State v. Lavalleur ( 2014 )

Nebraska Advance Sheets
102 289 NEBRASKA REPORTS
State of Nebraska, appellee, v.
Curtis H. Lavalleur, appellant.
___ N.W.2d ___
Filed September 19, 2014. No. S-13-821.
1. Statutes. Statutory interpretation presents a question of law.
2. Judgments: Appeal and Error. When reviewing questions of law, an appellate
court resolves the question independently of the lower court’s conclusion.
3. Evidence: Appeal and Error. In reviewing a sufficiency of the evidence claim,
whether the evidence is direct, circumstantial, or a combination thereof, the stan-
dard is the same: An appellate court does not resolve conflicts in the evidence,
pass on the credibility of witnesses, or reweigh the evidence; such matters are for
the finder of fact.
4. Evidence: Testimony: Words and Phrases. In their ordinary meanings, “sexual
behavior” refers to specific instances of conduct and “sexual predisposition”
refers to more generalized evidence in the form of opinion or reputation testi-
mony about what would often be referred to as “character.”
5. Sexual Misconduct: Evidence: Words and Phrases. Evidence about the exis-
tence of a relationship between the complaining witness and a third party is not,
by itself, evidence of “sexual behavior” or “sexual predisposition” under the rape
shield statute.
6. Evidence. Relevancy requires only that the degree of probativeness be something
more than nothing.
7. Sexual Misconduct: Evidence: Appeal and Error. The erroneous exclusion of
evidence under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 27-412 (Cum. Supp. 2012) is subject to harm-
less error review.
8. Trial: Juries: Verdicts: Appeal and Error. Harmless error exists when there is
some incorrect conduct by the trial court which, on review of the entire record,
did not materially influence the jury in reaching a verdict adverse to a substantial
right of the defendant.
9. Criminal Law: Juries: Evidence: Appeal and Error. In a jury trial of a
criminal case, an erroneous evidentiary ruling results in prejudice to a defendant
unless the State demonstrates that the error was harmless beyond a reason-
able doubt.
10. Trial: Verdicts: Appeal and Error. Harmless error review looks to the basis
on which the trier of fact actually rested its verdict; the inquiry is not whether
in a trial that occurred without the error a guilty verdict would surely have been
rendered, but, rather, whether the actual guilty verdict rendered was surely unat-
tributable to the error.
11. Constitutional Law: Criminal Law: Double Jeopardy: Evidence: New Trial:
Appeal and Error. The Double Jeopardy Clauses of the federal and state
Constitutions do not forbid a retrial after prejudicial error in a criminal trial so
long as the sum of all the evidence admitted, erroneously or not, is sufficient to
sustain a guilty verdict.
Nebraska Advance Sheets
STATE v. LAVALLEUR 103
Cite as 289 Neb. 10212. Appeal and Error. An appellate court may, at its discretion, discuss issues
unnecessary to the disposition of an appeal but likely to recur during fur-
ther proceedings.
13. Criminal Law: Jury Instructions. If there is an applicable instruction in the
Nebraska Jury Instructions, the court should usually give this instruction to the
jury in a criminal case.
14. Appeal and Error. An appellate court is not obligated to engage in an analysis
that is not necessary to adjudicate the case and controversy before it.
Appeal from the District Court for Lancaster County:
Andrew R. Jacobsen, Judge. Reversed and remanded for a
new trial.
Dennis R. Keefe, Lancaster County Public Defender, and
Webb E. Bancroft for appellant.
Jon Bruning, Attorney General, and George R. Love for
appellee.
Heavican, C.J., Wright, Connolly, Stephan, McCormack,
Miller-Lerman, and Cassel, JJ.
Connolly, J.
I. SUMMARY
Curtis H. Lavalleur appeals from his conviction for attempted
first degree sexual assault. The district court ruled that the rape
shield statute, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 27-412 (Cum. Supp. 2012),
prohibited Lavalleur from introducing evidence that the com-
plaining witness was in an intimate relationship with a third
party. Lavalleur sought to cross-examine the complaining wit-
ness about the relationship to establish a motive to falsely
report that she had not consented to sexual activities with
Lavalleur. On appeal, Lavalleur argues that evidence of an
intimate relationship, standing alone, is not within the scope of
the rape shield statute. We agree. We reverse, and remand for
a new trial.
