lay opinion vouching for the veracity of the complainant where the expert’s
opinion was based solely on the complainant’s history and emotional state, and was not based on
“any findings within the realm of his medical capabilities or expertise[.]” People v Smith, 425
Mich 98, 112-113; 387 NW2d 814 (1986).
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Here, Dr. Sarah Jane Brown testified that she examined EBT in February 2009 and found
that she did not have any signs of physical injury. She stated that EBT had a rating of five on the
scale for sexual maturity, which means that she had progressed through puberty and had adult
physical features. For that reason, her genital structures had become “stretchy” and could
produce “lubricant.” Dr. Brown stated that, with girls at her stage of development, only about
half will show signs of penetration. Despite finding that EBT had a “normal” exam, Dr. Brown
still diagnosed EBT with “probable pediatric sexual abuse.”
After giving her diagnosis, the prosecutor asked Dr. Brown to explain to the jury her
reasons for the diagnosis; Dr. Brown stated that she reached her diagnosis on the basis of EBT’s
“clear” and “detailed” statements to “our medical team”:
A. [EBT] made a clear and detailed statement to our medical team about contact
by [defendant] that included him using his penis on her genital area. She gave
detail that helped to support her statements. Her physical examination being
normal did not discredit her statements that she had made, because again, many
young girls do not show evidence of penetration on their physical exams.
Q. Go ahead.
A. [EBT’s] statements were also consistent with statements that she had made to
the investigative team. There were no changes in her statements.
Thus, Dr. Brown effectively testified that she came to her diagnosis because she—and
presumably her “team”—believed EBT. Indeed, Dr. Brown clarified that her diagnosis was in
large measure the result of finding EBT’s statements to be consistent:
Q. And so do you look towards not only the statements that are made to Holly
Bathrick and you, but you also do like a little—not investigation, but you compare
what she told you to statements that were made to law enforcement investigators.
A. I do review statements that the child has made to other persons as part of my
evaluation.
Q. And an underlying reason for your diagnosis was that these statements were
overall consistent in nature.
A. Yes.
Dr. Brown’s testimony that EBT’s reports regarding the alleged assaults were consistent
from one report to the next and that her examination results did not “discredit” her testimony was
plainly improper. Although Dr. Brown could have testified that a normal result was not
inconsistent with an actual assault, she did not limit her testimony in this way. Rather, she
opined that there was “probable” sexual abuse because EBT’s statements were “consistent” from
one telling to the next—that is, she improperly testified that sexual abuse occurred and
improperly vouched for EBT’s credibility. This testimony was, as a matter of law, inadmissible.
See Peterson, 450 Mich at 352.
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However, as already noted, defendant’s trial counsel did not preserve this claim of error
by objecting before the trial court. Accordingly, this Court will not grant relief unless there was
a plain or obvious error that affected defendant’s substantial rights. Carines, 460 Mich at 763.
An error affects a defendant’s substantial rights if it prejudiced him—that is, affected the
outcome of the lower court proceedings. Id. Finally, even if a defendant shows that there was a
plain error that affected his substantial rights, this Court has the discretion to deny relief.
Typically, this Court will only exercise its discretion to grant relief where the error resulted in
the conviction of an actually innocent defendant or seriously affected the fairness, integrity, or
public reputation of judicial proceedings. Id.
In this case, the error was plain; the trial court and trial attorneys should have
immediately recognized that Dr. Brown could not properly offer an opinion regarding whether
there was actual sexual abuse and could not offer an opinion regarding EBT’s credibility.
Further, under the totality of the evidence, and contrary to the majority, I conclude that the error
likely affected the outcome of the proceedings.
This case involved a clear credibility contest between EBT and defendant. Defendant’s
trial counsel presented compelling evidence that EBT had a motive to fabricate the charges
against defendant and actually suggested such a fabrication to her half-sister. Moreover, there
were serious inconsistencies in EBT’s statements as to the number, timing, and details of the
alleged assaults. There were also inconsistencies regarding how the abuse came to light.
