State v. McGrath ( 2021 )

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Docket No. 48726
STATE OF IDAHO, )
)
Plaintiff-Respondent, ) Boise, September 2021 Term
)
v. ) Opinion Filed: December 20, 2021
)
COREY STEVEN MCGRATH, ) Melanie Gagnepain, Clerk
)
Defendant-Appellant. )
Appeal from the District Court of the First Judicial District, State of Idaho, Kootenai
County. Scott Wayman, District Judge.
The judgment of the district court is affirmed.
Ferguson Durham, PLLC, Boise, for appellant Corey Steven McGrath. Craig H.
Durham argued.
Lawrence G. Wasden, Idaho Attorney General, Boise, for respondent State of
Idaho. Kenneth K. Jorgensen argued.
_____________________
STEGNER, Justice.
Corey McGrath was charged with two counts of lewd conduct with a minor: one regarding
his five-year-old stepdaughter, B.B.; and one regarding his twelve-year-old stepdaughter, L.N. The
two counts were severed for trial. During a jury trial on the first count of lewd conduct, and over
McGrath’s objection, the State introduced evidence of McGrath’s cell phone internet search
history, which included searches for stepfather-stepdaughter themed pornography, along with two
still images of pornographic videos purportedly viewed by McGrath. The jury convicted McGrath
of one count of lewd conduct with respect to B.B. McGrath subsequently, pursuant to a plea
agreement, pleaded guilty to felony injury to a child regarding L.N.’s accusations in the second
count.
The district court sentenced McGrath to life in prison with twenty years fixed for the lewd
conduct charge and ten years fixed for the felony injury to a child charge. The sentences were
ordered to run concurrently. McGrath appeals his conviction of lewd conduct. He also appeals the
sentences imposed for both convictions. The Idaho Court of Appeals affirmed McGrath’s
1
conviction and sentences. State v. McGrath, No. 47442, 2020 WL 6112526 (Idaho Ct. App. Oct.
16, 2020). McGrath petitioned the Idaho Supreme Court for review, which was granted. We affirm
McGrath’s conviction and sentences.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
The facts of this case are disturbing, but require recitation. On October 19, 2018, five-year-
old B.B. was receiving care at Coeur d’Alene Pediatrics for a persistent vaginal rash. B.B.’s
mother, E.B., had taken B.B. to her pediatrician, Dr. Shaw, the week prior for the same vaginal
rash and received a medicated cream to clear the rash. After the cream failed to produce the
expected results, E.B. took B.B. back to Dr. Shaw, who decided to run a culture test. The culture
produced a positive result for gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection.
After learning of the positive test, Shaw immediately informed the Idaho Department of
Health and Welfare (IDHW, or the Department). Caseworker Kayla Ellis and an officer from the
Coeur d’Alene Police Department arrived at the clinic shortly thereafter. Shaw testified that she
notified the Department because a prepubescent girl testing positive for a sexually transmitted
infection is almost always indicative of sexual abuse. Officers interviewed E.B. at the clinic and
learned that she and B.B. resided with E.B.’s boyfriend, Corey McGrath, and McGrath’s mother
and step-father.
Due to the alarming circumstances, the responding officer decided that B.B. should be
immediately interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) in Coeur d’Alene. The officer
decided to conduct the interview herself because the forensic interviewer for the CAC was
unavailable. During the interview, B.B. disclosed that an unknown boy from her kindergarten class
touched her “pee-pee area.” B.B. made no other disclosures that concerned the interviewing
officer, so B.B. was sent home with her mother.
Detective Thomas Sudol subsequently took over the case and decided that B.B. should be
removed from the home while further information was gathered on household members. Case
worker Ellis and an officer removed B.B. from her home on October 25, 2018, after determining
that it was “necessary for [her] safety.” Also at this time, officers and the Department asked E.B.,
McGrath, and McGrath’s mother and step-father to be tested for gonorrhea. E.B. and McGrath
both tested positive.
On October 25, 2018, B.B. was interviewed again, this time by Janet Pace, a forensic
interviewer at the CAC. B.B. disclosed that “daddy,” referring to McGrath who acted as her step-
2
father, “cuddled” her in bed on one occasion. After this disclosure, B.B. began to get distracted
and asked to take a break. Pace took a break and spoke with Sudol and Ellis, who were watching
the interview from the observation room. They informed Pace that they thought B.B. was on the
brink of making a disclosure, so Pace returned to the interview room and continued talking with
B.B.
B.B. then disclosed to Pace that McGrath, or “daddy,” touched her “pee-pee” with his
“fingers” more than one time. B.B. also disclosed that McGrath would touch his “pee-pee area”
while he was touching her. Due to the positive gonorrhea test and B.B.’s disclosures, McGrath
was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with one count of lewd conduct with a minor
under the age of sixteen, pursuant to Idaho Code section 18-1508.
Sometime after B.B.’s disclosure of sexual abuse by McGrath, E.B.’s older daughter, L.N.,
also disclosed instances of sexual abuse by McGrath. L.N., who was twelve years old at the time,
disclosed in forensic interviews that McGrath had touched her in “private areas” when she stayed
with E.B. every other weekend. Based on L.N.’s disclosures, the State filed an amended complaint,
charging McGrath with an additional count of lewd conduct with a minor.
At the preliminary hearing, E.B., B.B., and L.N. testified. The magistrate court found
probable cause to bind McGrath over to district court. An Information was filed charging McGrath
with two counts of lewd conduct with a minor under sixteen, one related to B.B’s allegations, and
one related to L.N.’s.