II. BACKGROUND
The complaining witness, M.J., testified that in August
2012, she was working at a used-car dealership at which
Lavalleur was the assistant manager. They socialized outside
Nebraska Advance Sheets
104 289 NEBRASKA REPORTS
of work but were not intimate. Lavalleur said that in July 2012,
he told M.J. that he was developing feelings for her and that
if the feelings were not reciprocal, they should distance them-
selves. M.J. told him she wanted to just be friends.
On August 17, 2012, Lavalleur and M.J. planned to repos-
sess a vehicle together but changed their minds because it was
too risky. Sometime before midnight, M.J. discovered that she
was locked out of her apartment and asked Lavalleur to pick
her up. M.J. testified that she had smoked marijuana before
calling Lavalleur and wanted to drink at his house.
Once at Lavalleur’s residence, Lavalleur and M.J. went to
the basement and drank alcoholic beverages made by Lavalleur
in a blender. M.J. testified that she had about four drinks and
was very tired but not drunk; she did not feel sick or dizzy.
Lavalleur testified they played drinking games and flirted.
According to M.J., sometime before they were ready to
retire, she asked Lavalleur not to make her sleep alone in the
basement. He said that she could sleep on a bed in the base-
ment and that he would sleep on a nearby couch. M.J. testified
that she remembered getting into bed but that she then fell
into a deep sleep. When she awoke the next morning, she was
naked from the waist down and Lavalleur, similarly unclothed,
was lying next to her. M.J. said she could not remember
anything when she woke up. Some of M.J.’s testimony sug-
gested that Lavalleur might have drugged her. For example,
M.J. testified that she did not see him mix the drinks and
knew that consuming four drinks would not have made her
“blackout like that.” Lavalleur said they were drinking from
the same blender.
According to Lavalleur, when M.J. said she was tired,
he started upstairs for bed but she asked him not to leave
her alone. Encouraged, Lavalleur retrieved a blanket and lay
next to her. M.J. was on her side, and Lavalleur was behind
her. Lavalleur believed M.J. was awake because she thanked
him when he gave her the blanket. Lavalleur testified that
he caressed M.J.’s body and that she responded with moan-
ing and heavy breathing. Lavalleur testified that M.J.’s shorts
were unbuttoned and unzipped when he entered the bed and
Nebraska Advance Sheets
STATE v. LAVALLEUR 105
Cite as 289 Neb. 102that he took this as further encouragement. Lavalleur began
to stimulate her genitalia with his fingers and, after she did
not resist, removed her shorts. Lavalleur testified that her
responsive movements aided him in removing her shorts.
But, Lavalleur testified, when his penis touched her leg,
M.J. moved her hand back and said “no.” Lavalleur did not
believe it was a “firm” no and began to stimulate her with his
fingers again. Lavalleur testified that M.J. did not resist the
digital penetration but that, when he tried to position himself
for intercourse again, she firmly told him no. At that point,
Lavalleur testified, he was discouraged and went to sleep. In
a police interview played for the jury, however, Lavalleur said
that he tried to have intercourse with M.J. two or three times
after she said no.
In the morning, M.J. did not accuse Lavalleur of miscon-
duct, talk to him about their nakedness, or try to call anyone.
Lavalleur said that when his alarm went off, M.J. was sitting
on the couch and he thought she was hung over. On the way
to work, M.J.’s silence was uncomfortable, so Lavalleur asked
whether she remembered the previous night. She said she did
not, and he told her they did not have intercourse. M.J. agreed
that Lavalleur had briefly talked about the incident and assured
her that things had not gone too far.
An hour after she got to work, M.J. called her roommate to
pick her up so she that could shower at her apartment. After
they got back to the apartment, M.J. testified, she told her
roommate what happened. She planned to “let it go,” but her
roommate encouraged her to report the incident.
About 11:30 a.m., M.J., who had not showered, went to the
hospital and was examined for sexual assault evidence. M.J.
gave a statement to a police officer summoned by hospital
personnel that was consistent with the testimony above. She
vaguely remembered saying “no” to Lavalleur but could not
remember where he touched her. M.J. told the officer that
Lavalleur had touched her but that “it wasn’t a big deal.”
