State v. Reynolds

Defendant appeals his convictions for sexual abuse in the first degree. ORS 163.427. He contends that the trial court erred when it denied his request to present surrebuttal evidence to rehabilitate his character for truthfulness after the state had called a rebuttal witness who testified that defendant was “very untruthful.” The Court of Appeals affirmed without opinion. State v. Reynolds, 136 Or App 212, 901 P2d 268 (1995). For the reasons that follow, we reverse.

Defendant, an elementary school teacher, was charged with seven counts of sexual abuse in the first degree for acts against four…