McGrath filed a motion to sever the two counts, arguing that “the joining of the two counts
in one trial will subject the defendant to prejudice and an unfair trial.” The district court denied the
motion. McGrath subsequently filed a motion to reconsider the district court’s denial of his motion
to sever. Ultimately, the district court agreed with McGrath and ordered the two counts be
severed. 1
The State then filed an Idaho Rule of Evidence 404(b) notice of intent to introduce evidence
of McGrath’s cell phone internet search history. McGrath filed a motion in limine seeking to
exclude “the evidence of pornography allegedly found on the defendant’s phone” arguing that such
evidence was “not relevant to anything but propensity” and could be unfairly prejudicial. The State
opposed McGrath’s motion, arguing that because the internet searches were for “father-daughter
1
To reflect the district court’s order, Information A (B.B.) and Information B (L.N.) were filed.
3
sex, father-step[-]daughter sex, [and] teenage sex” they were relevant to prove McGrath’s motive
and intent, both specific exceptions to Rule 404(b).
In further response, McGrath noted that none of the pornographic images located on his
phone were illegal child pornography, and he further argued that motive and intent were not at
issue in this case; therefore, the evidence should not be permitted. At a hearing on the motion, the
district court denied McGrath’s motion in limine, but reserved ruling on the evidence the State
sought to admit until trial.
A jury trial for Information A (involving B.B.) began on June 18, 2019. At trial, the State
called Sudol, who conducted a “phone dump” 2 of McGrath’s cell phone contents. Sudol testified
that the extraction technology used when conducting electronic cell phone searches did not
produce results for McGrath’s internet browsing history, so he “physically went on his phone and
went to Google, went to web browsing history and photographed page by page his web browsing
history search results.” The State then moved to admit Exhibits 12a through 12q, which showed
screenshots of McGrath’s cell phone internet search history; the search history included various
searches for step-daughter and step-father themed pornography. The district court admitted State’s
Exhibits 12a through 12q over McGrath’s objection that they constituted improper propensity
evidence.
The State next sought to admit Exhibits 13a and 13b, which were visual images taken from
two of the pornographic videos purportedly viewed by McGrath. 3 Sudol described Exhibit 13a as
a video of an “Asian child standing in front of [an] adult male . . . giving the adult male oral sex,
she took off her clothes.” Sudol described Exhibit 13b as “a young white female child that in this
video was–was him chasing her around and then raping her.” Both exhibits were admitted over
McGrath’s same objection.
At the close of the State’s case, McGrath moved for a mistrial, which the district court
denied. After McGrath presented his case, the case was submitted to the jury, which found him
guilty.
2
Sudol described a “phone dump” as a process using “forensic software to hook up a phone to a computer, and from
that point the software connects to that phone and will extract the data from that phone.”
3
State’s Exhibits 13a and 13b depict graphic sexual imagery of what appear to be young girls engaging in sexual acts
with adult males. Sudol testified to the purported contents of these videos, although the videos themselves were not
admitted at trial.
4
During a pretrial hearing for L.N.’s trial, the parties reached a plea agreement. McGrath
agreed to plead guilty to felony injury to a child in violation of Idaho Code section 18-1501 and
misdemeanor sexual battery in violation of Idaho Code section 18-924. As a result, the trial
regarding L.N.’s allegations was vacated.
The case proceeded to sentencing. The district court sentenced McGrath to life in prison
with twenty years fixed on the lewd conduct charge; ten years fixed on the felony injury to a child
charge; and 365 days for the misdemeanor sexual battery charge. All sentences were to run
concurrently, and McGrath was given credit for time served. McGrath timely appealed. The Idaho
Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment of the district court. See State v. McGrath, No. 47442,
2020 WL 6112526, at *1 (Idaho Ct. App. Oct. 16, 2020). McGrath petitioned this Court for review,
which was granted.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
“When reviewing a case on petition for review from the Court of Appeals this Court gives
due consideration to the decision reached by the Court of Appeals, but directly reviews the decision
of the trial court.” State v. Cook, 165 Idaho 305, 308, 444 P.3d 877, 880 (2019) (quoting State v.
Schmierer, 159 Idaho 768, 770, 367 P.3d 163, 165 (2016)).
This Court reviews questions regarding the admissibility of evidence using
a mixed standard of review. First, whether the evidence is relevant is a matter of
law that is subject to free review. Second, we review the district court’s
determination of whether the probative value of the evidence outweighs its
prejudicial effect for an abuse of discretion.
State v. Kralovec, 161 Idaho 569, 574, 388 P.3d 583, 588 (2017) (quoting State v. Ehrlick, 158
Idaho 900, 907, 354 P.3d 462, 469 (2015)). “Sentencing decisions are also reviewed using an abuse
of discretion standard.” State v. Jones, 167 Idaho 353, 358, 470 P.3d 1162, 1167 (2020) (quoting
State v. Matthews, 164 Idaho 605, 607, 434 P.3d 209, 211 (2019)).
When this Court reviews an alleged abuse of discretion by a trial court the
sequence of inquiry requires consideration of four essentials. Whether the trial
court: (1) correctly perceived the issue as one of discretion; (2) acted within the
outer boundaries of its discretion; (3) acted consistently with the legal standards
applicable to the specific choices available to it; and (4) reached its decision by the
exercise of reason.
Id. (italics in original) (quoting Lunneborg v. My Fun Life, 163 Idaho 856, 863, 421 P.3d 187, 194
(2018)).
III. ANALYSIS
5
A. The district court did not err in admitting evidence of McGrath’s cell phone internet
search history; however, the district court erred in admitting the still images of
pornographic videos purportedly viewed by McGrath.