At the hospital, M.J. began text messaging Lavalleur and
she agreed to send controlled messages at the officer’s sug-
gestion. The messages sent by Lavalleur were generally
Nebraska Advance Sheets
106 289 NEBRASKA REPORTS
consistent with his testimony at trial. He admitted to digitally
penetrating M.J. but denied penile penetration. In response to
M.J.’s accusation that she was unconscious, Lavalleur replied
that he thought she was “somewhat still awake” because she
responded to his touch. Lavalleur’s messages also expressed
regret, including statements that he had become “the very
thing i hate” and “didn’t know [he] was capable of doing
something like that.” Lavalleur testified that he expressed
remorse because M.J. was obviously upset and he wanted to
placate rather than argue.
There was no sperm found on any of the vaginal swabs from
the sexual assault collection kit. The kit also contained swabs
from M.J.’s thighs, breasts, and neck. Lavalleur was a weak
contributor to a DNA sample from the swab of M.J.’s right
thigh. The forensic scientist who tested the swab of M.J.’s right
thigh testified that the DNA sample was not semen and that its
source may be other bodily fluid or skin cells.
The State charged Lavalleur with first degree sexual assault
and attempted first degree sexual assault. Before trial, the
State moved in limine to exclude evidence of M.J.’s past
sexual behavior and Lavalleur filed a notice of his intent
to offer evidence under § 27-412. At the pretrial hearing,
Lavalleur explained that he wanted to show that M.J. had an
intimate relationship with a third party with whom she had a
fight on August 17, 2012. Lavalleur argued that the relation-
ship showed that M.J. had a motive to falsely report a sexual
assault. Lavalleur stated that he would not question M.J. about
her sexual conduct but might ask whether the relationship
was intimate.
The district court excluded evidence of M.J.’s relationship
with the third party under § 27-412. In response to Lavalleur’s
argument that the exclusion violated his confrontation rights,
the court stated that the relationship was relevant only if
M.J. had a need to conceal or explain her whereabouts on
the night of August 17, 2012. The court reasoned that unless
M.J.’s partner was aware that M.J. had spent the night with
Lavalleur when M.J. first reported the assault, the relationship
was irrelevant.
Nebraska Advance Sheets
STATE v. LAVALLEUR 107
Cite as 289 Neb. 102At trial, defense counsel made an offer of proof out of the
jury’s presence by questioning M.J. about her relationship
with a woman who was not her roommate. M.J. admitted that
she was involved with a woman named “Sable” and that they
had a fight on August 17, 2012, and were still fighting when
M.J. went to Lavalleur’s house. M.J. testified that she called
Lavalleur to pick her up because Sable would not answer her
telephone. Sable visited M.J. at the hospital, and M.J. told her
that she had awoke without pants and suspected that some-
thing happened.
The jury found Lavalleur not guilty of first degree sexual
assault but guilty of attempted first degree sexual assault,
which is a Class III felony. The court sentenced Lavalleur to
imprisonment for 24 to 36 months.
III. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
Lavalleur assigns, restated, that the court erred by (1) prohib-
iting evidence of M.J.’s relationship with a third party; (2) fail-
ing to properly instruct the jury on attempted first degree sexual
assault; and (3) imposing an excessive sentence. Lavalleur also
assigns that (4) he was denied effective assistance of counsel
and (5) the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction
for attempted first degree sexual assault.
IV. STANDARD OF REVIEW
[1,2] Statutory interpretation presents a question of law.1
When reviewing questions of law, an appellate court resolves
the question independently of the lower court’s conclusion.2
[3] In reviewing a sufficiency of the evidence claim, whether
the evidence is direct, circumstantial, or a combination thereof,
the standard is the same: An appellate court does not resolve
conflicts in the evidence, pass on the credibility of witnesses,
or reweigh the evidence; such matters are for the finder
of fact.3
1
Underwood v. State Patrol, 287 Neb. 204, 842 N.W.2d 57 (2014).
2
See id.3
State v. Green, 287 Neb. 212, 842 N.W.2d 74 (2014).
Nebraska Advance Sheets
108 289 NEBRASKA REPORTS
V. ANALYSIS
1. Evidence of M.J.’s R elationship
With a Third Party
Lavalleur argues that the court erred by excluding evidence
of a romantic relationship between M.J. and another woman
under the rape shield statute. Lavalleur contends that the tes-
timony he sought to elicit from M.J. established a motive to
fabricate and was not evidence of her past sexual behavior
or sexual predisposition. The State argues that the rape shield
statute bars the admission of the testimony and that the tes-
timony is irrelevant unless M.J.’s girlfriend knew M.J. had
spent the night at Lavalleur’s house when M.J. first reported
a sexual assault. We conclude that the rape shield statute does
not bar evidence of M.J.’s relationship with another woman,
that it is relevant to her credibility, and that its exclusion was
not harmless.