Finally, there was evidence that EBT had fabricated stories in the past and a suggestion that
EBT’s mother had previously used allegations of wrongdoing to try and get her children
removed from Phyllis’ home. Unlike the majority, my review of the trial transcript does not
reveal that the two investigating officers “provided testimony that strongly corroborated Dr.
Brown’s testimony that the victim had provided consistent statements.”(emphasis supplied).
Indeed, the officers admitted that the complainant’s testimony was somewhat inconsistent, albeit
that this was not uncommon in young victims.
To counteract the evidence tending to undermine EBT’s credibility, the prosecutor tried
to minimize the inconsistencies in EBT’s statements and to highlight the consistent elements.
Part of this effort included referring to the fact that Dr. Brown had found EBT credible. Indeed,
in his closing, the prosecutor invited the jury to defer to Dr. Brown’s superior ability to judge
EBT’s credibility:
But as to the core issues that you are to consider, [EBT] has been consistent, and I
ask you, because we got in everything she said to the detective, everything she
said to Holly Bathrick, and just as Dr. Brown indicated, she looked at what [EBT]
had said to the detective, what she had said to Holly Bathrick, to make her
determination and her diagnosis as to what had happened to [EBT]. And I
submit to you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, when you look at the core facts
here and the reasons why we’re here, she has been consistent here. [Emphasis
added.]
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Given the close nature of the evidence and the fact that the jury actually acquitted
defendant of one count, I must conclude that Dr. Brown’s improper testimony and the
prosecutor’s improper use of the testimony, prejudiced defendant. As Justice BRICKLEY once
noted, in cases of child sexual abuse, there is a clear danger that jurors, confronted with the
daunting task of evaluating such heinous crimes, will defer to an expert:
The use of expert testimony in the prosecution of criminal sexual conduct
cases is not an ordinary situation. Given the nature of the offense and the terrible
consequences of a miscalculation—the consequences when an individual, on
many occasions a family member, is falsely accused of one of society’s most
heinous offenses, or, conversely, when one who commits such a crime would go
unpunished and a possible reoccurrence of the act would go unprevented—
appropriate safeguards are necessary. To a jury recognizing the awesome
dilemma of whom to believe, an expert will often represent the only seemingly
objective source, offering it a much sought-after hook on which to hang its hat.
[Beckley, 434 Mich at 721-722 (opinion by BRICKLEY, J.).]
Further, because this type of error seriously implicates the fairness and integrity of
judicial proceedings, I conclude that this is an appropriate case in which to grant relief.
Therefore, I believe defendant is entitled to a new trial.
Although I have concluded that defendant is entitled to a new trial on the basis of this
error alone, I further believe that the cumulative effect of the trial court improperly allowing
testimony about the history of sexual activity and pedophila among the male members of
defendant’s family also tipped the scales in favor of granting a new trial.
At trial, EBT’s grandmother testified that she had known defendant’s mother and her
family for “many moons.” She also stated that there had been a lot of “sexual conducts” in
defendant’s family. She testified that she had known generations of men in the family, and that
“back in the days” some of the men in defendant’s family had sexual intercourse with some of
the boys, and that they touched each other. She stated that the behavior continued for years.
This testimony was irrelevant and inadmissible. See MRE 401; MRE 402. With this
testimony, the witness implied that defendant—like the other men in his family—had a
propensity to commit pedophilia and there was the possibility that the jury might have concluded
that defendant acted in conformity with this propensity. Such character to conduct evidence is
inadmissible as a matter of law. See MRE 404. And, although this testimony might not have
warranted relief on its own, it exacerbated the prejudice caused by Dr. Brown’s testimony. See
People v Ackerman, 257 Mich App 434, 454; 669 NW2d 818 (2003) (noting that the cumulative
effect of several minor errors may warrant relief where none would warrant relief on its own).
I would reverse.
/s/ Michael J. Kelly
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