James D Frye v. State of Indiana ( 2024 )

FILED
Jul 31 2024, 9:25 am
IN THE CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
James D. Frye,
Appellant-Defendant
v.
State of Indiana,
Appellee-Plaintiff
July 31, 2024
Court of Appeals Case No.
23A-CR-1691
Interlocutory Appeal from the Greene Circuit Court
The Honorable Erik C. Allen, Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
28C01-2302-F3-2
Opinion by Judge May
Judge Brown and Senior Judge Shepard concur.
May, Judge.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 23A-CR-1691 | July 31, 2024 Page 1 of 14
[1] In this interlocutory appeal, James D. Frye appeals the trial court’s decision to
grant the State’s request for a protective order to prohibit Frye from questioning
the alleged victim (“AV”) about her sexual history with Frye. Frye makes
several arguments, which we consolidate and restate as whether the trial court
abused its discretion when it granted the State’s motion for a protective order.
We reverse and remand. 1
Facts and Procedural History
[2] Frye and AV were in a romantic relationship and lived together. In early
January 2023, AV ended their romantic relationship. She left the apartment she
shared with Frye for a few days and returned on January 5, 2023. The incident
at issue in this case allegedly occurred during the morning of January 6, 2023.
[3] AV told 2 Linton Police Department Officer Logan E. Hobbs:
When [AV] returned to the apartment [on January 5, 2023], she
told Frye that the two of them would “never be romantic again”
and “never be sexual again.” [AV] stated that Frye “absolutely
understood” the living situation and that there was no longer [a]
sexual relationship between him and [AV].
[AV] stated that Frye did not have a separate bed or his furniture
in the residence, so she allowed him to sleep in her bed for the
1
We held oral argument on this case on May 17, 2024, in the Randall T. Shepard Courtroom at The Old
Courthouse in Evansville, Indiana, before participants of the Indiana State Bar Association’s Leadership
Development Academy, as well as members of the public. We thank Courthouse staff for their hospitality
and counsel for their able presentations.
2
As this case has not gone to trial, the facts stated herein come from the probable cause affidavit.
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night. [AV] stated that she believes Frye went to bed at
approximately 0100 or 0200 on 6 January, and she went to bed at
approximately 0500. [AV] stated that she woke up at
approximately 0845 laying on her stomach and Frye was
“literally inside” her. She later clarified that meant Frye’s penis
was inside her vagina.
[AV] stated that when she woke up, she pushed Frye away. Frye
then stopped, got off the bed, and began apologizing to her. She
further stated that Frye told her “I’m so sorry,” “I just raped
you,” and “I’m disgusting.” [AV] stated she asked Frye why he
began having sex with her while she was asleep, and he told her
that he had been “going down” on [AV] and thought she was
awake. [AV] stated she then drove Frye to his father’s residence
in Monroe County and then went to the hospital to have a
SANE[ 3] examination done.
[AV] provided screenshots of text messages between her and Frye
that were exchanged after she took him to his father’s residence.
In those text messages, [AV] asks Frye “Why did you do this.”
Frye responds that he is “really sorry” and “I should have just
respected you as a person and your body I’m sorry I feel so low.”
Frye then goes on to deny that the incident was rape because he’s
woken [AV] up with sex in the past. [AV] clarified that those
instances were consensual, and the incident on 6 January was
not.
3
SANE is an acronym for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, which is a nurse who conducts a physical
examination of a person after an alleged sexual assault.
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(App. Vol. II at 15) (footnote added). Based on the information in the probable
cause affidavit, on February 14, 2023, the State charged Frye with Level 3
felony rape of a person who is unaware sexual conduct is occurring. 4
[4] On April 7, 2023, Frye filed notice that he wanted to take a deposition of AV.
During pretrial conferences and communications between the parties, Frye
indicated he “intend[ed] to inquire of [AV] about prior sexual behavior between
[AV] and [Frye].” (Id. at 45.) On May 19, 2023, the State filed a motion for
protective order arguing Indiana Evidence Rule 412 and Indiana Code section
35-37-4-4 prohibited Frye from asking AV about her sexual history with Frye.
The State asserted:
Because the Rape Shield law prohibits the introduction of such
matters into evidence, inquiry into those same matters in
discovery is not reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of
admissible evidence. Further, such matters are not material to
any cognizable defense or fact at issue in this case. Finally, even
should this Court determine otherwise, the prejudicial effect of
the proffered evidence outweighs the probative value.