During trial, the State sought to admit 17 screenshot images of McGrath’s cell phone
internet search history, arguing that the evidence was relevant to McGrath’s motive and intent. 4
Over McGrath’s objection that the images were improper propensity evidence, the district court
admitted the images. The State also sought to admit two still images taken from two pornographic
videos purportedly viewed by McGrath, once again arguing that the evidence was relevant to his
motive and intent. Both images appear to depict young girls engaging in sexual acts. The first
image, State’s Exhibit 13a, depicts a female (with no visible face showing and whose age is
unknown), standing in underwear in front of an adult male. The caption for this video is “Kitty –
Ethnic Cheerleader (Part 1).” The second image, State’s Exhibit 13b, depicts a female (whose age
is also unknown) unwillingly engaging in a sexual act with what appears to be an adult male (only
the arm is visible). The caption for this video is “Step Daddy forces his daughter [name deleted]
to have sex.” Over the same objection by McGrath, the district court admitted the photographs.
On appeal, McGrath argues that evidence of his pornographic search history falls squarely
within Rule 404(b)’s prohibition against propensity evidence. Specifically, McGrath argues that
motive and intent, the purported purposes for which the State sought admission of the evidence,
were not disputed issues at trial. With respect to intent, McGrath argues that while intent is an
element of lewd conduct, it is an element in every lewd conduct case. Therefore, allowing evidence
of intent in lewd conduct cases would make “prior bad acts [] admissible in all such cases.” Instead,
McGrath asserts that the issue of intent needs to be “both disputed and material.” (Italics in
original.) With respect to motive, McGrath argues that his pornography preferences “do not tend
to provide the reason why he allegedly molested B.B. Instead,” McGrath asserts, “it shows that he
had a particular taste in pornography that any reasonable juror is going to find abhorrent.” As such,
McGrath contends that it was impermissible evidence of bad character. 5
4
Common search terms and websites visited included: “bearly leagal girl f - - - - ed,” “young girl f - - - ed,” “young
teen f - - - ed daddy,” “father daughter f - - -,” and “DAD AND DAUGHTER PORN,” among others.
5
McGrath also contends that the State should not be allowed to argue that the introduction of the pornography was
admissible because it corroborated B.B.’s testimony. McGrath makes this argument by discussing this Court’s case
law surrounding the admission of 404(b) evidence in child sexual abuse cases. See, e.g., State v. Grist, 147 Idaho 49,
53, 205 P.3d 1185, 1189 (2009) (holding that the “Idaho Rules of Evidence require that trial courts treat the admission
of evidence of uncharged misconduct in child sex crime cases no differently than the admission of such evidence in
other cases.”). However, the State does not argue on appeal that the disputed evidence is relevant to corroborate B.B.’s
testimony. As a result, this opinion declines to address McGrath’s argument in this regard.
6
Finally, McGrath argues that even if the disputed evidence was relevant, its probative value
was greatly outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice because it “play[ed] into the passions
and prejudices of a jury.” Specifically, McGrath contends that even if the search history were
relevant, “there was no need to include the still images.” (Italics added.) McGrath points out that
there was no evidence that the images depicted B.B. or that B.B. had watched these specific videos.
In response, the State argues that the cell phone internet search history and still images of
pornographic videos were properly admitted because they were relevant to show McGrath’s
motive and intent. 6 The State responds to McGrath’s argument that the intent element must be
disputed before evidence of intent can be properly admitted: Because lewd conduct with a minor
is a specific intent crime, relevant 404(b) evidence may always be admitted to prove intent. (Citing
State v. Ehrlick, 158 Idaho 900, 354 P.3d 462 (2015).) Further, the State argues that “the risk that
the jury would convict based on a general distaste for McGrath or his character did not substantially
outweigh the probative value of the jury concluding that McGrath had the motive and intent to
formulate a sexual relationship with the victim.” 7 Thus, the State contends that this evidence was
not unfairly prejudicial, which would be required in order for the evidence to be excluded.
Idaho Code section 15-1508, lewd conduct with a minor under sixteen, provides:
Any person who shall commit any lewd or lascivious act or acts upon or with the
body or any part or member thereof of a minor child under the age of sixteen (16)
years, including but not limited to, genital-genital contact, oral-genital contact,
anal-genital contact, oral-anal contact, manual-anal contact, or manual-genital
contact, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex, or who shall involve
such minor child in any act of bestiality or sado-masochism as defined in section
18-1507, Idaho Code, when any of such acts are done with the intent of arousing,
appealing to, or gratifying the lust or passions or sexual desires of such person, such
minor child, or third party, shall be guilty of a felony and shall be imprisoned in the
state prison for a term of not more than life.
I.C. § 18-1508 (italics added).
Idaho Rule of Evidence 404(b) generally prohibits propensity evidence, with several
exceptions:
6
The State also argues, for the first time, that “McGrath’s motive to have sexual relations with his step-daughter went
to show identity—that he was the person who in fact” sexually abused his step-daughter. The State has asserted
“identity” as a basis for admission for the first time on appeal. There is no indication from the State’s arguments and
briefing below that “identity” was a proffered purpose for the admission of the evidence. Therefore, we will not
consider it. See State v. Gonzalez, 165 Idaho 95, 99, 439 P.3d 1267, 1271 (2019), reh’g denied (May 17, 2019).
7
The State’s briefing refers to McGrath’s alleged abuse of B.B. as a “sexual relationship.” A “relationship” implies
mutual consent, which a five-year-old child legally cannot legally give.
7
(b) Crimes, Wrongs, or Other Acts.
(1) Prohibited Uses. Evidence of a crime, wrong, or other act is not
admissible to prove a person’s character in order to show that on a particular
occasion the person acted in accordance with the character.
