State v. Sarfraz
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After a jury trial, Defendant was found guilty of second degree sexual assault with force or violence by use of a dangerous weapon. The court of appeals reversed the conviction and remanded the case for a new trial, concluding that the circuit court erred by excluding evidence of prior sexual conduct between Defendant and the complainant because the evidence fit within a statutory exception to Wisconsin’s rape shield law. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that the circuit court’s refusal to admit the proffered evidence of the previous sexual relationship was proper under the rape shield law because Defendant failed to establish that the probative value of the evidence outweighed its inherent prejudice. Remanded.
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2014 WI 78 SUPREME COURT CASE NO.: COMPLETE TITLE: OF WISCONSIN 2012AP337-CR State of Wisconsin, Plaintiff-Respondent-Petitioner, v. Muhammad Sarfraz, Defendant-Appellant. REVIEW OF A DECISION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS Reported at 348 Wis. 2d 57, 832 N.W.2d 346 (Ct. App. 2013 Published) PDC No.: 2013 WI App 57 OPINION FILED: SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: ORAL ARGUMENT: SOURCE OF APPEAL: COURT: COUNTY: JUDGE: JUSTICES: CONCURRED: July 22, 2014 December 18, 2013 Circuit Milwaukee Dennis R. Cimpl ZIEGLER, ROGGENSACK, JJ., concur. (Opinion filed.) DISSENTED: NOT PARTICIPATING: PROSSER, J., did not participate. ATTORNEYS: For the plaintiff-respondent-petitioner, the cause was argued by Daniel J. O Brien, assistant attorney general, with whom on the briefs was J.B. Van Hollen, attorney general. For the defendant-respondent, there was a brief by Jason D. Luczak, Raymond M. Dall Osto, and Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown LLP, Milwaukee, and oral argument by Jason D. Luczak. 2014 WI 78 NOTICE This opinion is subject to further editing and modification. The final version will appear in the bound volume of the official reports. No. 2012AP337-CR (L.C. No. 10CF2453) STATE OF WISCONSIN : IN SUPREME COURT State of Wisconsin FILED Plaintiff-Respondent-Petitioner, JUL 22, 2014 v. Muhammad Sarfraz, Diane M. Fremgen Clerk of Supreme Court Defendant-Appellant. REVIEW of a decision of the Court of Appeals. Reversed and cause remanded. ¶1 MICHAEL J. GABLEMAN, J. The petitioner, State of Wisconsin, seeks review of a published court of appeals decision1 that reversed the circuit court's judgment of conviction against the defendant, Muhammad new trial. Sarfraz, and remanded the case for a The court of appeals determined that the circuit court had erred by denying Sarfraz's motion to admit evidence of a prior sexual relationship with the complainant, I.N., because 1 State v. Sarfraz, 2013 WI App 57, 348 Wis. 2d 57, 832 N.W.2d 346 (reversing order of the circuit court for Milwaukee County, Dennis R. Cimpl, Judge). No. 2012AP337-CR the evidence fit within a statutory exception to Wisconsin's rape shield law, Wis. Stat. § 972.11(2)(b)1 (2009-10).2 ¶2 We hold that the circuit court's refusal to admit the proffered evidence of the prior sexual relationship was proper under Wisconsin's rape shield law, Wis. Stat. § 972.11. Such evidence is admissible only if the following three criteria are satisfied: 1) the proffered evidence relates to sexual activities between the defendant and the complainant; 2) the evidence is material to a fact at issue in the case; and 3) the evidence is of sufficient probative inflammatory and prejudicial nature. value to outweigh its State v. DeSantis, 155 Wis. 2d 774, 785, 456 N.W.2d 600 (1990). Here, while we agree with the court of appeals that the circuit court improperly found that the proffered evidence of prior sexual conduct was not material, correctly we nevertheless excluded the conclude evidence because the circuit Sarfraz court failed to establish, under the third DeSantis prong, that the probative value of the evidence outweighed its inherent prejudice. ¶3 Accordingly, we reverse and remand to the court of appeals for consideration counsel and sentencing of the arguments ineffective raised by assistance Sarfraz but of not previously addressed. I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY 2 All subsequent references to the Wisconsin Statutes are to the 2009-10 version unless otherwise indicated. 2 No. ¶4 Most 2012AP337-CR of the facts in this case are disputed. parties agree on very little. The The State and Sarfraz agree that he knew I.N. prior to the charged assault, that I.N. and her father lived with Sarfraz when they first emigrated here from Pakistan, that they later moved to a separate apartment, and that on May 15, 2010, Sarfraz came to I.N.'s apartment. While he was there, both Sarfraz and I.N. sustained knife wounds, and I.N. sustained injuries consistent with strangulation. point on that intercourse, and date, Sarfraz after and I.N. Sarfraz left, engaged I.N. was At some in found sexual in the hallway naked from the waist down, screaming that she had been raped. ¶5 Apart from these general facts, the parties presented vastly different versions of the events that occurred on May 15, 2010. The State alleged a forcible rape, while maintained that any sexual contact was consensual. arrested the same stopped his Sarfraz charging day taxicab. him of the The with alleged State filed second attack, degree a Sarfraz was after complaint sexual Sarfraz police against assault with force or violence by use of a dangerous weapon, in violation of Wis. Stat. §§ 940.225(2)(a), 939.63(1)(b). Sarfraz pled not guilty. ¶6 Prior to the trial, Sarfraz moved to admit evidence of prior sexual conduct between himself and I.N. In his motion, Sarfraz asserted that the sexual conduct between himself and I.N. was consensual. He further alleged, "on numerous occasions in the days and months preceding the date of the alleged sexual 3 No. 2012AP337-CR assault, that he and the victim, I.N., engaged in various forms of consensual sexual contact." He contended that his wife would support his allegations by testifying that she caught him in bed with I.N. He also stated that two other acquaintances would testify