Opinion
No. 2010AP2154.
Opinion Filed: November 9, 2011.
APPEAL from orders of the circuit court for Walworth County: ROBERT J. KENNEDY, Judge. Reversed and cause remanded with directions.
Before Brown, C.J., Neubauer, P.J., and Reilly, J.
[EDITORS' NOTE: THE PUBLICATION STATUS OF THIS OPINION IS GOVERNED BY WIS. STAT. RULE 809.23 (2) AND (3).]
¶ 1 Anthony L. Prineas appeals from a trial court order and supplemental order denying his motion for postconviction relief. Prineas was convicted of two counts of sexual assault following a jury trial. The primary dispute at trial was whether the sexual contact between Prineas and the complainant, KAC, was consensual. Although KAC testified that she repeatedly told Prineas "no" and that she wanted to leave, the court excluded on hearsay grounds Prineas' testimony of what KAC said during the encounter. We conclude the trial court erred. The evidence of KAC's alleged remarks to Prineas made during the sexual contact were admissible under the "state of mind" exception to the hearsay rule, pursuant to WIS. STAT. § 908.03(3) (2009-10), and the exclusion of such evidence was error. The exclusion of such evidence in this case denied Prineas due process and his constitutional right to present a defense and undermines confidence in his conviction. As such, the circuit court erred in denying Prineas' motion for postconviction relief. Prineas is entitled to a new trial. We therefore reverse and remand for further proceedings consistent with this decision.
All references to the Wisconsin Statutes are to the 2009-10 version unless otherwise noted.
BACKGROUND
¶ 2 This case arose from an encounter between Prineas and KAC in the basement of a fraternity house at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on April 25, 2004. The residents of the fraternity were hosting a party that night. Both Prineas, who had once been a member of the fraternity, and KAC attended the party, and both were drinking. Based on KAC's account of the events that evening, the State filed an Information charging Prineas with six counts of second-degree sexual assault alleging three acts of penis to vagina intercourse in various positions (Counts 1 through 3), followed by one act of penis to anus intercourse (Count 4), followed by another act of penis to vagina intercourse (Count 5), and finally, one act of penile ejaculation (Count 6), all by use of force. Prineas did not dispute that he had sexual intercourse with KAC during the party; however, he disputed the number and variation of sexual acts that occurred and whether the acts were consensual. The case proceeded to trial on November 1, 2004. The primary issue was consent. There were no witnesses to the encounter. Both KAC and Prineas testified, as did Sexual Abuse Nurse Examiner Patricia Stephan.
KAC's Trial Testimony
¶ 3 KAC testified that at approximately 3:30 a.m., she went to the basement of the fraternity house to call her mother because the music in the upstairs area was loud and she would have been unable to hear. KAC was in the game room portion of the basement when she heard someone calling her name. She encountered Prineas, who she had not yet met, coming around the corner. KAC testified that Prineas invited her to see the rest of the basement, which included the chapter room. When she and Prineas entered the chapter room, Prineas "shut the door and turned the light off." KAC testified that the room was "pitch black."
¶ 4 KAC testified that Prineas held his hand over the light switch and told her to undress. KAC thought Prineas was joking until he said, "No, bitch, I'm not kidding. Take your clothes off." Prineas then grabbed her from behind and kept one arm around her and he undressed her with his free hand. KAC testified that she attempted to free herself, swore at Prineas and told him "no" and that she wanted to leave. In response, Prineas told her to "shut up" and "no." She testified that when she realized Prineas "wasn't going to stop" she asked him to "please at least wear a condom."
¶ 5 KAC testified as to six separate sexual acts, during which she was physically restrained by Prineas.
Count 1. KAC testified that Prineas pushed her down over one of the chairs in the chapter room and, with his arm still around her in "a firm grip," engaged in penis to vagina intercourse for "a few minutes."
Count 2. KAC testified that Prineas then "grabbed both [her] arms and pulled [her] down to the ground." He held her down with her back against the floor, and again engaged in penis to vagina intercourse. He told her "it wasn't working for him."