(2) Permitted Uses; notice in a criminal case. This evidence may be
admissible for another purpose, such as proving motive, opportunity, intent,
preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, absence of mistake, or lack of
accident. In a criminal case, the prosecutor must:
(A) file and serve reasonable notice of the general nature of any such
evidence that the prosecutor intends to offer at trial; and
(B) do so reasonably in advance of trial--or during trial if the court,
for good cause shown, excuses lack of pretrial notice.
I.R.E. 404(b). Rule 404(b) “represents one of inclusion which admits evidence of other crimes or
acts relevant to an issue in the trial, except where it tends to prove only criminal disposition.” State
v. Salinas, 164 Idaho 42, 44, 423 P.3d 463, 465 (2018) (quoting State v. Russo, 157 Idaho 299,
308, 336 P.3d 232, 241 (2014)) (italics added).
Idaho courts employ a two-step analysis to determine the admissibility of
evidence under Rule 404(b). State v. Russo, 157 Idaho 299, 308, 336 P.3d 232, 241
(2014) (citing State v. Pepcorn, 152 Idaho 678, 688, 273 P.3d 1271, 1281 (2012)).
“First, the evidence ‘must be sufficiently established as fact and relevant as a matter
of law to a material and disputed issue other than the character or criminal
propensity of the defendant.’ ” Id. (quoting Pepcorn, 152 Idaho at 688, 273 P.3d at
1281). Second, the court must conduct a Rule 403 analysis to ensure that the
evidence’s probative value is not “substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair
prejudice.” Id.; I.R.E. 403.
Id. at 43–44, 423 P.3d at 464–65.
1. McGrath’s cell phone search history and the still images from pornographic videos
were relevant to prove McGrath’s motive. 8
The State argues that the cell phone internet search history and the images of pornographic
videos were relevant to show McGrath’s motive to sexually abuse B.B. Whether evidence is
relevant is a matter of law that this Court freely reviews. Kralovec, 161 Idaho at 574, 388 P.3d at
588. Evidence is relevant if it has “any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of
consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be
without the evidence.” I.R.E. 401.
8
Because we conclude that the disputed evidence was relevant to prove McGrath’s motive, we need not address
whether it was relevant to prove his intent.
8
“Motive is generally defined as that which leads or tempts the mind to indulge in a
particular act.” State v. Pepcorn, 152 Idaho at 689, 273 P.3d at 1282 (quoting State v. Stevens, 93
Idaho 48, 53, 454 P.2d 945, 950 (1969)).
“Motive is a well-accepted method of proving the ultimate facts necessary to
establish the commission of a crime, without reliance upon an impermissible
inference from bad character.”[] Evidence of motive is relevant “when the existence
of a motive is a circumstance tending to make it more probable that the person in
question did the act.”
Russo, 157 Idaho at 308, 336 P.3d at 241 (citing 9 Am.Jur.2d Evidence § 439 (2008)). “There is
no requirement that evidence must show that the motive for committing the crime was personal to
the victim.” Id. (citing State v. Almaraz, 154 Idaho 584, 591–92, 301 P.3d 242, 249–50 (2013)).
This Court and the Idaho Court of Appeals have examined the relevance of pornographic
evidence in the context of sexual crimes. In State v. Russo, the defendant was charged with rape,
first degree kidnapping, and burglary. 157 Idaho at 303, 336 P.3d at 236. A search of Russo’s
computer yielded pornography depicting rape, and over the course of an interview, the defendant
revealed that he had fantasies about raping a woman who would decide during the rape that she
enjoyed it. Id. The district court admitted this evidence, concluding it was relevant to Russo’s
motive in the crime charged. Id. at 307–08, 336 P.3d at 240–41. On appeal, this Court affirmed
the decision of the district court, concluding that the evidence was relevant to prove motive and
that there “is no requirement that evidence must show that the motive for committing the crime
was personal to the victim.” Id. at 308, 336 P.3d at 241.
In State v. Rossignol, the Idaho Court of Appeals held that “at a trial for sexual abuse, incest
stories may be admissible as relevant to a defendant’s intent and motive to have a sexual
relationship with his daughter.” 147 Idaho 818, 824, 215 P.3d 538, 544 (Ct. App. 2009).
Specifically, the Court of Appeals found that “incest stories” found on the defendant’s computer
demonstrated his motive for sexually molesting his daughter. Id. at 825, 215 P.3d at 545.
Here, while it should be noted that not all the browsing history was related to step-father-
step-daughter themed pornography, the search terms that were related to that specific genre
reflected McGrath’s motive. Thus, we hold that McGrath’s search history of step-father and step-
daughter pornography was relevant to show McGrath’s motive to sexually abuse B.B. Due to
McGrath’s role as B.B.’s de facto step-father, these specific search terms tend to make McGrath’s
alleged abuse of B.B. “more . . . probable.” I.R.E. 401(a). McGrath’s act of searching for
pornography involving step-father and step-daughter relationships likely “lead[] or tempt[ed]”
9
McGrath to “indulge” in the act of sexually molesting B.B. Pepcorn, 152 Idaho at 689, 273 P.3d
at 1282. Thus, like the incest stories in Rossignol, McGrath’s step-father and step-daughter themed
search history is relevant to show his motive for molesting B.B., his de facto step-daughter.
