Ex parte Loyd
| Decision Date | 19 April 1991 |
| Parties | Ex parte Walter LOYD. (Re Walter Loyd v. State). 89-1423. |
| Court | Alabama Supreme Court |
Gary A. Hudgins, Dothan, for petitioner.
Don Siegelman, Atty. Gen., and Yvonne A. Henderson, Asst. Atty. Gen., for respondent.
Walter Loyd was convicted of sodomy in the first degree, in violation of Ala.Code 1975, § 13A-6-66. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and was ordered to pay a fine and a victim's compensation assessment totalling $5,500. The Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed. See Loyd v. State, 580 So.2d 1370 (Ala.Cr.App.1990). We reverse and remand with instructions.
The evidence presented by the State tended to show the following facts:
Susan Marie Loyd, Walter Loyd's 16-year-old daughter, had been living with her father and stepmother in her father's trailer in Rehobeth, Alabama. On January 10, 1988, Susan Loyd was sunbathing behind the trailer. Susan was lying in the sun in her bathing suit when Walter Loyd approached her and stated that he wanted to put baby oil on her. Susan protested, but he began rubbing her with the oil. He then held her down and ripped the back of her bathing suit and tore the bottom off. Susan continued to protest and attempted to free herself, but Walter climbed on top of her and pinned her to the ground. He then put his tongue into her vagina. Susan was eventually able to free herself and run into the trailer.
Walter Loyd was later indicted and charged with first degree sodomy. During his trial, he attempted to elicit testimony and to introduce evidence that Susan Loyd had, on prior occasions, falsely accused some men of sexual misconduct and had threatened others with like false accusations. The trial judge ruled that this evidence was inadmissible because it violated the rape shield statute.
On this certiorari review, Walter Loyd raises the issue of whether evidence of the victim's prior false allegations and threats of false allegations of sexual misconduct by persons other than the defendant may be introduced to show a "common plan, scheme, design or system" by the victim. Loyd argues that evidence of Susan Loyd's prior false charges and threats would show a common plan or scheme whereby she falsely accused and/or threatened charges of sexual misconduct to manipulate others. Loyd asks this Court to carve out an exception to the rape shield statute, Ala.Code 1975, § 12-21-203; to overturn Webb v. State, 455 So.2d 223 (Ala.Cr.App.1984); and to allow this evidence to be admitted.
In our opinion, the evidence Loyd sought to introduce is admissible, not because it constitutes an exception to the rape shield statute, but, rather, because it falls outside the scope of that statute. That statute was not intended to prevent the admission of this kind of testimony. Alabama's rape shield statute, Ala.Code 1975, § 12-21-203, provides, in part:
While this statute is intended to protect the victim and prevent the defendant from shifting the focus of the trial to the victim's past sexual conduct, the evidence that Loyd sought to introduce in this case did not inquire into the areas of protection that this statute provides. Loyd sought to introduce evidence of prior occasions when the complaining witness either falsely accused someone of sexual misconduct or threatened such an accusation. Loyd did not seek to introduce any evidence of the sexual behavior or past sexual conduct of the complaining witness, but, rather, sought to introduce evidence of the witness's behavior in either falsely accusing someone or threatening an accusation as part of a common plan designed to achieve her wishes. Such evidence of false accusations or charges of sexual misconduct by...
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