Count 3. KAC testified that Prineas "sat [her] up and had [her] turn over . . . on her hands and knees." He "put his arm around [her] abdomen again so [she] couldn't move." He engaged briefly in penis to vagina intercourse while "smacking" her buttocks.
Count 4. KAC testified that Prineas then "pushed [her] flat on [her] stomach" and, while keeping one hand on her back, engaged in penis to anus intercourse for "a few more minutes." KAC testified that she was not "fighting him" at that time but was "verbally telling him `no.'"
Count 5. KAC testified that Prineas turned her back over onto her back and again engaged in penis to vagina intercourse.
Count 6. KAC said Prineas then sat on top of her ribcage and "ejaculated on [her] chest."
KAC testified that she then heard Prineas get dressed. He "flipped the light on," thanked her, told her to take her time getting ready, and walked out. KAC used her bra to wipe the semen off her chest, got dressed, "looked around for a condom wrapper," and then went upstairs to tell her friends she needed to leave. KAC testified that during the alleged assaults she repeatedly told Prineas "no" and that she wanted to leave.
Prineas' Trial Testimony
¶ 6 Prineas' account differed from KAC's both in number and type of sexual interactions. Prineas testified that he introduced himself to KAC in the upstairs apartments of the fraternity house. He testified to the exchange as follows:
I said, "Hi, I'm Antony [sic]." She said, "Hi, I'm [KAC]." I said, "I hope we can get to know each other better later." She said, "Why wait?" I said, "Okay. Would you like to come with me?" She said, "Yeah."
The State objected to Prineas' account on hearsay grounds, and defense counsel responded that it was not being offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted. The court allowed it for the limited purpose of laying the foundation for what happened next. Prineas testified that he and KAC went down to the basement together, went into the game room and "started making out on the couch." They thought they heard somebody coming down the stairs and Prineas asked KAC if she wanted to go in another room; she replied, "yes." Prineas testified that they went into the chapter room and KAC asked Prineas if he had protection. He said he did; she said okay. At this time, the court struck the testimony as hearsay.
The exchange was as follows:
[Defense Counsel]: And what did you do when you got in the chapter room?
[Prineas]: As soon as we got in the chapter room, she asked me if I had protection. I said, yes. She said, okay.
[State]: Objection, again, hearsay.
The Court: Yep, that clearly is hearsay and does not explain —
[State]: Move to strike.
The Court: — why they did what they did. Strike. Jury disregard.
¶ 7 Prineas testified that he started taking his clothes off and KAC started taking her clothes off; he put on a condom. When asked what happened next, he stated: "I tried to vaginally penetrate her standing up. She said it couldn't work, and she asked if I wanted to do it on the floor." Again, the State moved to strike, and the court granted the motion on hearsay grounds. After a conference between Prineas and his counsel, Prineas resumed his testimony, stating: "We attempted to . . . have sex standing up, leaning over a chair. It wasn't working, so we consensually went to the floor." The State objected and the court then struck the word "consensually." Prineas testified that KAC went down to her hands and knees, he entered her vaginally from behind, and "was spanking her while [he] was having sex with her." He stated: "Then we switched positions. I laid on my back, and she got on top of me." This lasted three to five minutes until KAC laid on her back and Prineas "entered her vaginally, traditional way."
¶ 8 When asked what happened next, Prineas said he was not sure how to answer "without going back into hearsay." He proceeded to testify that KAC "laid on her back, and I got on top of her" and, after asking permission and receiving her consent, "put my penis between her breasts while she held her breasts." They were in that position for a "couple of minutes" before Prineas ejaculated on KAC's chest. Prineas testified: "I got up, put my clothes on, and left the room." He denied having told KAC to take her time getting cleaned up or aiding her in getting cleaned up. Prineas testified that he went back upstairs and rejoined a card game with his friends. Prineas denied any protestations by KAC during the encounter and denied any attempt to penetrate her anally.