The still images taken from pornographic videos purportedly viewed by McGrath are also
relevant to McGrath’s motive for the same reasons as his search history. Both images appear to
depict underage girls in nonconsensual sexual settings. The first image, State’s Exhibit 13a, depicts
a female (with no visible face showing), standing in underwear in front of an adult male. The
caption for this video is “Kitty – Ethnic Cheerleader (Part 1).” The second image, State’s Exhibit
13b, depicts a girl (whose age is unknown) unwillingly engaging in a sexual act with what appears
to be an adult male (only the arm is visible). The caption for this video is “Step Daddy forces his
daughter [name deleted] to have sex.” These images, while extremely disturbing, are relevant to
McGrath’s motive for sexually abusing B.B. Because we have concluded that both the search
history and images were relevant to prove McGrath’s motive, our next inquiry is whether the
disputed evidence was more prejudicial than probative.
2. The admission of images of pornographic videos purportedly viewed by McGrath was
unfairly prejudicial.
As an initial matter, we address McGrath’s reliance on our recent decision, State v.
Anderson, 168 Idaho 758, 487 P.3d 350 (2021), at oral argument. McGrath argued that Anderson
should control the outcome here because the district court failed to conduct a Rule 403 balancing
analysis prior to admitting the Rule 404(b) evidence. After seeking leave from this Court, the State
filed a supplemental brief, arguing that McGrath failed to preserve this argument because he did
not assert that the district court erred by failing to conduct a 403 balancing analysis. We agree with
the State. McGrath did not argue below that the district court erred in failing to conduct balancing
under Rule 403. As such, this argument is waived and we decline to address its merits. See State
v. Gonzalez, 165 Idaho 95, 99, 439 P.3d 1267, 1271 (2019).
However, we must still determine whether the district court properly admitted the disputed
evidence. We conclude that the district court abused its discretion in admitting the two still images
from pornographic videos allegedly viewed by McGrath. When conducting a Rule 403 balancing
test, we ask whether the probative value of the disputed evidence is “substantially outweighed by
a danger of . . . unfair prejudice.” I.R.E. 403. “This Court has stated that unfair prejudice requires
that ‘evidence . . . be excluded if it invites inordinate appeal to lines of reasoning outside of the
evidence or emotions which are irrelevant to the decision making process.’ ” State v. Chambers,
10
166 Idaho 837, 844, 465 P.3d 1076, 1083 (2020) (quoting State v. Rhoades, 119 Idaho 594, 604,
809 P.2d 455, 465 (1991)). While the disputed evidence is undoubtedly prejudicial, the inquiry for
this Court is whether the evidence is unfairly prejudicial.
The probative value of McGrath’s cell phone internet search history was not substantially
outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Although the search terms used by McGrath were
sexually explicit in nature, the terms themselves are not unfairly prejudicial. The search history,
while it may have provoked emotions from the jury, does not rise to the level of unfair prejudice
because the search terms themselves did not inflame the passions of the jury. Admittedly, some
members of the jury may have been offended by the search terms used by McGrath; but the
offensive nature of words alone are rarely enough to render them unfairly prejudicial in a trial for
child sexual abuse.
Nevertheless, the probative value of the two still images was substantially outweighed by
the risk of unfair prejudice and should not have been admitted at trial. Despite the State’s
arguments during trial that McGrath had viewed illegal child pornography, there is no evidence in
the record that the videos depicted actual child pornography. Importantly, McGrath was never
charged with possession of child pornography, nor was evidence introduced that these videos
actually depicted children being sexually abused. In fact, Sudol testified during cross-examination
that he located these videos on the regular Internet, as opposed to the “dark web,” where illegal
child pornography is typically located, indicating that the females in the videos could have been
over the age of majority, but were acting as children. Such content is not illegal. See, e.g., Ashcroft
v. Free Speech Coal., 535 U.S. 234, 251 (2002) (stating that “where the speech is neither obscene
nor the product of [child] sexual abuse, it does not fall outside the protection of the First
Amendment”).
The State’s argument to the jury that McGrath had viewed illegal child pornography,
without evidence that the pornography he purportedly viewed depicted actual children, clearly
appealed to the passions of the jury. The State attempted to portray McGrath’s pornographic
preferences as extremely aberrant, if not illegal, by arguing that the videos depicted children being
sexually abused. The fact that McGrath viewed these specific pornographic videos likely had the
effect of persuading the jury that he was a man of bad character. Further, the graphic sexual
imagery of the still images is unfairly prejudicial in light of the charged conduct. The conduct at
issue was McGrath’s alleged sexual abuse of B.B, not possession of child pornography, an entirely
11
different crime under the laws of this State. See I.C. § 18-1507. This is not to say, however, that
photographic evidence of this nature may never be admitted against a defendant; it was simply
inappropriate in this case. For these reasons, we conclude that State’s Exhibits 13a and 13b were
unfairly prejudicial pursuant to IRE 403 and should not have been admitted at trial under IRE
404(b).
B. Given the quantum of overwhelming evidence of guilt, the district court’s erroneous
admission of the disputed evidence did not contribute to the verdict and was therefore
harmless.
McGrath asserts that, if this Court finds error, the admission of the pornographic evidence
was not harmless. McGrath argues that because the State had presented the jury with evidence that
B.B. had gonorrhea, the jury would be predisposed to punish him even without evidence of his
pornography preferences. McGrath asks this Court to reverse his conviction for lewd conduct with
a minor and remand for a new trial. The State responds that even if the pornographic evidence was
admitted in error, that error was harmless because the State presented other evidence that was
highly probative of McGrath’s guilt.