(a) Rape Shield Statute
Nebraska’s rape shield statute is codified in the Nebraska
rules of evidence. Subject to several exceptions, § 27-412(1)
bars “[e]vidence offered to prove that any victim engaged in
other sexual behavior” and “[e]vidence offered to prove any
victim’s sexual predisposition” in civil or criminal proceedings
involving sexual misconduct. Before 2010,4 the rape shield
statute was codified at Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-321 (Reissue 2008)
and generally prohibited evidence of the complaining witness’
“past sexual behavior” in sexual assault cases.
We recognized two purposes of the previous rape shield
statute which we also find applicable to § 27-412. First, the
statute protects rape victims from grueling cross-examination
about their past sexual behavior or sexual predisposition that
too often yields testimony of questionable relevance.5 Second,
the rape shield statute prevents the use of evidence of the com-
plaining witness’ past sexual conduct with third parties or sex-
ual predisposition from which to infer consent or undermine
4
2009 Neb. Laws, L.B. 97, § 3.
5
See State v. Lessley, 257 Neb. 903, 601 N.W.2d 521 (1999).
Nebraska Advance Sheets
STATE v. LAVALLEUR 109
Cite as 289 Neb. 102the witness’ credibility.6 The rape shield statute is not meant
to prevent defendants from presenting relevant evidence, but
to deprive them of the opportunity to harass and humiliate the
complaining witness and divert the jury’s attention to irrelevant
matters.7 We note that, like its predecessor,8 § 27-412 is pat-
terned after its counterpart in the Federal Rules of Evidence.9
The advisory committee notes to Fed. R. Evid. 412, the federal
rape shield rule, explain that the rule “aims to safeguard the
alleged victim against the invasion of privacy, potential embar-
rassment and sexual stereotyping that is associated with public
disclosure of intimate sexual details and the infusion of sexual
innuendo into the factfinding process.”10
The problems rape shield statutes were meant to address are
well established. Traditionally, courts often admitted evidence
of a complaining witness’ prior sexual activity as relevant to
consent and credibility.11 As one court explained, the rationale
was that “‘[n]o impartial mind can resist the conclusion that a
female who has been in the recent habit of illicit intercourse
with others will not be so likely to resist as one who is spot-
less and pure.’”12 Fear of a courtroom inquisition into their
sexual activities led many victims to forgo reporting sexual
assaults altogether.13 Evidence of the complaining witness’ sex-
ual history was usually of little probative value and was instead
aimed to inflame “nebulous notions of unchastity, impurity,
and immorality.”14
Lavalleur’s attorney described the testimony he sought to
elicit from M.J. at a pretrial hearing and in an offer of proof
6
See State v. Sanchez-Lahora, 261 Neb. 192, 622 N.W.2d 612 (2001).
7
State v. Schenck, 222 Neb. 523, 384 N.W.2d 642 (1986).
8
State v. Sanchez-Lahora, supra note 6.
9
Compare § 27-412(1) with Fed. R. Evid. 412(a).
10
Fed. R. Evid. 412, advisory committee notes on 1994 amendment.
11
State v. Hopkins, 221 Neb. 367, 377 N.W.2d 110 (1985).
12
Id. at 372, 377 N.W.2d at 114, quoting Lee v. State, 132 Tenn. 655, 179
S.W. 145 (1915).
13
See State v. Hopkins, supra note 11.
14
Id. at 373, 377 N.W.2d at 115.
Nebraska Advance Sheets
110 289 NEBRASKA REPORTS
made during trial. In response to the State’s motion in limine,
Lavalleur’s counsel explained:
I want to be able to talk about this particular young lady
who is involved in a relationship with someone else and
that on the night this happened, they were in a fight and
that they had broken up and now she ends up over at
. . . Lavalleur’s house that — as a way of why she would
maybe make a false report, as to her credibility or as to
her bias.
The offer of proof made at trial was consistent with this
purpose:
[Defense counsel:] [O]n August 17, 2012, you were
involved in a relationship, right?
[M.J.:] Correct.
Q. And that was with who?
A. Sable.
Q. And on that particular day, were you and — had a
fight with Sable?
A. Yes.
Q. Okay. And were you still fighting with her that night
when you went to . . . Lavalleur’s?