Prineas did indicate that there was some conversation before he went upstairs; however he was not permitted to testify as to the substance of the conversation when asked to do so in a juror question. When the jury left the courtroom, the following exchange occurred:
The Court:. . . . Now, back to the following. I am going to ask this question again. What did you say to her after the event before you went upstairs? And you may answer in full context; that, what she said to you, what you said to her, etcetera. Go ahead.
[Prineas]: She said, "Do you have anything to clean me off with?" I responded that I did not, and that was the extent of the conversation.
¶ 9 Stephan, the nurse who examined KAC the day after the alleged assault, testified that there was bruising on KAC's back and buttocks, an abrasion on her thigh, a laceration on her labia majora and an abrasion to her labia minora. KAC told Stephan that the bruising to her back occurred when she was "thrown to the floor" and that the hand-shaped bruise on her buttock occurred when Prineas slapped her. The physical examination disclosed no anal trauma to KAC. Stephan testified that the anus is less "friable" or more "toughened" than the vagina. Stephan testified "to a reasonable degree of professional and medical certainty" that the the labial abrasion was consistent with intercourse that occurred by force; however, she could not answer whether the injuries might also be consistent with vigorous consensual intercourse.
¶ 10 On November 4, 2004, the jury acquitted Prineas of Counts 1 through 4 but convicted him of Counts 5 and 6. Prineas was subsequently sentenced to ten years' initial confinement followed by ten years of extended supervision on Count 5 and a concurrent term of thirty years' probation on Count 6.
Postconviction Proceedings
¶ 11 Prineas pursued a postconviction motion and a direct appeal in which he challenged the trial court's denial of his counsel of choice and the ineffectiveness of his trial counsel, Joseph Cardamone. Following an evidentiary hearing and argument, the trial court denied Prineas' motion on July 30, 2007. We affirmed on February 4, 2009. See State v. Prineas , 2009 WI App 28, 316 Wis. 2d 414, 766 NW.2d 206. Prineas did not raise, and our decision did not address, the due process/right to present a defense issue he raises now.
¶ 12 On June 16, 2010, Prineas filed the WIS. STAT. § 974.06 motion which forms the basis for this appeal. He raised three arguments: (1) the trial court's exclusion of Prineas' testimony regarding alleged remarks made by KAC during the encounter denied him due process and the right to present a defense, (2) trial counsel was ineffective for not making a proper objection to the exclusion of that evidence, and (3) postconviction counsel was ineffective for not raising these claims on direct appeal. Prineas' trial counsel testified at the § 974.06 motion hearing as to additional remarks attributable to KAC that Prineas would have testified to but for the trial court's exclusion of the remarks as "hearsay." Prineas would have testified that (1) upon entering the chapter room, KAC asked Prineas to make sure the door was locked; (2) after he had entered KAC vaginally from behind and spanked her, and after they had switched positions so KAC was straddling him as he was lying on the floor, Prineas asked KAC if she wanted to switch positions again and she responded, "yes," so they went to the missionary position; and (3) after the encounter, KAC asked Prineas not to tell anyone.
The State acknowledges that if Prineas' assertion of ineffective assistance of counsel is proven, there is sufficient reason to permit review of the merits of his WIS. STAT. § 974.06 motion on grounds for relief, despite having already pursued a direct appeal.
¶ 13 Following the evidentiary hearing and argument, the trial court denied the motion in an oral ruling and issued an order to that effect on August 19, 2010. The court subsequently issued a supplemental written decision and order on September 2, 2010. The court determined that, despite failing to argue for the admission of KAC's remarks, trial counsel's performance was not deficient and Prineas failed to demonstrate prejudice as required by Strickland v. Washington , 466 U.S. 668, 694 (1984). Prineas appeals.
DISCUSSION
¶ 14 The issue on appeal is whether the exclusion of Prineas' testimony as to KAC's remarks during the sexual encounter denied him due process and the right to present a defense. Prineas contends that KAC's remarks (1) were not hearsay; (2) were admissible as to statements of her present state of mind, emotion or belief under WIS. STAT. § 908.03(3); and (3) were not excludable under WIS. STAT. §§ 906.13 or 908.01(4)(a).