“Harmless error is ‘error unimportant in relation to everything else the jury considered on
the issue in question, as revealed in the record.’ ” State v. Garcia, 166 Idaho 661, 674, 462 P.3d
1125, 1138 (2020). “When the effect of the error is minimal compared to the probative force of
the record establishing guilt ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ without the error, it can be said that the
error did not contribute to the verdict rendered and is therefore harmless.” Id. The probative force
of properly admitted evidence must be weighed against the probative force of the evidence
admitted in error. Id.Given the overwhelming quantum of evidence demonstrating McGrath’s guilt, we
conclude that the admission of the visual images, although improper under Rule 404(b), did not
contribute to the verdict. See id. The jury heard evidence that both B.B. and McGrath were infected
with gonorrhea, as well as live testimony from B.B. herself where she graphically described
McGrath’s conduct. Specifically, B.B. testified that McGrath lifted B.B. onto his shoulders in the
shower and “licked her privates,” and that this occurred “a lot.” She also testified that McGrath
put both his finger and “weener” in her bottom. B.B. also gestured that McGrath would masturbate
while touching her. B.B.’s testimony, the positive gonorrhea tests for both B.B. and McGrath, and
the internet search history were highly probative of McGrath’s guilt. We recognize the severe and
graphic nature of the images admitted in error; however, when compared to the probative force of
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the properly admitted evidence, the effect that McGrath’s admittedly taboo pornographic
preferences had was “minimal.” See Garcia, 166 Idaho at 674, 462 P.3d at 1138. Accordingly, we
affirm McGrath’s conviction of lewd conduct.
Although we conclude that the evidence admitted in error did not contribute to the verdict
in McGrath’s case, we nevertheless caution prosecutors against seeking the admission of
needlessly inflammatory evidence in order to sustain a conviction. We also caution judges who
condone this practice. Prosecutors and judges who countenance the admission of evidence that
speaks solely to a defendant’s character or inflames the jury run the risk of having to re-try cases
in which there is already substantial and probative evidence of a defendant’s guilt. In this case, the
State presented overwhelming and clearly admissible evidence of McGrath’s guilt through the test
results showing that McGrath was the likely source of B.B.’s gonorrhea along with B.B.’s
powerful testimony of McGrath’s lascivious behavior. McGrath’s cell phone internet search
history bolstered both B.B.’s testimony and the physical evidence. Here, the visual images were
prosecutorial overreach and risked a reversal, which would have likely required the young victim
to endure yet another trial.
C. McGrath’s sentences are not excessive.
The district court imposed a life sentence with twenty years fixed on the lewd conduct
charge, and ten years fixed on the felony injury to a child charge. McGrath appeals his sentences,
arguing that the district court abused its discretion because the sentences imposed are
“unreasonable and excessive under any view of the facts.” McGrath notes that these were his first
felony convictions. McGrath concedes that “[s]ome significant period of incarceration was called
for,” but argues the district court should not have imposed the maximum penalties. Finally,
McGrath asserts that because the district court stressed that rehabilitation was not a “viable goal”
for McGrath, it “seemed to be punishing [him] for exercising his right to contest the charges, not
expressing sufficient remorse, and [] continuing to maintain his innocence.”
In response, the State argues that the district court’s sentences are supported by the record.
The State notes that a sentencing court may properly consider a defendant’s refusal to acknowledge
guilt when determining rehabilitation potential. (Citing State v. Kellis, 148 Idaho 812, 815, 229
P.3d 1174, 1177 (Ct. App. 2010).) The State argues that the district court did not abuse its
discretion and properly considered the primary goal of protection of society in sentencing McGrath
and, in particular, the lifelong psychological damage to B.B. and L.N.
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District courts retain discretion during sentencing:
“[A] fundamental requirement in the proper exercise of sentencing discretion is
reasonableness.” A sentence is reasonable if it appears necessary to achieve the
objectives of criminal punishment. “The objectives of criminal punishment are
protection of society, deterrence of the individual and the public, possibility of
rehabilitation, and punishment or retribution for wrongdoing, with the primary
objective being the protection of society.”
...
“A sentence is excessive if it is unreasonable under any rational view of the
facts.” “When a sentence is challenged as being excessively harsh, we
independently review the record on appeal, having due regard for the nature of the
offense, the character of the offender, and the protection of the public interest.”
“When considering whether the district court abused its sentencing discretion, we
review the entire sentence[.]”
State v. Dobbs, 166 Idaho 202, 204–06, 457 P.3d 854, 856–58 (2020) (internal citations omitted).
When a sentence falls within the statutory limits, it is the defendant’s burden to show
unreasonableness. Id. “In deference to the trial judge, this Court will not substitute its view of a
reasonable sentence where reasonable minds might differ.” State v. Matthews, 164 Idaho 605, 608,
434 P.3d 209, 212 (2019) (quoting State v. Stevens, 146 Idaho 139, 148–49, 191 P.3d 217, 226–
27 (2008)).
At McGrath’s sentencing, the district court acknowledged the goals of sentencing, as well
as both “positive” and “negative” factors. The district court recognized that McGrath did not have
a “significant” criminal history (misdemeanors only), and that he had the support of some family
members. Conversely, the district court also noted that lewd conduct is a “very serious offense,”
and that McGrath’s actions would have a “lifelong impact” on B.B. and L.N.
Next, the district court found that rehabilitation was not a “viable goal” in this case; rather,
the “protection of society” was paramount: “I’m looking at the protection of society here, and I’m
looking at the protection of any other young girls who could ever be in a situation of having to
deal with you because you were an opportunist, and you did this over a long period of time.” The
Idaho Court of Appeals has held that “a court may properly consider a defendant’s refusal to
acknowledge guilt when evaluating the defendant’s rehabilitation potential because
acknowledgment of guilt is a critical first step toward rehabilitation.” State v. Kellis, 148 Idaho
812, 815, 229 P.3d 1174, 1177 (Ct. App. 2010). At the sentencing hearing, McGrath’s only
remarks to the district court were:
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I’m sorry for what’s been said and done. I’m not an evil person. I just want to be
given a chance to show that I’m a good person. I’ll do whatever it takes to show
that I’m not this person that they painted me to be. That’s really all I can say.