that they observed a flirtatious relationship between I.N. and Sarfraz. ¶7 The circuit regarding Sarfraz's hearing, Sarfraz court motion held on testified relationship with I.N. an evidentiary 29, November that he hearing At had 2010. a prior the sexual He stated that initially when I.N. lived with him, he would hug her and "grab" her. As the relationship progressed, I.N. would lie in bed with him, where they would fondle and masturbate one another, but never engaged in intercourse because of their cultural values. Sarfraz explained that have in their culture, individuals did not intercourse outside of marriage. ¶8 lying in together. Sarfraz testified that on one occasion, when he was bed with I.N., his wife came home and found them I.N. and her father moved out shortly thereafter. Sarfraz visited I.N. at her apartment on multiple occasions to continue the relationship. ¶9 Sarfraz's wife, Riffat Sarfraz, also testified at the evidentiary hearing. She corroborated Sarfraz's testimony about catching him in bed with I.N. She stated that she came home early one day when her daughter was sick, and when she arrived home, she found I.N. in bed with Sarfraz. wearing pants. Neither one was On another occasion when she came home early due 4 No. to a headache, she found Sarfraz and I.N. in lovingly putting food into each others' mouths. 2012AP337-CR the kitchen These incidents upset her and she pressured Sarfraz to make I.N. and her father move out of the house. ¶10 At the evidentiary hearing Sarfraz also presented the testimony of a co-worker, Azmath Uddin. Uddin testified that on one occasion when he visited Sarfraz's house, he saw Sarfraz lying down with I.N. sitting on his lap with his hands around her waist. On another occasion, he observed I.N. hugging Sarfraz from behind while he was cooking. ¶11 the In response, the State presented I.N. to testify at hearing. She stated that she did not have a sexual relationship with Sarfraz, and that she had viewed him as a brother. She further stated that she had never touched Sarfraz's penis while she was living at his house, that she was never alone with him in his bed, and that his wife did not see them in bed together. father got a job. I.N. and her father moved out after her She stated that the only times Sarfraz visited her apartment was when he helped with the move and on the date of the incident. ¶12 After determined that receiving a jury the testimony, could believe relationship, despite I.N.'s denial. the there circuit was a court sexual It noted that without the rape shield law, the evidence would be relevant. However, to fit within an exception to the rape shield law, the defendant needed to show masturbation was materiality. far The different 5 circuit from court forcible stated that penis-to-vagina No. 2012AP337-CR intercourse, and it reasoned that the defendant had failed to show that the alleged past relationship was material to each of the elements of rape. The circuit court also determined that the evidence would be inadmissible under the third prong of the DeSantis test. The circuit court concluded that Sarfraz could present evidence about his relationship with I.N., but could not present evidence regarding past sexual contact. Thus, the circuit court denied Sarfraz's motion. ¶13 When the case proceeded to trial, the State again presented I.N., who testified that she and her father lived with Sarfraz and his family for a couple of months after they moved to the United States from Pakistan. She stated that during that time she did not have a romantic relationship with Sarfraz. She and her father moved out after her father started working. ¶14 I.N. testified that at around 10:30 a.m. on May 15, 2010, she heard a knock on her door. the individual responded "Jim." landlord. When she asked who it was, I.N. explained that Jim was her When she opened the door, the person on the other side was wearing a mask. He shoved her into the bathroom, choked her and said "I'll kill you." As the man was pulling a knife out of his pocket, I.N. managed to push the mask from his face and saw that it was Sarfraz. Then, Sarfraz held the knife up to her neck. ¶15 As they continued to struggle, Sarfraz set the knife on the floor. I.N. pulled the knife toward her, lifted it up, and slashed Sarfraz on the cheek. finger. I.N. also cut herself on the She testified that blood filled the bathroom floor. 6 No. 2012AP337-CR After Sarfraz took the knife from her, he strangled her harder, tried to hit her, and pulled at her breasts. I.N. continued to struggle to get free. ¶16 I.N. testified that Sarfraz then tied a handkerchief around her mouth and told her he was taking her to the bedroom. I.N. resisted, trying to pull him toward the front door instead. They ended up in the living room. ¶17 Once in the living room, Sarfraz threw I.N. onto the floor, took off her pants and began to fondle her. I.N. kept trying to get away from him but was unable to do so. Sarfraz put a pornographic movie into the DVD player and tried to get I.N. to watch it. She told him she did not want to watch it, and he seemed surprised. I.N. testified that Sarfraz ultimately forced her to have vaginal intercourse. ¶18 I.N. testified that she was afraid Sarfraz was going to kill her, and she tried to leave a note for police by writing his name in blood on a newspaper. After Sarfraz left, I.N. went into the hallway and screamed for help. ¶19 The jury then heard testimony about the events of that day from I.N.'s neighbor, Syed Abdul Bukari. He stated that his wife had heard loud noises in the hallway and when he went to investigate, he discovered I.N. standing half-naked and bloodied, crying and yelling that someone had raped her. ¶20 The individuals Officer State also involved Cosgrove, who in presented the testimony investigation. inventoried a newspaper from various This included that had the letters "S A R" written on it in blood and a pornographic DVD 7 No. that was There removed was also from a the DVD photograph machine of a at file 2012AP337-CR I.N.'s apartment. cabinet in I.N.'s apartment, which also had the letters "S-a-r" written on it in blood. ¶21 Detective Stojsavljevic testified about recovering evidence from Sarfraz's