(Id.) The same day, Frye filed an objection to the State’s motion for a
protective order and argued he had a right to depose AV about her sexual
history with Frye because “[c]onsent may be an issue . . . [and] [i]t is necessary
to ask [AV] questions regarding their relationship, sexual and in general.” (Id.
at 47.) The trial court held a hearing on the matter on May 26, 2023, and on
4
Ind. Code § 35-42-4-1(a)(2).
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June 2, 2023, issued an order denying the State’s motion for a protective order.
In that order, the trial court stated:
5. It appears the ultimate question is whether a competent adult
can give advance consent to sexual activity while they are asleep
or otherwise unconscious. If such advance consent is permitted
then consent is at issue and is a question of fact. However, if
such advance consent is not permitted then consent is not at issue
and is a pure issue of law. The State has presented citations to
legal authority that the general rule is that if a man has
intercourse with a woman while she is asleep then the act is rape
because the act is without consent. However, none of the cited
cases address the issue of whether advance consent is a legal
possibility, and the Court has been unable to locate any legal
authority that addresses the issue of advance consent.
6. It appears the issue of whether a competent adult can give
advance consent to sexual activity while they are asleep is
unsettled, and the Court cannot make a final determination at
this point whether evidence of advance consent is admissible or
inadmissible. Therefore, inquiry into the prior sexual behavior of
[Frye] and [AV] may lead to admissible evidence on the issue of
consent.
(Id. at 54-5.)
[5] On June 5, 2023, the State filed a motion asking the trial court to reconsider the
denial of its request for a protective order. Therein, the State cited several cases
from other jurisdictions that had rejected the defense of advance consent. The
State acknowledged: “[a]lthough no Indiana case has yet examined the concept
of ‘advance consent’ as a defense to rape, every other State that had occasion to
consider it has flatly rejected it as a defense[.]” (Id. at 57.) Therefore, the State
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contended it had “every reason to believe that the Indiana Supreme Court and
the Indiana Courts [sic] of Appeal [sic] would also reject it as a defense[.]” (Id.)
[6] On June 8, 2023, the trial court rescinded its previous order and entered a
protective order prohibiting Frye from deposing AV about her sexual history
with Frye. On June 14, 2023, Frye filed a motion to certify the trial court’s
order for interlocutory appeal. On June 21, 2023, the trial court certified its
order for interlocutory appeal, and we accepted jurisdiction on August 18,
2023.
Discussion and Decision
[7] Frye challenges the trial court’s grant of the State’s protective order to prohibit
him from deposing AV about her sexual history with Frye.
The standard of review in discovery matters is limited to
determining whether the trial court abused its discretion. An
abuse of discretion occurs when the trial court’s decision is
against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances before
it. And because the nature of discovery issues is fact-sensitive,
the trial court’s ruling is cloaked in a strong presumption of
correctness on appeal. We also note that a trial court’s discovery
ruling will be sustained on any legal basis in the record, even if it
is not the basis enunciated by the trial court.
Plouch v. State, 222 N.E.3d 357, 360 (Ind. Ct. App. 2023) (internal citations
omitted).
[8] Discovery-related protective orders can be requested pursuant to Indiana Trial
Rule 26(C) and such orders are designed to “protect a party or person from
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annoyance, embarrassment, oppression, or undue burden or expense[.]” T.R.
26(C). Under Trial Rule 26(C), the burden is initially on the party seeking the
protective order to show “good cause” why such an order is required to protect
the party from “annoyance, embarrassment, oppression, or undue burden or
expense[.]” Estate of Lee ex rel. McGarrah v. Lee & Urbahns Co., 876 N.E.2d 361,
367-8 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007) (quoting T.R. 26(C)). After a showing of good cause
has been made, the burden shifts to the party seeking discovery of protected
material to establish that the trial court’s protective order constitutes an abuse of
discretion. Id. Frye contends the trial court abused its discretion when it
granted the State’s motion because the protective order too excessively limits
his ability to conduct discovery to determine any possible defenses and a trial
strategy.
[9] Generally, Indiana has “very broad discovery rules[.]” Nat’l Collegiate Athletic
Assoc. v. Finnerty, 191 N.E.3d 211, 220 (Ind. 2022). Under Indiana Trial Rule
26(B)(1), parties may “obtain discovery regarding any matter, not privileged,
which is relevant to the subject-matter of the pending action[.]” “[I]t is not
ground for objection that the information sought will be inadmissible at trial if
the information sought appears reasonably calculated to lead the discovery of
admissible evidence.” Id. Discovery may be limited if the court determines:
(i) the discovery sought is unreasonably cumulative or
duplicative, or is obtainable from some other source that is more
convenient, less burdensome, or less expensive; (ii) the party
seeking discovery has had ample opportunity by discovery in the
action to obtain the information sought or; (iii) the burden or
expense of the proposed discovery outweighs its likely benefit,
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taking into account the needs of the case, the amount in
controversy, the parties’ resources, the importance of the issues at
stake in the litigation, and the importance of the proposed
discovery in resolving the issues.