¶ 15 The admission of evidence is generally reviewed for erroneous exercise of discretion. State v. Guzman , 2001 WI App 54, ¶ 19, 241 Wis. 2d 310, 624 N.W.2d 717. However, whether the exclusion of evidence denies an accused the right to present a defense is a question of constitutional due process and is determined by this court. State v. St. George , 2002 WI 50, ¶¶ 16, 38, 52, 252 Wis. 2d 499, 643 N.W.2d 777. It is undisputed that the evidence regarding KAC's remarks to Prineas meets the threshold requirement of relevancy under WIS. STAT. § 904.01, meaning that the evidence has "a 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."
KAC's Remarks were Admissible under WIS. STAT. § 908.03(3 ).
¶ 16 Prineas was charged with second-degree sexual assault under WIS. STAT. § 940.225(2)(a), which provides that whoever "[h]as sexual contact or sexual intercourse with another person without consent of that person by use or threat of force or violence" is guilty of a Class C felony. "Consent" is defined by § 940.225(4) as "words or overt actions by a person who is competent to give informed consent indicating a freely given agreement to have sexual intercourse or sexual contact." "In the context of sexual assault, consent in fact requires an affirmative indication of willingness. A failure to say no or to resist does not constitute consent in fact." State v. Long , 2009 WI 36, ¶ 31, 317 Wis. 2d 92, 765 N.W.2d 557. Here, the central issue at trial was consent. Prineas contends that evidence of KAC's remarks reflecting her consent to the sexual activity at issue was not "hearsay" because the remarks were proffered as verbal acts as part of the incident itself, and not for their truth. Prineas further argues that even if the statements were offered for their truth, they were admissible under the exception for statements of present state of mind, emotion, or belief under WIS. STAT. § 908.03(3). The State agrees. Notably, the trial court in its postconviction ruling also recognized the application of this exception to the hearsay rule. We agree that it applies.
¶ 17 WISCONSIN STAT. § 908.03 governs hearsay exceptions. As to the "state of mind" exception, it provides:
(3) THEN EXISTING MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, OR PHYSICAL CONDITION. A statement of the declarant's then existing state of mind, emotion, sensation, or physical condition, such as intent, plan, motive, design, mental feeling, pain, and bodily health, but not including a statement of memory or belief to prove the fact remembered or believed unless it relates to the execution, revocation, identification, or terms of declarant's will.
As the State points out, the 1974 Judicial Council Committee's Note to this provision indicates that when a cause of action or a defense depends upon a person's state of mind, "the declarations of the person whose state of mind is at issue are often a primary source of evidence on this matter." Wisconsin Rules of Evidence, 59 Wis. 2d R261 (1974). Thus, because KAC's lack of consent was an element of the sexual assault charges, her alleged remarks would be a primary source of evidence. As the State correctly observes, whether KAC actually made the alleged remarks and, if so, whether they indicated consent to sexual activity with Prineas or rather reflected acquiescence to force by Prineas would be jury questions. See id. at R260 (trustworthiness concerns are "directed to the weight and sufficiency of the evidence and the credibility of the declarant, not to the admissibility of the statement").
Indeed, the trial court instructed the jury: "In deciding whether [KAC] did not consent, you should consider what [KAC] said and did, along with all the other facts and circumstances."
¶ 18 We conclude that evidence of KAC's alleged remarks to Prineas made during the sexual contact were admissible under WIS. STAT. § 908.03(3) and the exclusion of such evidence was error. We therefore turn to whether the error undermines confidence in the outcome of Prineas' trial.