taxicab, including a bloody knife that was hidden under the front seat. The knife was processed and analyzed by a forensic scientist from the State Crime Lab who testified that it contained DNA from both Sarfraz and I.N. The forensic scientist also analyzed buccal, vaginal, and cervical swabs from I.N. as well as swabs from Sarfraz. She identified semen on the swabs from I.N.'s cervix and vagina that matched Sarfraz's DNA. ¶22 The jury also heard testimony from the sexual assault nurse who relayed the results of I.N.'s medical exam. I.N. had tenderness at the front of her throat that was "secondary to strangulation," a cut on her finger, and a cut on her ankle. I.N. also had injuries to her vaginal areas consistent with blunt force contact. ¶23 I.N. on In addition, the jury was shown photographs taken of May 15, 2010. They revealed a three-to-four inch scratch on her cheek, injuries to her neck, an injury between her breasts, an injured finger, bruises on her elbow, and an injury to her ankle. ¶24 at trial. Sarfraz presented a very different version of events As background, Sarfraz stated at the evidentiary hearing. 8 repeated much of what he He testified that he and No. I.N. had a romantic relationship. 2012AP337-CR They had previously engaged in teasing, touching, hugging, and kissing each other. The hugging and kissing was frequent and intense and had occurred when his children were sleeping or away and his wife was out of the house. He testified that he had even brought up marriage with I.N., and that I.N. moved out after his wife caught them together. ¶25 Sarfraz testified that he was not wearing a mask when he went to I.N.'s apartment. He knocked on her door, I.N. asked who it was, and he responded "me." ¶26 Then I.N. opened the door. After entering, Sarfraz hugged I.N. He went to the refrigerator, got a few things, and then sat down and started watching television. I.N. talked to him about her need for money and insisted he leave his wife and children. When he told her that he would not leave his wife and children, things "got heated." I.N. was furious. She grabbed his collar, cried and yelled, and hit him with her fist. He tried to leave, but she kept pulling him inside. ¶27 bathroom. Sarfraz testified that he suddenly had to use the While he was sitting in the bathroom, I.N. entered and stabbed his face with a knife. A struggle ensued and he put his hands on her throat to push her away. from I.N. and put it in his pocket. living room. He took the knife Then they went into the Sarfraz lay down due to pain caused by either kidney stones or gall stones. Throughout this time, Sarfraz's pants remained down. 9 No. ¶28 trouble Sarfraz she then could apologized. asked get into I.N. if if he she called knew the 2012AP337-CR what kind police. of I.N. After Sarfraz recovered from the pain, I.N. started "love talk" and sat on top of him. she wanted to have intercourse. and asked him to forgive her. She fondled him and told him She rubbed herself against him She then started the pornographic DVD and rubbed his penis with her hand. ¶29 Sarfraz stated that I.N. tried to "make love," but he pushed her away and said no. She continued rubbing his penis and asked him to ejaculate on her, which he did. When Sarfraz got up, he began cleaning up the blood and then left. ¶30 To support his defense, testimony of his wife and Uddin. from the evidentiary hearing, Sarfraz also presented the Uddin repeated his statements telling the jury that he had observed I.N. sitting on Sarfraz's lap with his arms around her waist. He also told the jury about the time he saw I.N. hug Sarfraz while Sarfraz was cooking. ¶31 Likewise, Sarfraz's wife repeated much of what she had stated at the evidentiary hearing. one occasion she others' mouths. saw I.N. and She told the jury that on Sarfraz putting food in each She also told the jury that she saw Sarfraz and I.N. in the bedroom together, that this made her upset, and afterwards she threw I.N.'s belongings out of the apartment. Consistent with the court's instruction, his wife did not elaborate on what exactly she saw. ¶32 The jury returned a guilty verdict and Sarfraz was sentenced to ten years' incarceration and five years' extended 10 No. supervision. relief, Thereafter, alleging Sarfraz ineffective for assistance entitlement to a new sentence. motion. moved 2012AP337-CR post-conviction of counsel and The circuit court denied the Sarfraz appealed, arguing that the circuit court erred in rejecting his ineffective assistance of counsel claim, and that the circuit court incorrectly interpreted the rape shield law and violated his constitutional rights by excluding the evidence of past sexual conduct between himself and I.N. ¶33 The court of appeals reversed remanded the case for a new trial. App 57, ¶1, 348 Wis. 2d 57, 832 the conviction and State v. Sarfraz, 2013 WI N.W.2d 346. The court of appeals disagreed with the circuit court's conclusion that the evidence of past sexual conduct was not relevant to a material fact in the case, and it stated that the law did not require the prior sexual conduct to be the same as that alleged in the criminal case. Id., ¶26. It determined that the past sexual conduct was material to the issue of consent, and the probative nature of the past sexual contact outweighed any prejudice to I.N. Id., concluded evidence. ¶¶24, that 30. the Accordingly, circuit Id., ¶31. court the erred court by of appeals excluding the The court of appeals did not address Sarfraz's arguments about ineffective assistance of counsel and entitlement to a new sentence. ¶34 The dissent did not agree that the excluded evidence was material. Id., ¶34 (Brennan, J., dissenting). It noted that testimony regarding the prior consensual masturbation was the only excluded evidence and 11 that other evidence of the No. romantic relationship was admitted at trial. also asserted that Sarfraz had not 2012AP337-CR Id. explained The dissent how the prior consensual masturbation would give I.N. a motive to lie about the incident evidence had Sarfraz's on May 15. little theory probative of conduct charged. Id., defense Moreover, value, and as was it too omitted not did the support dissimilar to the Id., ¶39. II. ¶35 ¶36. STANDARD OF REVIEW This issue in this case is whether the circuit court properly excluded evidence of prior consensual sexual conduct between Sarfraz and I.N. to the circuit The exclusion of evidence is subject court's discretion. State Wis. 2d 646, 655, 575 N.W.2d 475 (1998). erroneous "applied exercise the discretion of wrong discretion legal or . . . the facts circuit court's decision." of Jackson, 216 We will not find an unless standard v. in the the record circuit exercise fail to court of its support the State v. Ringer, 2010 WI 69, ¶24, 326 Wis. 2d 351, 785 N.W.2d 448. III. DISCUSSION ¶36 exercised Sarfraz its argues discretion that by the circuit excluding court evidence erroneously of his prior sexual relationship with I.N. to support his version of events and I.N.'s motive to fabricate the charges. that the circuit constitutional rights court's to error present adverse witnesses. 