Id. The State argues “good cause” existed under Trial Rule 26(C) to limit
Frye’s questions about the prior sexual relationship between himself and AV
because of Indiana’s Rape Shield provisions.
[10] In “a civil or criminal proceeding involving alleged sexual misconduct[,]”
evidence offered “to prove the victim . . . engaged in other sexual behavior” or
offered to prove “a victim’s . . . sexual predisposition” is generally inadmissible.
Evid. R. 412(a). However, if a criminal defendant asserts a defense of consent
and seeks to offer evidence of “specific instances of a victim’s . . . sexual
behavior with respect to the [defendant] . . . to prove consent[,]” the evidence
may be admitted. Evid. R. 412(b)(1)(B). Indiana Evidence Rule 412 is often
called the “Rape Shield Rule.” Graham v. State, 736 N.E.2d 822, 824 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2002), trans. denied. Our Indiana Supreme Court noted the policy behind
the Rape Shield Rule in State v. Walton:
[I]nquiry into a victim’s prior sexual activity is sufficiently
problematic that it should not be permitted to become a focus of
the defense. Rule 412 is intended to prevent the victim from
being put on trial, to protect the victim against surprise,
harassment, and unnecessary invasion of privacy, and,
importantly, to remove obstacles to reporting sex crimes.
715 N.E.2d 824, 826 (Ind. 1999) (quoting Williams v. State, 681 N.E.2d 195, 200
(Ind. 1997)).
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[11] Indiana law also contains a “Rape Shield Statue” codified at Indiana Code
section 35-37-4-4, which is similar, but not identical, to the Rape Shield Rule.
Like the Rape Shield Rule, the Rape Shield Statute prohibits the admission of,
as is relevant here, “evidence of the victim’s past sexual conduct[.]” Ind. Code
§ 35-37-4-4(a)(1). However, evidence of the “victim’s . . . past sexual conduct
with the defendant . . . may be introduced if the judge finds . . . that it is
material to a fact at issue in the case and that its inflammatory or prejudicial
nature does not outweigh its probative value.” Ind. Code § 35-37-4-4(b)(1).
The Rape Shield Statute “was designed to protect victims of sex crimes from a
general inquiry into their sexual past.” Baker v. State, 750 N.E.2d 781, 783 (Ind.
2001).
[12] Frye is charged with the Level 3 felony rape of AV because he allegedly had
sexual intercourse with her while she was “unaware” the sexual activity was
occurring, that is, while she was asleep. See Ind. Code § 35-42-4-1(a)(2)
(defining sexual activity with an “unaware” person as rape). We examined the
meaning of the word “unaware” in Nolan v. State, 863 N.E.2d 398 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2007). We first stated:
[W]hile “unaware” has not been defined by the legislature, we
have held that “‘[u]naware’ is defined as ‘not aware: lacking
knowledge or acquaintance: UNCONSCIOUS.’” Becker v. State,
703 N.E.2d 696, 698 (Ind. Ct. App. 1998) (quoting Webster’s 3d
New Int’l Dictionary 2483 (1986 ed.)).
Circumstances in which we have found a victim to have been
“unaware” include where the victim was asleep, as “a person is
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unconscious during sleep.” Id. In addition, we found a female
victim unaware when she had “lost consciousness due to
inebriation.” Glover v. State, 760 N.E.2d 1120, 1124 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2002) (adopting the Becker definition of “unaware” to the
corresponding provision of the rape statute, I.C. § 35-42-4-
1(a)(2)), trans. denied. And our supreme court has suggested that
a victim’s illness and intoxication may lead to her being
sufficiently “unaware” for the rape statute to apply, even if the
victim never loses consciousness. See Bryant v. State, 644 N.E.2d
859, 860 n.1 (Ind. 1994).
Id.[13] We then examined the use of “unaware” in the statutory definition of Class B
felony criminal deviate conduct:
(a) A person who knowingly or intentionally causes another
person to perform or submit to deviate sexual conduct when:
(1) the other person is compelled by force or imminent
threat of force;
(2) the other person is unaware that the conduct is
occurring; or
(3) the other person is so mentally disabled or deficient
that consent to the conduct cannot be given;
commits criminal deviate conduct, a Class B felony.