The district court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing McGrath to life with twenty
years fixed on the lewd conduct charge. First, Idaho Code section 18-1508 permits a life sentence.
Thus, it is McGrath’s burden to show that this sentence was excessive. Although the district court
did not explicitly state that it was considering McGrath’s comments as a refusal to acknowledge
guilt, both parties argue this point on appeal. Based on the record before us, the district court did
not abuse its discretion in determining that rehabilitation was not a realistic goal for McGrath at
the time of sentencing. The district court acknowledged that McGrath may, at some point, hold
himself accountable for his actions and that rehabilitation could become relevant in the future.
Notably, no psycho-sexual evaluation was conducted because of McGrath’s continued denial of
the allegations and his apparent refusal to submit to a psycho-sexual evaluation. The district court
properly considered the primary objective of sentencing, the protection of society, to determine
that McGrath should serve a life sentence with 20 years fixed. See State v. Miller, 151 Idaho 828,
834, 264 P.3d 935, 941 (2011). In imposing this sentence, the district court only fixed 20 years,
which is well within the parameters of section 18-1508.
Likewise, the district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing a ten year fixed
sentence on the felony injury to a child charge. Idaho Code section 18-1501 permits the sentencing
court to impose a sentence of up to ten years. Once again, it is McGrath’s burden to show that this
sentence was an abuse of discretion because the district court’s sentence was within the statutory
limits. The district court properly took into account the severity of the convicted conduct in
imposing the maximum sentence allowed under Idaho Code section 18-1501. Therefore, we affirm
McGrath’s sentences.
IV. CONCLUSION
Based on the preceding analysis, the judgment of the district court is affirmed.
Justices BRODY and ZAHN CONCUR.
Chief Justice BEVAN CONCURS in the RESULT.
MOELLER, J., specially concurring.
I fully concur with the analysis and result reached in this case by my esteemed colleagues
in the majority. The disturbing evidence outlined in Section III(B) of the majority opinion leaves
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no doubt in my mind as to either McGrath’s guilt or the appropriateness of his twenty years to life
sentence. Importantly, the “overwhelming quantum of evidence demonstrating McGrath’s guilt”
properly admitted at trial convinces me that the errors made during the course of his trial were
harmless—but only in the legal sense. I write this special concurrence to highlight my own grave
concerns, not only with the manner in which the prosecution jeopardized its otherwise compelling
case, but also with the collateral damage potentially caused by unnecessarily exposing all of those
participating in the trial to extremely graphic images of abused children unrelated to this case.
Simply put, while the errors in this case may have been “harmless” as to the defendant, I believe
that the errors still resulted in harm.
The evidence referred to in the majority opinion as Exhibits 13a and 13b were still images
taken from pornographic videos the State alleged McGrath had viewed. The title of the videos and
descriptions given by the detective were certainly enough to explain the content of the videos as
depicting child pornography. While it was error for either image to have been shown to the jury,
Exhibit 13b, entitled “Step Daddy forces his daughter [name deleted] to have sex,” was especially
graphic. I will reluctantly describe it here only to illustrate the basis for my consternation. The
photo depicts a prepubescent girl screaming while apparently being raped from behind by an older
man. Simply put, it is beyond my comprehension why the trial court would allow the prosecutor
to show such a graphic image to the jury under these circumstances. As noted by the majority, this
was clearly the type of evidence that Idaho Rules of Evidence 401, 403, and 404(b) were intended
to prevent from being admitted at a trial. Additionally, it was completely gratuitous and potentially
traumatizing to all—the jury, judge, court personnel, and attorneys—who had to observe it.
Aside from this Court’s paramount role in ensuring the fairness of trials and upholding the
constitutional rights of all concerned, there are broader societal implications for the use of such
evidence that I believe merit a brief discussion. As this case illustrates, sometimes in the heat of
battle we can lose perspective and disregard our innate sense of humanity. Therefore, it is
important to occasionally be reminded that in the exercise of our duties as judges and attorneys we
should not lose touch with the impact of these proceedings on all those affected by our actions.
For this reason, as a member of the tribunal constitutionally mandated to “supervise” the conduct
of our state’s courts, I write separately to highlight three other reasons why such evidence should
not have been published to the jury in this case. IDAHO CONST. art. III, § 2.
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First, unnecessarily publishing an image of child pornography to the jury, one depicting a
violent act against a victim unrelated to this case, in a very real way re-victimizes the child depicted
in the video. One of the justifications for our laws against child pornography is that such images
by their very nature constitute an ongoing crime against the child:
[T]he term ‘child pornography’ is used in federal statutes, it is also commonly used
by lawmakers, prosecutors, investigators, and the public to describe this form of
sexual exploitation of children. However, this term fails to describe the true horror
that is faced by countless children every year. The production of child pornography
creates a permanent record of a child’s sexual abuse. When these images are placed
on the Internet and disseminated online, the victimization of the children continues
in perpetuity. Experts and victims agree that victims depicted in child pornography
often suffer a lifetime of re-victimization by knowing the images of their sexual
abuse are on the Internet forever. The children exploited in these images must live
with the permanency, longevity, and circulation of such a record of their sexual
victimization. This often creates lasting psychological damage to the child,
including disruptions in sexual development, self-image, and developing trusting
relationships with others in the future.
Child Pornography, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (updated May 28, 2020),
https://www.justice.gov/criminal-ceos/child-pornography.