Because we conclude that Prineas' testimony as to KAC's statements clearly falls within the "state of mind" exception to the hearsay rule, we need not address Prineas' contention that the statements are either verbal acts or not hearsay in the first instance under State v. Wilson , 160 Wis. 2d 774, 779, 467 N.W.2d 130 (Ct. App. 1991) ("Where a declarant's statement is offered for the fact that it was said, rather than for the truth of its content, it is not hearsay."); see also 7 DANIEL D. BLINKA, Wisconsin Practice Series: Wisconsin Evidence § 801.3 (3d ed. 2008). We also need not address the parties' differing views as to the application of WIS. STAT. § 906.13(2)(a), which governs the admissibility of extrinsic evidence of a witness' prior inconsistent statements. See State v. Blalock , 150 Wis. 2d 688, 703, 442 N.W.2d 514 (Ct. App. 1989) (cases should be decided on the "narrowest possible ground"). While Prineas contends that § 906.13(2)(a) does not apply, the State nevertheless acknowledges that it may have provided an avenue for the admissibility of KAC's remarks, provided KAC was available for further testimony. See § 906.13(2)(a)2.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel and Prejudice
¶ 19 Both Prineas and the State discuss whether Prineas' defense counsel sufficiently preserved his objection for appeal. The State contends that defense counsel did not, but concedes that the failure to do so constituted deficient performance. Because the State concedes that there was evidentiary error and that defense counsel's performance was deficient in failing to preserve a claim on that ground, we address Prineas' claim in terms of ineffective assistance of counsel.
We therefore need not address Prineas' alternative claim that defense counsel properly preserved the evidentiary claim and that the resulting error was not harmless. Nevertheless, we note that our analysis as to the effect of the evidentiary error would be the same. In either instance, our inquiry is whether the error undermines confidence in the outcome. See State v. Rizzo , 2002 WI 20, ¶ 45, 250 Wis. 2d 407, 640 N.W.2d 93 (an evidentiary error is not harmless if there is a reasonable possibility that the error contributed to the conviction; a "reasonable possibility" is one sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome).
¶ 20 "The issue of whether a person has been deprived of the constitutional right to the effective assistance of counsel presents a mixed question of law and fact." State v. Trawitzki , 2001 WI 77, ¶ 19, 244 Wis. 2d 523, 628 N.W.2d 801. The trial court's findings of fact will be upheld unless they are clearly erroneous. State v. Pitsch , 124 Wis. 2d 628, 634, 369 N.W.2d 711 (1985). Whether counsel's performance was deficient and prejudicial to the client's defense is a question of law we review de novo. Trawitzki , 244 Wis. 2d 523, ¶ 19.
¶ 21 In Strickland v. Washington , 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984), the United States Supreme Court set forth a two-part test for determining whether counsel's actions constituted ineffective assistance. First, the defendant must demonstrate that counsel's performance was deficient. Id. Next, the defendant must demonstrate that counsel's deficient performance was prejudicial to his or her defense. Id. To prove prejudice, a defendant must show that, but for his or her attorney's errors, there is a reasonable probability the result of the proceeding would have been different. Id. at 694. A reasonable probability is one sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. Id. A reviewing court's confidence in the outcome may be less easily undermined where the erroneously excluded evidence was peripheral or the outcome was strongly supported by evidence untainted by error. Martindale v. Ripp , 2001 WI 113, ¶¶ 30-32, 246 Wis. 2d 67, 629 N.W.2d 698.
¶ 22 The State contends that the absence at trial of evidence of KAC's specific alleged remarks to Prineas does not create a reasonable probability of a different outcome on the two counts on which the jury found Prineas guilty. Specifically, the State argues that the alleged remarks would have been superfluous and cumulative to Prineas' own descriptive testimony and "would have added little toward juror resolution of whether KAC consented to the sexual activity — particularly, with respect to Count 5 and 6," which involved the last instance of penis to vagina intercourse and the ejaculation on KAC's chest. Before addressing the State's argument, we set forth Prineas' excluded or limited testimony as to alleged statements made by KAC. Prineas would have testified that (1) KAC said, "Why wait" in response to his suggestion that they get to know each other better and "Yeah" when he asked if she would like to go with him to the basement; (2) KAC "[a]sked him to make sure [the chapter room door] was locked" upon moving in there from the game room; (3) KAC "asked me if I had protection" after they had moved to the chapter room and before they began undressing; (4) after having trouble while standing, KAC "said it couldn't work and she asked if I wanted to do it on the floor"; (5) while KAC was straddling him, he asked "if she wanted to switch [positions], she said yes, [and] went to missionary position"; (6) KAC asked Prineas "not to say anything when he went back upstairs"; and (7) KAC asked, "Do you have anything to clean me off with" and Prineas responded that he did not and went upstairs.
