State v. Raines

HAROLD L. LOWENSTEIN, Judge.

This appeal requires this court to determine whether a criminal defendant charged with rape is entitled under the Confrontation Clause to cross-examine the putative victim about her alleged prior false allegations of rape solely to show that she has a propensity to lie. Appellant Raines, who was convicted of two counts of forcible rape, Section 566.030, RSMo. (1999), 1 and one count of assault in the second degree, Section 565.060, argues that he does have such a right and that the rape shield statute, Section 491.015, RSMo. (2000), does not prohibit his inquiry…