Sexual offenses against children are crimes of the most severe nature, and, as such,
evidence produced in these cases should be handled judiciously and sensitively. The admission of
evidence that graphically depicts, or even appears to depict, a child being sexually abused should
be avoided whenever possible so as not to re-victimize the children who have been sexually
abused. Of course, I recognize that there are rare situations where the introduction of such evidence
is necessary, such as in child pornography cases brought under Idaho Code section 18-1507(2),
where the pornographic nature of the image, the age of the person depicted, or the identity of the
child in the image may be directly at issue. However, in most other circumstances, it is generally
unnecessary, unwise, and inappropriate to show such images to a jury. Accordingly, the admission
of such evidence should, in most cases, be reserved only for those trials in which the evidence is
directly relevant to establish an element of the crime.
Second, the admission of this type of evidence can have a lasting impact on all of the
participants in a trial, especially the jurors who are required to closely examine it. Of course, almost
any case may involve testimony or evidence that could be genuinely traumatic for jurors and others
not acquainted with the unpleasant realities of the criminal justice system. Nevertheless, cases such
as this one understandably present a significantly higher risk that the jurors and other participants
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in the proceedings will hear and see deeply disturbing things during the course of the trial. The
result is that jurors summoned to hear such cases, along with the judge, attorneys, and court
personnel, may feel the consequences of such evidence echoing in their lives long after the trial
has ended.
The impact of such evidence is described as “vicarious trauma” or “secondary trauma,”
and it is a reality that has lasting impacts on all those who participate in such a trial. It is the result
of “secondhand exposure to traumatic situations” involving others. Dawn E. McQuiston, M. Dylan
Hooper, & Abbey E. Brasington, Vicarious Trauma in the Courtroom: Judicial Perceptions of
Juror Distress, 58 ABA: THE JUDGES JOURNAL 32, 32 (Spring 2019). The risk of this type of
vicarious trauma for jurors increases based on the nature of the evidence presented at trial:
Jurors consume a lot of information during the course of a trial: instructions and
guidelines from the judge, attorneys’ arguments, witnesses’ testimony, a variety of
exhibits, and more. The information presented in cases involving violent crime or
otherwise significant offenses is particularly difficult to consume. Consider
information like explicit and gruesome descriptions of the crime scene and injuries
(both physical and psychological), shocking visuals (photographs or videos), or
emotionally distressing testimony from witnesses. For many, exposure to such
graphic and personal information about a serious wrongdoing and its consequences
is a novel and overwhelming experience.
Id. at 32–33. This is clearly more than just recognizing the truism that some jurors, by virtue of
their life experiences, may have more delicate sensitivities than others. Rather, “[a] solid body of
research now shows that traumatic stress resulting from exposure to disturbing, gruesome, and/or
emotional courtroom testimony and other circumstances related to jury duty can lead to jurors
experiencing symptoms associated with psychological trauma and stress-related disorders.” Id. at
33.
Again, while I acknowledge that there may be some occasions where such evidence must
be admitted, judges should still be properly circumspect about whether and how to admit it.
Therefore, I wholeheartedly endorse the majority’s general admonition concerning the decision to
present such needlessly inflammatory evidence in future cases:
we nevertheless caution prosecutors against seeking the admission of needlessly
inflammatory evidence in order to sustain a conviction. We also caution judges who
condone this practice. Prosecutors and judges who countenance the admission of
evidence that speaks solely to a defendant’s character or inflames the jury run the
risk of having to re-try cases in which there is already substantial and probative
evidence of a defendant’s guilt.
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I would go just one step further and note that we have seen too many cases like this one, but where
the conduct required a remand. See, e.g., State v. Anderson, 168 Idaho 758, ___, 487 P.3d 350, 365
(2021) (“While the evidence against Anderson is compelling, we cannot ignore the absence of any
Rule 403 balancing with respect to multiple pieces of sexual misconduct evidence. Rule 403 serves
the critical function of ensuring that the jury does not see prejudicial evidence without
justification.”); State v. Grist, 147 Idaho 49, 55, 205 P.3d 1185, 1191 (2009) (“We once again
caution the trial courts of this state that they must carefully examine evidence [of uncharged sexual
misconduct] offered for the purpose of demonstrating the existence of a common scheme or plan
in order to the determine whether the requisite relationship exists.”).
Third, as can be readily discerned from the majority opinion, the State came perilously
close to a remand in this case. This would have likely required the young victims and a new jury
to endure the trauma of a second trial. While the natural desire of prosecuting attorneys to secure
a conviction by presenting their strongest possible case to the jury is understandable, in cases like
this that instinct must be tempered by wisdom—wisdom informed by the Idaho Rules of Evidence.
Likewise, trial judges must be diligent to ensure that every defendant, no matter how
overwhelming the evidence, is provided the fair trial our Constitution and the Rules of Evidence
require. A conviction tainted by a prosecutor overzealously “running up of the score” against a
defendant through the admission of irrelevant or unfairly prejudicial evidence runs the very real
risk that the case may ultimately end up in a costly and traumatizing remand for a second trial.
Ironically, in this case the State was only saved from its poor judgment by the defendant, whose
horrific actions left behind an abundant trail of clearly admissible evidence to uphold his
conviction and sentence.
We live in a time in which many have become accustomed to the routine and gratuitous
scenes of physical and sexual violence depicted in television, movies, and other media. Sadly,
those who work in the criminal justice system, especially those in law enforcement, are forced to
become acclimated to the aftermath of actual violence as part of their duty to protect and serve the
community. However, judges and attorneys should not become so desensitized to acts of sexual
violence, especially those involving young children, that we cross the lines of human decency and
dignity in seeking justice. The image depicted in Exhibit 13b, probative of nothing, clearly crossed
those lines.
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