12 a Sarfraz contends deprived defense him and to of his confront No. ¶37 present 2012AP337-CR Defendants are granted the constitutional rights to a defense confrontation and and confront compulsory adverse process witnesses clauses of under the Article I, Section 7 of the Wisconsin Constitution3 and the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution.4 State v. Pulizzano, 155 Wis. 2d 633, 645, 456 N.W.2d 325 (1990). These rights, which have aptly been described as opposite sides of the same coin, are "fundamental and essential to achieving the constitutional objective of a fair trial." Id. Mississippi, 410 U.S. 284, 294 (1973)). 3 (citing Chambers v. Even so, these rights Article I, Section 7 of the Wisconsin Constitution states: In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right to be heard by himself and counsel; to demand the nature and cause of the accusation against him; to meet the witnesses face to face; to have compulsory process to compel the attendance of witnesses in his behalf; and in prosecutions by indictment, or information, to a speedy public trial by an impartial jury of the county or district wherein the offense shall have been committed; which county or district shall have been previously ascertained by law. 4 The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution states: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. 13 No. are not absolute. 2012AP337-CR "Confrontation and compulsory process only grant defendants the constitutional right to present relevant evidence that prejudicial is 'not effects.'" substantially Jackson, 216 outweighed Wis. 2d at 657 by its (quoting Pulizzano, 155 Wis. 2d at 646). ¶38 Here, Sarfraz's proffer of past sexual contact with I.N. implicates law.5 Under Wis. the Stat. rape § 972.11, shield law, Wisconsin's introducing rape any shield evidence concerning the complainant's prior sexual history or reputation is generally barred "regardless of the purpose." § 972.11(2)(c); Pulizzano, 155 Wis. 2d at 644. Wis. Stat. "The rape shield law expresses the legislature's determination that evidence of a complainant's prior sexual conduct has low probative value and a highly prejudicial effect." DeSantis, 155 Wis. 2d at 784-85. However, § 972.11 sets out three statutory exceptions to its broad evidentiary shield, which "encompass those limited factual scenarios in which the legislature has determined that evidence of a complainant's sexual history may be sufficiently probative of a material issue to overcome the prejudicial nature of such 5 Wisconsin's rape shield law was enacted "'to counteract outdated beliefs that a complainant's sexual past could shed light on the truthfulness of the sexual assault allegations.'" State v. Carter, 2010 WI 40, ¶39, 324 Wis. 2d 640, 782 N.W.2d 695 (quoting State v. Dunlap, 2002 WI 19, ¶19, 250 Wis. 2d 466, 640 N.W.2d 112). The law is rooted in the legislature's determination that evidence of a complainant's prior sexual conduct is largely irrelevant "or, if relevant, substantially outweighed by its prejudicial effect." State v. Pulizzano, 155 Wis. 2d 633, 644, 456 N.W.2d 325 (1990); see also Carter, 324 Wis.2d 640, ¶39; State v. DeSantis, 155 Wis. 2d 774, 784-85, 456 N.W.2d 600 (1990). 14 No. evidence." 2012AP337-CR Jackson, 216 Wis. 2d at 657-58; see § 972.11(2)(b)1- 3. ¶39 Sarfraz exception, sought Wis. to Stat. admit evidence § 972.11(2)(b)1, under which the first concerns "[e]vidence of the complaining witness's past conduct with the defendant." As this court observed in Jackson, "merely offering proof of the general type described in a particular exception is not enough to defeat the rape shield statute." Wis. 2d at 658. Jackson, 216 The statutory exceptions to the rape shield law are also subject to Wis. Stat. § 971.31(11), which provides that the circuit court must first determine that the proffered evidence is "material to a fact at issue in the case and of sufficient probative value to outweigh its inflammatory prejudicial nature before it may be introduced at trial."6 and See Wis. Stat. § 972.11(2)(b). ¶40 Thus, under Wis. Stat. §§ 972.11(2)(b)1 and 971.31(11), evidence of the complainant's alleged past sexual conduct with the defendant is admissible only if the defendant makes a three-part showing that: "(i) the proffered evidence 6 Wisconsin Stat. § 971.31(11) operates as an "inverted balancing test," in that it reverses the approach of Wis. Stat. § 904.03 for weighing the admissibility of evidence. 7 Daniel D. Blinka, Wisconsin Practice Series: Wisconsin Evidence § 420.4, at 284 (3d ed. 2008). Unlike Wis. Stat. § 904.03, which requires that evidence be admitted unless the probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, the balancing test in § 971.31(11) is "biased against admissibility." Id. In other words, the starting assumption is that the proffered evidence, absent a showing to the contrary, is more prejudicial than probative. Id.; Jackson, 216 Wis. 2d at 658. 