A. Yes.
Q. And that was one of the reasons that you called
. . . Lavalleur is because not only was [your roommate]
not answering her phone but Sable wasn’t answering her
phone to help you out, too, right?
A. Correct.
....
Q. Now, the next day when you went to the hospital,
you said you had some friends — you had to call a friend
to come down, is that right?
A. That’s right.
Q. Was it Sable that came down?
A. Yes.
....
Q. When did she learn about what happened?
A. When she had gotten there.
....
Nebraska Advance Sheets
STATE v. LAVALLEUR 111
Cite as 289 Neb. 102Q. . . . [D]id you discuss fully with Sable what — what
you knew at that point?
....
A. I didn’t tell her the details of it until later that night,
but she knew basically why I was there.
Q. Did you tell her you were at — that you went —
had fallen asleep at . . . Lavalleur’s house, and you woke
up with your pants off?
A. Correct.
Q. Did you tell her you suspected something happened?
A. Yes.
In response to questioning from the court, Lavalleur’s counsel
stated that he would not cross-examine M.J. about her sexual
conduct with Sable, but that he might ask whether the relation-
ship was intimate.
[4,5] We conclude that M.J.’s relationship with Sable was not
evidence of “sexual behavior” or “sexual predisposition.” Thus,
the court erred in prohibiting Lavalleur from cross-examining
M.J. about the relationship under § 27-412(1). In their ordinary
meanings, “‘sexual behavior’ refers to specific instances of
conduct and ‘sexual predisposition’ refers to more generalized
evidence in the form of opinion or reputation testimony about
what we would often call ‘character.’”15 Questioning about the
existence of a relationship between the complaining witness
and a third party does not, by itself, implicate either form of
evidence regulated by § 27-412:
If questioning about this subject were to lead to evidence
or questions about details of particular acts, encounters,
or practices, then such evidence and quests are indeed
covered by rape shield legislation . . . . On the other hand,
it seems equally clear that the fact that the complain-
ing witness is in an ongoing relationship, particularly if
it entails living together, an engagement, or some other
form of commitment, would not ordinarily be described as
sexual conduct even if the relationship involves ongoing
15
2 Christopher B. Mueller & Laird C. Kirkpatrick, Federal Evidence § 4:78
at 256 (4th ed. 2013).
Nebraska Advance Sheets
112 289 NEBRASKA REPORTS
sexual intimacy. Ordinary notions of privacy would not
be offended by questions or evidence disclosing such
relationships and some routine details, such as how often
the people see each other or how long they have lived
together, and even the basic question whether the relation-
ship includes sexual intimacy.16
The testimony Lavalleur sought from M.J. did not stray into the
sexual acts performed with her partner. Nor was it an appeal to
the jurors’ sexual mores or an attempt to inflame perceived
prejudices. Lavalleur sought to establish that M.J. had a motive
to falsify her accounting of the events of August 17, 2012. Her
relationship with Sable and the strength of their bond—includ-
ing whether they were intimate—are relevant to M.J.’s motiva-
tion to report a sexual assault. Her testimony would not amount
to proof of her sexual behavior, involve a “propensity inference
based on sexual acts,” or be a “significant invasion of [her]
personal privacy.”17
The potential for the jury to infer that M.J. has engaged in
sexual acts does not bring evidence of her relationship with
Sable within § 27-412. Evidence is not barred by the rape
shield statute “simply because it might indirectly cause the
finder of fact to make an inference concerning the victim’s
prior sexual conduct.”18 The jury could have drawn similar
inferences from M.J.’s marital status and the existence of her
daughter, to which she testified on cross-examination with-
out objection.
The Georgia Supreme Court reached a similar conclusion in
Richardson v. State.19 The defendant in Richardson was con-
victed of rape and kidnapping with bodily injury. He admit-
ted that he had sexual contact with the complaining witness
but claimed it was consensual. During cross-examination of
the complaining witness, the defense sought to inquire about
her relationship with a former boyfriend. The witness had
16
Id. at 263-64 (emphasis in original).
17
See id. at 264.
18
People v. Cobb, 962 P.2d 944, 951 (Colo. 1998).
19
Richardson v. State, 276 Ga. 639, 581 S.E.2d 528 (2003).
