State of Arkansas v. Roy Nichols, Jr.

Summary

The court held that the rape-shield statute barred Nichols from introducing or eliciting evidence of an alleged sexual encounter with the victim weeks before the charged rape. The alleged encounter was uncorroborated, only marginally probative, insufficiently connected to the charged offense, and highly prejudicial. The court also held that excluding the proposed questions did not violate the Confrontation Clause because Nichols could challenge the victim’s credibility and alleged lack of familiarity with other evidence. The circuit court’s ruling was reversed and the case was remanded.