15 No. 2012AP337-CR relates to sexual activities between the complainant and the defendant; (ii) the evidence is material to a fact at issue; and (iii) the evidence of sexual contact with the complainant is of 'sufficient probative value prejudicial nature.'" to outweigh its inflammatory and Jackson, 216 Wis. 2d at 658-59 (citing DeSantis, 155 Wis. 2d at 785). ¶41 Under the first step of the analysis, the circuit court must be able to conclude from the defendant's proffer that a reasonable person could find it "more likely than not" that the prior sexual conduct occurred. ¶32; Jackson, 216 Wis. 2d at See Ringer, 326 Wis. 2d 351, 659. Here, the circuit court determined that a reasonable jury could find it more likely than not that prior sexual conduct had occurred between Sarfraz and I.N. We agree with the circuit court that a reasonable person could find from the testimony of Sarfraz, Riffat, and Uddin that it is more likely than not that occurred between Sarfraz and I.N. prior sexual conduct had Because the evidence related to I.N.'s prior sexual conduct with Sarfraz, the first prong of DeSantis is satisfied. ¶42 The circuit court material to second to of consider the DeSantis whether the fact at issue in "materiality" prong, the court must evidence probative is a step of a fact test proffered the case. determine (or requires evidence is Under this "whether the proposition) consequence' to the determination of the action." the 'of 7 Daniel D. Blinka, Wisconsin Practice Series: Wisconsin Evidence § 401.101, 16 No. 2012AP337-CR at 98 (3d ed. 2008).7 Put differently, the test under Wis. Stat. § 904.01 which forth sets the definition of relevancy in Wisconsin evidence law is "simply whether the evidence has any tendency to make a consequential fact more or less probable."8 Blinka, § 401.102 at 101 (emphasis added). Evidence should be excluded as "irrelevant" only if it completely lacks probative value. ¶43 Id. at 102. The substantive law governs the particular elements of the crime charged and the facts or propositions that are of consequence to the case. State v. Sullivan, 216 Wis. 2d 768, 785-86, 576 N.W.2d 30 (1998).9 Therefore, the proponent of the evidence must articulate the fact or proposition the evidence is 7 The common law term "materiality" has been replaced in our jurisprudence with the concept of consequential facts (or propositions). State v. Sullivan, 216 Wis. 2d 768, 786 n.15, 576 N.W.2d 30 (1998) (citing Blinka, supra, § 401.101, at 64 (1991)). 8 "[E]vidence is relevant if it has the slightest bit of probative worth; only evidence that has no value as proof of a consequential fact is irrelevant." 22 Wright and Graham, Federal Practice and Procedure: Evidence § 5165 (1978 ed.). "Any tiny increase or decrease in the probability of a fact of consequence 'does the trick,' no matter how slightly incremental." Paul Rothstein, Federal Rules of Evidence r. 401 (3d ed. 1985). 9 Further, "the terms 'fact of consequence' or 'consequential fact' refer not only to the ultimate facts but to all links in the factual chain necessary to establish the ultimate facts." Blinka, supra, § 401.101, at 98. This means that the proffered evidence does not need to bear directly on a particular element of the crime charged. Holmes v. State, 76 Wis. 2d 259, 268, 251 N.W.2d 56 (1977). Instead, the evidence may simply "bear upon any one of countless other factors which are of consequence to the determination of the action." Id. 17 No. offered to prove. Id. at 786. 2012AP337-CR This offer of proof does not need to "'be stated with complete precision or in unnecessary detail but it should state an evidentiary hypothesis underpinned by a sufficient statement of facts to warrant the conclusion or inference that the trier of fact is urged to adopt.'" Jackson, 216 Wis. 2d at 662 (quoting Milenkovic v. State, 86 Wis. 2d 272, 284, 272 N.W.2d 320 (Ct. App. 1978)). ¶44 Here, defense counsel argued at the evidentiary hearing that the evidence of prior sexual contact was relevant to Sarfraz's defense to the charge of sexual assault: The whole nature of that relationship existed is material to the idea that he would in some way need to come to that apartment with a mask and a knife to try to get sex from her, which is what the nature of these allegations are. And it also goes, I think, a to whether there was consensual sex along the lines that Mr. Sarfraz would testify to, that after she attacked him, she she enticed him into a sexual activity along the lines of what he's described in his testimony today, in order to placate him. That type of consent, I think, is relevant to this type of scenario. It may not be in the traditional type of situation, but I think it is relevant here. It explains the sex. It also, I think, a is central to attacking the idea a that there was forcible entry with a mask and knife. All of these things are central to the defense. I think we need to be able to put that into evidence in order to present a defense for a Mr. Sarfraz. The circuit court was unconvinced by defense counsel's argument and found that, because the prior sexual contact between Sarfraz 18 No. 2012AP337-CR and I.N. did not involve violent, non-consensual intercourse, it was not material for purposes of Wis. Stat. § 971.31(11). ¶45 We agree with the court of appeals that the circuit court misapplied the second prong of the DeSantis test to the facts of this case and improperly found the proffered evidence was immaterial. The circuit court's reasoning suggests that, in order for evidence of past sexual conduct between Sarfraz and I.N. to be admissible, it must be of a similar type and nature to that charged against the defendant. ¶46 prong This is narrow interpretation unsupported by the § 972.11(2)(b) and our case law. of the language second of DeSantis Wis. Stat. The exceptions to Wisconsin's rape shield law do not require proffered evidence of past sexual conduct between the accuser and the defendant to be the same as the criminal conduct alleged against the defendant. If they did, the only evidence that could be admitted under one of the exceptions to the rape shield law for "past conduct with the defendant" would be other instances of forcible sex. § 972.11(2)(b)1. Wis. Stat. In fact, to the extent that the rape shield law exceptions are designed, at least in part, to guarantee a meaningful defense to the accused, the circuit court's reading completely defeats such a purpose. ¶47 Nothing in the rape shield should be so narrowly construed. law indicates that it On the contrary, the exception for past sexual conduct in subsection (b)1 has traditionally been applied complainant to and all the types of defendant. 