Nebraska Advance Sheets
STATE v. LAVALLEUR 113
Cite as 289 Neb. 102been wearing a jacket belonging to her ex-boyfriend during
the alleged sexual assault, and the jacket had become stained
with blood and semen. The defendant theorized that the com-
plaining witness fabricated the sexual assault to account for
the stains and rekindle the relationship with her former boy-
friend. The trial judge refused to permit questioning about the
relationship under Georgia’s rape shield statute, which gener-
ally prohibited evidence “‘relating to the past sexual behavior
of the complaining witness . . . .’”20
The Georgia Supreme Court reversed, concluding that ques-
tioning about the existence of the complaining witness’ prior
relationship with a third party was not evidence of past sexual
behavior. Furthermore, “[e]vidence merely that the [complain-
ing witness] has or had a romantic relationship with another
man” did not amount to character evidence.21 As long as
the defendant “confined his questioning to the non-sexual
nature of the [complaining witness’] former relationships,”
the rape shield statute was not a bar to admissibility.22 As to
the defend­ nt’s theory of relevance, the court acknowledged
a
that the complaining witness “was not compelled to return the
stained jacket and had other options.”23 But the fact that she
could have simply thrown the jacket away went to the strength
of the defendant’s theory and involved “credibility determina-
tions . . . properly left to the jury.”24
In another analogous case, the Colorado Court of Appeals
reversed the exclusion of evidence under a rape shield statute
in People v. Golden.25 According to the prosecution, the female
complaining witness lived with two men and another woman in
a rental house managed by the defendant. The defendant went
to the residence and asked the complaining witness to accom-
pany him in his vehicle for the purpose of signing a lease.
20
Id. at 640, 581 S.E.2d at 529.
21
Id.22
Id.23
Id. at 641, 581 S.E.2d at 530.
24
Id.25
People v. Golden, 140 P.3d 1 (Colo. App. 2005).
Nebraska Advance Sheets
114 289 NEBRASKA REPORTS
While in the vehicle, the prosecution claimed, the defendant
sexually assaulted her and then dropped her off at the rental
unit. The defendant claimed the intercourse was consensual.
When the complaining witness entered her house, she col-
lapsed and told her roommates that the defendant had assaulted
her. At trial, the defendant sought to cross-examine her about a
“committed romantic relationship” with her female roommate
to establish a motive to lie about whether she had consented
to intercourse.26 The trial judge refused to permit the line of
questioning under Colorado’s rape shield statute, which gener-
ally prohibited “[e]vidence of specific instances,” “opinion evi-
dence,” and “reputation evidence” of the complaining witness’
“sexual conduct.”27
The appellate court reversed, holding that cross-examination
about the complaining witness’ intimate relationship with her
roommate was not evidence of sexual conduct. The court
“recognize[d] that a ‘committed romantic relationship’ between
adults may be generally understood to have a sexual compo-
nent, [but] the initial questions did not, standing alone, inquire
into that component or any sexual conduct.”28 Instead of sub-
jecting the complaining witness to a “fishing expedition into
her past sexual conduct,” the evidence sought to be elicited
“called into question her credibility and her possible motive in
telling her roommates that she had been sexually assaulted.”29
The potential for the jury to draw inferences about her past
sexual conduct did not mandate exclusion under the rape
shield statute.
We similarly conclude that Lavalleur’s intended cross-
examination of M.J. would not have amounted to a prohib-
ited fishing expedition. Evidence of M.J.’s relationship with
Sable is not within the ordinary meanings of “sexual behav-
ior” or “sexual predisposition” and does not implicate the
purposes for which § 27-412 was enacted. Thus, we turn to
26
Id. at 3.
27
Id. (emphasis omitted).
28
Id. at 5.
29
Id. at 6.
Nebraska Advance Sheets
STATE v. LAVALLEUR 115
Cite as 289 Neb. 102whether the evidence was relevant and whether its exclusion
was harmless.
(b) M.J.’s Relationship
Was Relevant
In concluding that the rape shield statute barred evidence of
M.J.’s relationship with Sable, the court indicated that it was
irrelevant. It stated that Lavalleur could not adduce evidence
of the relationship until he could “show that [M.J.] had some
need to cover or to explain her whereabouts or whom she was
with at the time she made the report.” The court reasoned that
M.J. did not have a motive to fabricate unless, at the time she
made the report, Sable was aware that M.J. had spent the night
at Lavalleur’s house. We disagree.
[6] Relevancy is governed by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 27-401(Reissue 2008). Under § 27-401, 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 prob-
able or less probable than it would be without the evidence.”
