State v. Williams

The issues presented in this appeal are: (1) whether the testimony proffered by appellee is admissible at trial despite R.C. 2907.02(D), the rape shield law; and (2) whether admitting such evidence violates Evid. R. 608(B). We find the evidence to be admissible, and thus we affirm the judgment of the court of appeals.

The rape shield law in Ohio, R.C. 2907.02(D),1 essentially prohibits the introduction of any extrinsic evidence pertaining to the victim’s sexual activity. The exceptions to this prohibition are evidence of the origin of semen, pregnancy, or disease, or of the victim’s past…