¶ 23 As to statements (1) through (5), the State's primary argument is that evidence of KAC's alleged remarks to Prineas are superfluous and cumulative because Prineas was nevertheless able to characterize KAC's participation as voluntary. For example, the State argues, while not permitted to testify that KAC asked "if [he] wanted to do it on the floor," Prineas was nevertheless able to testify that "[KAC] went down first on her hands and knees and then I came behind her . . . [and] entered her vaginally." The State contends, "Jurors did not need to hear Prineas paraphrase KAC's alleged words to know that Prineas was claiming the floor activity was consensual, while KAC was claiming it was coerced." We reject the State's characterization of the excluded evidence as cumulative.
¶ 24 The issue at trial was consent, and the question of consent under WIS. STAT. § 940.225(4) requires "an affirmative indication of willingness." Long , 317 Wis. 2d 92, ¶ 31. KAC's alleged requests as to locking the door, wearing protection, and changing positions during the encounter could all contribute to a finding that there was an affirmative indication of willingness. We reject the State's suggestion that Prineas' descriptions of the victim's movements and his actions are cumulative to testimony regarding KAC's alleged remarks during the assault. For example, Prineas' account that KAC asked him "if [he] had protection" is not cumulative to Prineas' testimony that he put on a condom. Prineas' account that KAC asked him to make sure the chapter room door was locked is not cumulative to Prineas' testimony that they went into the chapter room. We also note one instance where the court struck the word "consensually" from Prineas' testimony that he and KAC "consensually went to the floor." The resulting testimony, "we went to the floor" does not indicate if it was voluntary on KAC's part or if she was pulled or pushed to floor. Even as to those instances when Prineas was permitted to testify that he perceived KAC's participation to be consensual, an alleged assailant's unsupported opinion or conclusion is undoubtedly less persuasive than the supporting facts. This is even more concerning when KAC was permitted to testify as to her recollection of Prineas' remarks during the encounter, such as, "No, bitch, I'm not kidding. Take your clothes off" and "Shut up."
¶ 25 This brings us to credibility. Evidence is cumulative when it "supports a fact established by existing evidence." State v. Thiel , 2003 WI 111, ¶ 78, 264 Wis. 2d 571, 665 N.W.2d 305 (citation omitted). KAC's remarks to Prineas, if deemed credible, would bear directly on the issue of consent. Here, the issue of KAC's willingness was never "established" to such a degree that additional evidence could not have further undermined her credibility and created further reasonable doubt as to her version of events. See id. , ¶ 79. The jury's verdicts indicate as much. The jury's finding as to consent turned on the credibility of Prineas and KAC. Our supreme court's decision in Thiel provides guidance on the importance of evidence bearing on credibility in a case such as this. There, the court observed:
While much of the State's evidence at trial was strong, the evidence of Thiel's guilt was not beyond dispute. Moreover, additional credibility evidence might have affected the number of charges on which Thiel was convicted. We are concerned about underestimating the importance of cumulative credibility evidence in a case that depends so heavily on the credibility of the complainant. We agree with the circuit court that credibility was the issue upon which a reasonable doubt turned. In this case, there was no physical evidence of the alleged sexual encounters, nor did any of the supportive witnesses who testified present evidence regarding their observation, direct or indirect, of the alleged encounters. Rather, the State's witnesses all served to bolster or otherwise credit [the complainant's] version of the facts. The unreasonable errors that disabled Thiel's counsel from presenting material, discrediting facts pertinent to [the complainant's] account of the alleged encounters shakes our confidence in the result of this proceeding.
Id. (alteration in original). With these observations in mind, we reject the State's contention that Prineas' testimony as to KAC's actual alleged statements would have been merely superfluous or cumulative to his general characterization of their encounter.