The bar set by § 27-401 is not a high one. Relevancy requires
only that the degree of probativeness be something more
than nothing.30
We cannot say that the probativeness of M.J. and Sable’s
relationship amounted to nothing. It is not improbable that
M.J.’s absence from her apartment on the night of August
17, 2012, was noticed and that she would eventually have to
explain her whereabouts to Sable. A report of sexual assault
would have helped dispel any air of infidelity. While it would
make Lavalleur’s case stronger if Sable confronted M.J. before
M.J. reported the sexual assault, the absence of this circum-
stance does not wholly strip the relationship of probative value.
Whether Lavalleur’s theory was credible is for the jury.
(c) Exclusion of the Evidence
Was Not Harmless
[7-10] The erroneous exclusion of evidence of M.J.’s rela-
tionship with Sable under § 27-412 is subject to harmless
30
State v. Draganescu, 276 Neb. 448, 755 N.W.2d 57 (2008).
Nebraska Advance Sheets
116 289 NEBRASKA REPORTS
error review. Errors, other than structural errors, which occur
within the trial and sentencing process, are subject to harmless
error review.31 Harmless error exists when there is some incor-
rect conduct by the trial court which, on review of the entire
record, did not materially influence the jury in reaching a ver-
dict adverse to a substantial right of the defendant.32 In a jury
trial of a criminal case, an erroneous evidentiary ruling results
in prejudice to a defendant unless the State demonstrates that
the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.33 Harmless
error review looks to the basis on which the trier of fact actu-
ally rested its verdict; the inquiry is not whether in a trial that
occurred without the error a guilty verdict would surely have
been rendered, but, rather, whether the actual guilty verdict
rendered was surely unattributable to the error.34
The State has not demonstrated that the exclusion of evi-
dence about M.J.’s relationship with Sable was harmless
beyond a reasonable doubt. Two considerations lead us to this
conclusion. First, M.J.’s testimony, and therefore credibility,
was crucial to the State’s case.35 No other witness for the State
was present in Lavalleur’s basement on the night of August
17, 2012. The importance of M.J.’s testimony was height-
ened by the paucity of physical evidence. What little physical
evidence the State produced was consistent with Lavalleur’s
version of events. Second, the State’s case against Lavalleur
was not overwhelming.36 M.J.’s memory of what occurred
after she got into bed was very limited, and Lavalleur testified
that he acted only on the belief that M.J. had given consent.
We also note that to acquit Lavalleur of the sexual assault
charge, the jury necessarily found that M.J. consented to digi-
tal penetration.
31
State v. Pangborn, 286 Neb. 363, 836 N.W.2d 790 (2013).
32
Id.33
Id.34
Id.35
See Olden v. Kentucky, 488 U.S. 227, 109 S. Ct. 480, 102 L. Ed. 2d 513(1988).
36
See id.Nebraska Advance Sheets
STATE v. LAVALLEUR 117
Cite as 289 Neb. 1022. Sufficiency of the Evidence
[11] Lavalleur argues that the evidence was insufficient to
support his conviction for attempted first degree sexual assault.
Our conclusion that the district court’s exclusion of evidence
under § 27-412 was erroneous and prejudicial requires us to
determine whether retrial is permitted. The Double Jeopardy
Clauses of the federal and state Constitutions do not forbid a
retrial after prejudicial error in a criminal trial so long as the
sum of all the evidence admitted, erroneously or not, is suffi-
cient to sustain a guilty verdict.37
Though the evidence was not overwhelming, it is sufficient
evidence to support Lavalleur’s conviction for attempted sex-
ual assault. Lavalleur testified that M.J. said “no”—or made a
sound that the jury could interpret as “no”—after the first time
he tried to initiate penile penetration. Lavalleur testified that,
despite registering M.J.’s disapproval, he made a second effort
to penetrate M.J. with his penis. Four days after the incident,
Lavalleur told a police investigator that he tried again “two or
three times” after M.J. expressed her lack of consent. From
this evidence, the jury could infer that, before aborting his
subsequent attempts to penetrate M.J. with his penis, Lavalleur
developed an intent to penetrate M.J. without her consent or at
a time when she was incapable of resisting or appraising the
nature of her conduct.
