Opinion
(5217)
Convicted of the crimes of sexual assault in the first degree, sexual assault in the second degree, sexual assault in the third degree, and risk of injury to a minor in connection with a series of assaults on his minor daughter, the defendant appealed. The defendant's claim that the trial court erred in admitting certain evidence under the constancy of accusation doctrine was not reviewable under State v. Evans ( 165 Conn. 61). The defendant who did not object to the challenged evidence at trial, failed to persuade this court of any fundamental constitutional violation.
Argued May 5, 1987
Decision released June 9, 1987
Substitute information charging the defendant with the crimes of sexual assault in the first degree, sexual assault in the second degree, sexual assault in the third degree and risk of injury to a minor, brought to the Superior Court in the judicial district of Waterbury and tried to the jury before L. Dorsey, J., verdict and judgment of guilty, from which the defendant appealed to this court. No error.
Timothy C. Moynahan, with whom, on the brief, were Charles E. Oman and Cynthia J. Clancy, certified legal intern, for the appellant (defendant).
Marcia B. Smith, assistant state's attorney, with whom, on the brief, was John A. Connelly, state's attorney, for the appellee (state).
The defendant appeals from the judgment of conviction, after a jury trial, of sexual assault in the first degree in violation of General Statutes 53a-70, sexual assault in the second degree in violation of General Statutes 53a-71 (a)(1), sexual assault in the third degree in violation of General Statutes 53a-72a (a)(2), and risk of injury to a minor in violation of General Statutes 53-21. The dispositive issue is whether the admission of evidence, without objection by the defendant, under the constancy of accusation doctrine is reviewable under State v. Evans, 165 Conn. 61, 70, 327 A.2d 576 (1973). We conclude that it is not, and we find no error.
The victim was the defendant's twelve year old daughter. She testified to a series of sexual assaults committed upon her by the defendant which took place on an afternoon in June, 1985. After her testimony, the victim's school principal and the investigating police officer both testified, without objection by the defendant, to the victim's statements to them describing the sexual assaults.
The defendant's sole claim on appeal is that the admission of the testimony of the school principal and the police officer went beyond the scope of the complainant's testimony with respect to the details of the assault in violation of his fundamental constitutional right to a conviction upon proper evidence by an impartial jury. We agree with the state that this claim is not reviewable.
Indeed, the defendant has presented no analysis suggesting why his claim is reviewable under State v. Evans, 165 Conn. 61, 70, 327 A.2d 576 (1973).
Evidence of constancy of accusation is admissible in a sexual assault case. State v. Dabkowski, 199 Conn. 193, 197, 506 A.2d 118 (1986). We need not resolve the question, suggested by the defendant and by Professors Tait and LaPlante, of whether constancy of accusation evidence is substantive evidence of guilt admissible under an exception to the hearsay rule, or is simply evidence corroborative of the victim's testimony analogous to a prior consistent statement and relevant only to her credibility. See C. Tait J. LaPlante, Connecticut Evidence (1986 Sup.) 11.22, pp. 17375. If the evidence is hearsay introduced as substantive evidence, that status alone is insufficient to establish that its admission amounts to a constitutional violation. "[H]earsay claims do not automatically invoke constitutional rights to confrontation." State v. Veal, 201 Conn. 368, 376, 517 A.2d 615 (1986). If it is simply corroborative evidence admitted only on the issue of the victim's credibility, we fail to see a fundamental constitutional violation in its admission into evidence, and the defendant has failed to persuade us that one exists. The defendant's claim seeks to tag a nonconstitutional claim with a constitutional label. State v. Veal, supra, 376.
We note that, although our Supreme Court in State v. Dabkowski, 199 Conn. 193, 506 A.2d 118 (1986), referred to the constancy of accusation doctrine as an "exception to the hearsay rule"; id., 197; it also explained that such evidence is admissible "`"in order to corroborate [the victim's] testimony."'" Id., 199. Professors Colin Tait and Joseph LaPlante have, with some accuracy, pointed out the inconsistency between these two statements. See C. Tait J. LaPlante, Connecticut Evidence (1986 Sup.) 11.22, pp. 173-75.