¶ 26 The State additionally contends that because the above statements were made prior to the activity which formed the basis of Prineas' guilty verdicts, their admission would not reasonably have affected the verdicts. Prineas counters that if there was sufficient reasonable doubt as to Counts 1 through 4, the admission of KAC's alleged remarks reflecting actual consent to the sexual encounter in general "would go beyond merely raising a reason to doubt her allegations on the first four counts and instead would create reason to doubt all of her allegations." Both arguments require this court to extrapolate from the not guilty verdicts on Counts 1 through 4 some conclusion as to whether the excluded testimony would have impacted the guilty verdicts on Counts 5 and 6. We decline to do so. The entire case was tried on the issue of consent. One can only speculate as to the impact the erroneously excluded statements would have had as to certain alleged acts as opposed to others.
¶ 27 Beyond the evidentiary error, we also have concerns regarding the associated effect of the trial court's repeated instructions to "disregard" statements made by Prineas indicating KAC's consent or to limit consideration of those statements. We assume the jury follows the trial court's admonitory instructions. See State v. Booth , 147 Wis. 2d 208, 216, 432 N.W.2d 681 (Ct. App. 1988). We think it likely that the jury deemed the trial court's instruction to disregard Prineas' testimony as to KAC's alleged remarks as tantamount to an instruction to disregard Prineas' recollection of the details concerning KAC's consent. This is especially so in light of the court's instruction that, in deciding the issue of consent, the jury "should consider what [KAC] said and did." Given the court's rulings and instructions, the jury was advised to consider what KAC claimed she said at the time and to disregard what Prineas claimed she said.
¶ 28 Finally, we address statements (6) and (7) — that KAC allegedly asked Prineas not to say anything about their encounter when he returned to the upstairs of the fraternity house and that she had asked him if he had anything to clean her off with. These statements, also erroneously excluded as hearsay, were made just after the alleged assaults. As to KAC allegedly asking him "not to say anything," Prineas argues that this would demonstrate that the sexual contact was consensual because there would be no reason to make that request if the encounter had been nonconsensual. In other words, a victim would not ask her assailant not to tell anyone.
¶ 29 As to the final excluded exchange regarding whether Prineas had anything for KAC "to clean [herself] off with," Prineas acknowledges it was not directly relevant to consent. However, Prineas argues that KAC's question and his "boorish" response provides the jury with a rational explanation for KAC's "transformation from consenting partner to outraged `victim.'" Prineas contends that the exclusion of this statement deprived Prineas' trial counsel of his chosen strategy. We agree. While the State contends that the admission of this statement may have backfired on the defense, it is not for the State or the court to second-guess defense counsel's strategy as long as it is reasonable. See State v. Elm , 201 Wis. 2d 452, 464-65, 549 N.W.2d 471 (Ct. App. 1996) (addressing reasonable defense strategy in the context of ineffective assistance of counsel).
¶ 30 When viewing the impact of the excluded statements as a whole, we conclude there is a reasonable probability that, but for trial counsel's error, the result of the proceeding would have been different. See Strickland , 466 U.S. at 694. While our confidence in the outcome may be less easily undermined where the erroneously excluded evidence was peripheral or the outcome was strongly supported by evidence untainted by the error, Martindale , 246 Wis. 2d 67, ¶¶ 30-32, such is not the case here. It was undisputed that a sexual encounter occurred. The only issue was whether it was consensual. As the State acknowledges, the not guilty verdicts in Counts 1 through 4 suggest that the jury did not fully accept KAC's account of sexual assault. In this case of he said/she said, the exclusion of evidence directly contradicting KAC's claims creates a reasonable probability that the error contributed to Prineas' conviction and undermines our confidence in the verdicts.
CONCLUSION
¶ 31 We conclude that the evidence of KAC's remarks made during the alleged sexual assault were admissible under WIS. STAT. § 908.03(3). We further conclude that the erroneous exclusion of the evidence is sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome of the trial. We therefore reverse the trial court's order denying Prineas' motion for postconviction relief. We remand for a new trial.
By the Court. — Orders reversed and cause remanded with directions.
Recommended for publication in the official reports.