19 sexual See, contact e.g., between Blinka, the supra, No. 2012AP337-CR § 420.4, at 284-85 (the first exception in the rape shield law "includes all aspects of the relationship that fall within the broad definition of 'sexual conduct,' . . . . The most common scenario involves the defense's proffer of prior consensual sexual contact in order to prove that the victim also consented to the charged conduct."). ¶48 DeSantis The test proper is to inquiry under consider the whether second the prong proffered of the evidence "relates to a fact or proposition that is of consequence to the determination of the action." Here, I.N. alleges that Sullivan, 216 Wis. 2d at 772. Sarfraz sexually assaulted her. Sarfraz's defense is that the sexual contact was consensual. At the evidentiary hearing, Sarfraz's counsel articulated that the evidence of mutual masturbation was offered to: (1) undercut I.N.'s testimony that Sarfraz gained entry to her apartment by pretending to be her landlord, thereby casting doubt on her credibility; (2) support Sarfraz's version of events that I.N. was angry with him for refusing to leave his wife for her; and (3) bolster Sarfraz's claim that the alleged sexual assault was consensual and merely represented a progression in their sexual relationship. See Blinka, supra, § 420.4, at 285 ("Most often, evidence of prior consensual contact is used to show that the victim consented at the time of the assault . . . .") It is clear Sarfraz's counsel established that the proffered evidence related to facts consequential to the determination of the case. As the court of appeals correctly explained, the fact that "I.N. may have masturbated Sarfraz on 20 numerous occasions, both at No. 2012AP337-CR Sarfraz's apartment and at her own, is relevant to the issue of whether I.N. consented to sexual contact on May 15, 2010." Sarfraz, 348 Wis. 2d 57, ¶27. Further, "[t]he full scope of their relevant sexual relationship is to whether it is believable that Sarfraz attempted to conceal his identity from someone who knew him so well in a physical sense." ¶49 Moreover, Sarfraz and I.N.'s Id. respective testimony offered wildly divergent accounts of their relationship and what transpired on the day of the alleged sexual assault. The proffered evidence of past sexual conduct weighs directly on their respective credibility, as well as on Riffat's and Uddin's, both of whom testified that they witnessed Sarfraz and I.N. together in intimate situations. witness's credibility is always meaning of Wis. Stat. § 904.01." Without exception, "[a] 'consequential' within the Blinka, supra, § 401.101, at 98 (emphasis added). ¶50 evidence The is State argues material would that concluding undermine, if the not holding in State v. Jackson, 216 Wis. 2d 646. proffered overrule, We disagree. our In Jackson, the defendant initially sought admission of evidence of prior sexual conduct with the complainant alleged sexual assault was consensual. 660. to show that the Jackson, 216 Wis. 2d at On the first day of trial, however, Jackson changed his theory of defense and argued that he never had sexual contact with the complainant. Id. at 652. Despite this last-minute change to his theory of defense, Jackson's counsel argued the evidence of past sexual conduct was still material because it 21 No. 2012AP337-CR would touch on the complainant's anger and explain "why human beings in this situation might have disagreement concerning what happened because of that prior relationship." Id. at 661-62. The circuit court ruled that the evidence of prior consensual sexual contact material. proffer between Id. by Jackson at 660. Jackson's and the complainant was not On appeal, we held that the vague counsel of "his undeveloped anger or jealousy theory," even if accepted as true, did not "lead to an inference that false accusations were leveled in revenge for the termination of that relationship." contrast to Jackson, detailed factual defense basis to Id. at 662. counsel's the circuit Here, in stark proffer court provided describing a the alleged prior sexual relationship, which included corroboration from other witnesses. ¶51 Thus, we conclude the circuit court erred in finding that the proffered evidence of prior sexual conduct was not "material to a fact Wis. 2d at 785. at issue in the case." DeSantis, 155 Sarfraz proffered sufficient facts to support his defense of consent against the allegation of sexual assault and satisfied the materiality requirement of the second DeSantis prong. ¶52 which This brings us to the third step in the analysis, asks whether complainant has the evidence sufficient of probative inflammatory and prejudicial nature. step operates weight[s] the as an balance inverted in sexual value Id. balancing favor 22 of contact a to with the outweigh its As noted above, this test that determination "initially that the No. 2012AP337-CR evidence is inherently prejudicial" due to "the legislature's distrust of evidence Jackson at 663. of a victim's prior sexual history." Put differently, the starting assumption is that the evidence is prejudicial. Id. at 658. Satisfying this burden is far more demanding than the showing required under the second step of DeSantis. Unlike the second step, which looks to whether the evidence of prior sexual conduct is material (that is, whether the evidence has any probative value), the third prong asks whether sufficient to prejudicial the probative outweigh nature. its Id. value of inherently at 659. that evidence inflammatory "Evidence is is and unduly prejudicial when it threatens the fundamental goals of accuracy and fairness of the trial by misleading the jury or by influencing the jury to decide the case upon an improper basis." DeSantis, 155 Wis. 2d at 791-92. ¶53 Here, the circuit court determined that Sarfraz failed to meet his burden under the third DeSantis prong, and we agree. We explained in DeSantis that when the proffered evidence of prior sexual conduct criminal charges probative value at of and the sexual issue are "significantly proffered evidence the conduct underlying the different," the "on the issue of consent [is] minimal," and "[t]he fact that the prior incident was remote in time and dissimilar in circumstances further diminishes the value of comparing the two incidents and drawing conclusions consent." regarding Id. at 791. the complainant's credibility or her Indeed, mutual masturbation which is the evidence Sarfraz argues was improperly excluded from trial 23 No. is profoundly dissimilar in circumstance from 2012AP337-CR non-consensual vaginal intercourse following a knife fight. ¶54 Sarfraz's theory of defense was that the intercourse was consensual, and he maintains that the past sexual conduct supports this regarding the argument. past However, sexual conduct his provides value to support this proposition. alleged did not go beyond proffered testimony little probative The past conduct Sarfraz consensual masturbation. Sarfraz explained that he and I.N. had not had intercourse in the past because in their culture one did not have intercourse outside of marriage. That they refrained from intercourse in the past, far from suggesting consent, strongly suggests that I.N. would not have consented to sexual intercourse on May 15, 2010. ¶55 The strong presumption that this type of evidence is prejudicial lends additional support decision to exclude the evidence. to the circuit court's The legislature enacted the rape shield statute in part to protect complainants from the embarrassment reporting evidence effect, and crimes of the humiliation of prior sexual sexual legislature that discouraged assault. In conduct crafted has into a the victims from determining that highly rape prejudicial shield law a "balancing test that [assumes], absent an evidentiary showing to the contrary, [that] the proferred evidence is more prejudicial than probative." court concluded Jackson, 216 Wis. 2d at 658. that Sarfraz failed to meet his The circuit burden of showing that the probative value of the evidence outweighed its prejudicial nature, and we agree. 24 Because of the low probative No. 2012AP337-CR value of the excluded evidence, and its highly inflammatory and prejudicial nature, we conclude the circuit court's decision to exclude the evidence was not an erroneous exercise of discretion. IV. ¶56 CONCLUSION We hold that the circuit court's refusal to admit the proffered evidence of the prior sexual relationship was proper under Wisconsin's rape shield law, Wis. Stat. § 972.11. While we conclude the circuit court improperly applied the materiality prong of the DeSantis test, we nevertheless hold the circuit court correctly excluded the evidence because Sarfraz failed to establish, under the third DeSantis prong, that the probative value of the evidence outweighed its inherent prejudice. ¶57 Accordingly, we reverse and remand to the court of appeals for consideration counsel and sentencing of the arguments ineffective raised by assistance Sarfraz but of not previously addressed. By the Court. The decision of the court of appeals reversed, and the cause remanded to the court of appeals. ¶58 DAVID T. PROSSER, J., did not participate. 25 is No. ¶59 ANNETTE concur with should be the KINGSLAND majority reversed. ZIEGLER, opinion I do J. that not 2012AP337-CR.akz (concurring). the agree, court of however, I appeals with the majority's conclusions regarding the materiality of the evidence in the case at issue. I write separately primarily because I conclude that the evidence at issue was not material, but also because I agree with the well-stated reasoning of the dissent in the court of appeals. ¶¶32-40, 348 See State v. Sarfraz, 2013 WI App 57, Wis. 2d 57, dissenting). Sarfraz's shield law inside out. the victim had 832 N.W.2d 346 materiality (Brennan, argument turns the J., rape Sarfraz basically argues that because previously engaged in consensual masturbation with Sarfraz, she therefore must have consented to the violent, vaginal intercourse at knifepoint with Sarfaz on 15.1 May Sarfraz further asserts that this evidence is relevant to the victim's truthfulness. ¶60 behind Sarfraz's argument undermines the fundamental purpose the rape shield law: protection of a victim improperly attacked regarding prior sexual activity. who is The rape shield law is intended to exclude evidence of prior consensual, nonviolent sexual activity especially when, as is the case at issue, such evidence is dissimilar 1 from the violent rape The victim steadfastly denies that she ever engaged in any sexual activity with Sarfraz because for cultural reasons, she would not have engaged in such activity. The victim further denies that she ever had any kind of romantic relationship with Sarfraz. 1 No. charged. 2012AP337-CR.akz Sarfraz's argument goes too far and could be viewed as unraveling the protections that the rape shield law affords a victim of sexual assault. In a sexual assault trial it is not the victim's past that is on trial. Surely the majority cannot be concluding that a defendant need only allege that a previous consensual sexual encounter occurred with the victim in order to render admissible such otherwise prohibited evidence. I write to confirm that the rape shield law remains intact even after the majority's fact-specific determinations in the case at issue. ¶61 In my view, Sarfraz's argument and hence, the majority opinion, is flawed in three fundamental respects: (1) the trial court made a discretionary evidentiary determination that is owed deference; (2) the subject evidence is not material and; (3) the probative value of the evidence does not outweigh its prejudicial effect. ¶62 First, we review the circuit court's discretionary decision regarding the admission of evidence. "'This court will not admit disturb evidence a circuit unless discretion.'" the court's circuit State v. decision court to erroneously Jackson, 2014 WI or exclude exercised its 4, 352 ¶43, Wis. 2d 249, 841 N.W.2d 791 (quoting Weborg v. Jenny, 2012 WI 67, ¶41, 341 Wis. 2d 668, 816 N.W.2d 191). A circuit court erroneously exercises its discretion only "'if it applies an improper legal standard or makes supported by the facts of record.'" a decision Id. not reasonably I conclude that the trial court did not err in either its factual determinations or 2 No. the legal standard applied. I