Ind. Code § 35-42-4-2(a)(2) (2004) (repealed by P.L. 158-2013, SEC. 438 and
P.L. 214-2013, SEC. 37, eff. July 1, 2014). We noted the “criminal deviate
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conduct statute as a whole supports the proposition that ‘unaware’ is not
‘unconscious’ and that, instead, the legislature intended a broader definition.”
Nolan, 863 N.E.2d at 402. Looking at the statutory language as a whole, we
observed:
[C]lause (1) [of Indiana Code § 35-42-4-2(a)] proscribes deviate
sexual conduct on a person who cannot voluntarily consent to
such conduct because he or she “is compelled by force or
imminent threat of force.” Clause (2) prohibits deviate sexual
conduct on a person who is “unaware” of the conduct,
presumably because one who is “unaware” cannot voluntarily
consent to the conduct. I.C. § 35-42-4-2(a)(2). And clause (3)
expressly proscribes such conduct on one that cannot consent
when he or she is “mentally disabled or deficient.” I .C. § 35-42-
4-2(a)(3). Especially in light of clause (3), the unifying theme to
the separate situations of proscribed conduct is that in none of
those situations can a victim give voluntary consent to the act.
Hence, our focus in addressing whether a victim was “unaware”
involves looking at the facts favorable to the verdict to determine
if the victim was capable of voluntarily giving consent to the
actor.
Id. at 403.
[14] Similar to the criminal deviate conduct statute at issue in Nolan, the statute
under which Frye is charged states:
[A] person who knowingly or intentionally has sexual intercourse
with another person or knowingly or intentionally causes another
person to perform or submit to other sexual conduct . . . when:
(1) the other person is compelled by force or imminent
threat of force;
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(2) the other person is unaware that the sexual intercourse
or other sexual conduct . . . is occurring;
(3) the other person is so mentally disabled or deficient
that consent to sexual intercourse or other sexual conduct .
. . cannot be given; or
(4) the person disregarded the other person’s attempts to
physically, verbally, or by other visible conduct refuse the
person’s acts;
commits rape, a Level 3 felony.
Ind. Code § 35-42-4-1(a).
[15] Given the similar statutory construction, we follow Nolan and hold the ability to
consent is a “unifying theme to the separate situations of proscribed conduct”
constituting Level 3 felony rape. Nolan, 863 N.E.2d at 403. Moreover,
“whether a victim was ‘unaware’ involves looking at the facts . . . to determine
if the victim was capable of voluntarily giving consent to the actor.” Id. Thus,
Frye should be able to ask AV questions about their shared sexual history to
determine whether there is any basis by which he could defend himself from the
charge against him by arguing the alleged acts of January 6, 2023, were
consensual.
[16] Frye does not yet know what his defense to the criminal charge will be and he
has been unable to conduct discovery. Although most information about a
victim’s sexual history is, and certainly ought to be, inadmissible under our
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Rape Shield provisions, it is possible that details of AV’s prior sexual
relationship with Frye may be relevant to the charge against Frye. See, e.g., Ind.
Code § 35-37-4-4 (b)(1) (evidence of the “victim’s . . . past sexual conduct with
the defendant . . . may be introduced if the judge finds . . . that it is material to a
fact at issue in the case and that its inflammatory or prejudicial nature does not
outweigh its probative value”). To prohibit Frye from asking AV any questions
about their prior shared sexual relationship is tantamount to allowing the State
to use our Rape Shield provisions “both as a shield and a sword.” Steward v.
State, 636 N.E.2d 143, 150 (Ind. Ct. App. 1994), aff’d on trans. Steward v. State,
652 N.E.2d 490 (Ind. 1995), reh’g denied. Frye must be permitted to ask AV
questions – limited exclusively to their shared sexual relationship – to determine
whether any form of consent defense is available to Frye. See Evid. R.
412(b)(1)(B) (rendering admissible “specific instances of a victim’s . . . sexual
behavior with respect to the [defendant] . . . to prove consent”). We therefore
conclude the trial court abused its discretion when it issued a protective order
prohibiting Frye from asking AV questions about their shared sexual history. 5
5
The trial court’s order implicitly relies on the unavailability of the defense of advance consent to grant the
State’s motion for a protective order. As Frye does not yet know what his defense will be because he has not
yet been able to depose AV, any question about the legal viability of the defense of advance consent is not yet
ripe. We therefore decline to address it.
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Conclusion
[17] The trial court abused its discretion when it granted the State’s protective order
to prohibit Frye from asking AV about their shared sexual history. We
therefore reverse and remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
[18] Reversed and Remanded.
Brown, J., and Shepard, S.J., concur.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
Andrew Bernlohr
Indianapolis, Indiana
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Theodore E. Rokita
Indiana Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
Ellen H. Meilaender
Supervising Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
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