3. Jury Instructions
[12] Though we need not reach Lavalleur’s assignment that
the jury instruction for attempted first degree sexual assault
was erroneous, we address the issue because it is likely to recur
on remand. An appellate court may, at its discretion, discuss
issues unnecessary to the disposition of an appeal but likely to
recur during further proceedings.38
To convict Lavalleur of first degree sexual assault, the
State had to prove that he subjected M.J. to sexual pen-
etration without her consent or when he knew or should have
known that M.J. was “mentally or physically incapable of
37
See State v. Pangborn, supra note 31.
38
State v. Edwards, 286 Neb. 404, 837 N.W.2d 81 (2013).
Nebraska Advance Sheets
118 289 NEBRASKA REPORTS
resisting or appraising the nature of . . . her conduct.”39 The
criminal attempt statute, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-201 (Cum. Supp.
2012), required the State to prove that Lavalleur “[i]ntention-
ally engage[d] in conduct which, under the circumstances as
he . . . believe[d] them to be, constitute[d] a substantial step
in a course of conduct intended to culminate in his . . . com-
mission of the crime.” Section 28-201(3) provides that conduct
is not a substantial step “unless it is strongly corroborative of
the defendant’s criminal intent.” So, to find Lavalleur guilty of
attempted first degree sexual assault, the jury had to find that
he intended to subject M.J. to penetration either without her
consent or when she was incapable of resisting or appraising
the nature of her conduct, and that Lavalleur took a substantial
step that strongly corroborated this intent.
Instruction No. 4, which the court gave the jury for the
charge of attempted first degree sexual assault, failed to ade-
quately describe the proof needed for conviction:
The elements which the state must prove beyond a
reasonable doubt in order to convict . . . Lavalleur of
attempted first degree sexual assault are:
1. . . . Lavalleur intended to subject [M.J.] to sexual
penetration; and
2. . . . Lavalleur intentionally engaged in a substantial
step in a courseof [sic] conduct intended to culminate in
subjecting [M.J.] to sexual penetration; and
3. [M.J.] did not give her consent; and
4. . . . Lavalleur did so on, about, or between August
17, 2012, and August 18, 2012, in Lancaster County,
Nebraska.
This instruction is flawed in two respects. First, it fails to
state that the substantial step must strongly corroborate
Lavalleur’s criminal intent. Second, the statement that one of
the “elements” of attempted first degree sexual assault is that
Lavalleur intended to subject M.J. to sexual penetration might
cause confusion about the requisite state of mind. The State
has to prove not only that Lavalleur intended to subject M.J. to
sexual penetration, but also that he intended to do so without
39
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-319(1) (Reissue 2008).
Nebraska Advance Sheets
STATE v. LAVALLEUR 119
Cite as 289 Neb. 102her consent or when she was incapable of resisting or apprais-
ing the nature of her conduct.40
[13] We note that the Nebraska Jury Instructions include
an instruction for criminal attempt.41 If there is an applicable
instruction in the Nebraska Jury Instructions, the court should
usually give this instruction to the jury in a criminal case.42
4. R emaining Assignments
of Error
[14] Because we conclude that the exclusion of evidence of
M.J.’s relationship with Sable requires a new trial, we do not
reach Lavalleur’s remaining assignments of error. An appellate
court is not obligated to engage in an analysis that is not neces-
sary to adjudicate the case and controversy before it.43
VI. CONCLUSION
We conclude that evidence of M.J.’s relationship with
another woman was not barred by the rape shield statute.
Cross-examination about the existence of an intimate relation-
ship does not, standing alone, amount to evidence of “sexual
behavior” or “sexual predisposition.” Furthermore, the rela-
tionship was relevant even if M.J.’s girlfriend was not yet
aware that M.J. spent the night at Lavalleur’s house at the time
M.J. reported a sexual assault. The exclusion of evidence was
not harmless considering the importance of M.J.’s testimony
to the State’s case and the lack of overwhelming evidence
against Lavalleur. But, though the evidence was not over-
whelming, it was sufficient to support Lavalleur’s conviction.
Accordingly, we reverse Lavalleur’s conviction for attempted
first degree sexual assault and remand the cause for a new trial
on that charge.
R eversed and remanded for a new trial.
40
See, §§ 28-201(1)(b) and 28-319(1)(b); 2 Wayne R. LaFave, Substantive
Criminal Law § 11.3(a) (2d ed. 2003).
41
NJI2d Crim. 3.3.
42
See State v. Taylor, 282 Neb. 297, 803 N.W.2d 746 (2011).
43
Lang v. Howard County, 287 Neb. 66, 840 N.W.2d 876 (2013).