agree with 2012AP337-CR.akz Judge Brennan's dissent in the court of appeals that "the trial court applied facts from the DeSantis." record Sarfraz, dissenting) (citing to the 348 State correct legal standard from ¶33 (Brennan, J., Wis. 2d 57, v. DeSantis, 155 Wis. 2d 774, 456 N.W.2d 600 (1990)). ¶63 Second, the evidence that Sarfraz sought to admit was not material. See id., ¶34. While the trial court excluded Sarfraz's request to introduce testimony that he and the victim previously engaged in consensual masturbation, the jury nonetheless heard testimony that he and the victim had a prior romantic relationship. Whether acts of mutual masturbation occurred or not is of little consequence to the crime charged. If the issue is whether the consensual masturbation evidence was material, Sarfraz's argument that the evidence is because it goes to truthfulness, misses the mark. argument that the sexual contact was consensual material Sarfraz's before, therefore it must be consensual in the case at issue, likewise fails to explain why the complainant would now fabricate a story about an armed intercourse. I and masked agree entry with Judge and forceful Brennan's vaginal dissent that Sarfraz's arguments are "'vague arguments and bald assertions' without any link to the complainant's motive for lying about sexual assault on trial." Id., ¶36 (quoting State v. Jackson, 216 Wis. 2d 646, 662, 575 N.W.2d 475 (1998)). ¶64 To the extent that Sarfraz did offer a theory as to the complainant's motive for lying about the forceful rape at 3 No. 2012AP337-CR.akz trial, that theory was not supported by the evidence that he sought to admit. As Judge Brennan's dissent aptly notes, however, "that defense theory did not require proof that they engaged in consensual masturbation previously." Wis. 2d 57, ¶37 (Brennan, J., dissenting). a romantic relationship was what Sarfraz, 348 If the existence of Sarfraz thought to be so significant to his defense, that evidence was already before the jury. did As Judge Brennan's dissent pointed out, the trial court admit other evidence of Sarfraz's prior romantic relationship with the victim through the testimony of Sarfraz, his wife, and a friend. Id. In addition, Sarfraz testified that the complainant wanted him to marry her, but that he did not want to marry her. Id. It is less than clear why evidence of consensual masturbation would explain why she was angry that he would not marry her. If evidence of a relationship was somehow relevant to his defense, the masturbation evidence was not required to so establish the fact that they had such a relationship. Moreover, evidence of a romantic relationship was already before the jury. At most, the excluded evidence was cumulative to the evidence already before the jury. ¶65 Finally, as Judge Brennan's dissent stated, "the trial court properly weighed the prejudicial effect of the excluded testimony against its probative value." Id., ¶38. The purpose of the rape shield law is to "protect complainants from the humiliation and degradation associated allegations regarding sexual history." 155 Wis. 2d at 793). with unfounded Id. (quoting DeSantis, Thus, testimony relating to past sexual 4 No. conduct is admissible only if it is both 2012AP337-CR.akz material and the probative value outweighs the prejudicial effect, and since the evidence is not material, its probative value does not outweigh the prejudicial effect. I agree with Judge Brennan's dissent that even if one were to conclude that the evidence was of some marginal materiality, the circuit court was correct to conclude that the prejudicial effect outweighed its probative value. Not only does the evidence fail to support the defense theory of the complainant's motive to lie, it is cumulative to evidence introduced at trial and the conduct is "too dissimilar" to the conduct in the charged offense to be probative. As noted in DeSantis, the prior sexual conduct must not be remote in time or dissimilar in circumstance. 155 Wis. 2d at 790-91. Here, as Judge Brennan stated: [T]he alleged prior consensual masturbation is completely dissimilar to the masked, armed, home intrusion and forcible sexual assault at trial. It is too dissimilar to pass the DeSantis admissibility test. The prejudice to the complainant from including the alleged masturbation evidence, especially when there was such a limited probative value to the defense theory, is exactly what the rape shield law was designed to eliminate. Sarfraz, 348 Wis. 2d 57, ¶39 (Brennan, J., dissenting). I agree. ¶66 shield Both Jackson and law presumes both prejudicial effect" when evidence prior of DeSantis "low a consensual instruct probative defendant sex in that value wishes the past the rape and a highly to introduce in order to establish consensual sex with respect to the offense charged. DeSantis, 155 Wis. 2d at 784-85; Jackson, 216 Wis. 2d at 658; 5 No. see also State v. Pulizzano, N.W.2d 325 (1990).2 155 2012AP337-CR.akz Wis. 2d 633, 643-44, 456 Sarfraz likewise failed to demonstrate that his confrontation right or his right to present a defense were violated. (2013); See Nevada v. Jackson, 569 U.S. ___, 133 S. Ct. 1990 State v. Dunlap, 2002 WI 19, 250 of a Wis. 2d 466, 640 N.W.2d 112. ¶67 If consensual, anything, romantic evidence relationship would previous more likely loving, predict future similar conduct rather than the violent, forceful, bloody events of May 15. prior, nonviolent, Simply stated, Sarfraz did not show how the consensual relationship would predict a future violent episode or impact on the victim's truthfulness. In short, the dissimilarity of the prior acts is at odds with the materiality subject or evidence. probative The value circuit and court admissibility properly of the exercised its discretion in excluding the subject evidence. ¶68 For the foregoing reasons, I concur. ¶69 I am authorized to state that Justice PATIENCE DRAKE ROGGENSACK joins this concurrence. 2 State v. Pulizzano addresses a different exception under the rape shield law. 155 Wis. 2d 633, 643-44, 456 N.W.2d 325 (1990). Notably, Sarfraz's offer of proof was insufficient under that exception as well. 6 No. 1 2012AP337-CR.akz
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