Napoka v. State

0 PINION

MANNHEIMER, Judge.

This case presents an issue under Alaska’s rape shield law, AS 12.45.045. Carl J. Napo-ka was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl. At his trial, Napoka tried to introduce evidence that he and the purported victim had repeatedly engaged in consensual sex in the past. The superior court ruled that this evidence was barred by the rape shield law. Having examined Napoka’s offer of proof, we conclude that the offered evidence was admissible and that the superior court’s ruling denied Napoka a fair trial.

An overview of Alaska’s rape shield laiv, AS 1245.04,5

AS…