Lafayette v. State

SULLIVAN, Justice.

Defendant Otho Lafayette was convicted of rape based in part on evidence of a ten-year-old conviction for attempted rape of another woman. Indiana law prohibits the use of evidence of prior crimes "to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith" except in certain circumstances. The exceptional cireumstance advanced by the State-intent-does not apply in this case. Accordingly, we reverse Defendant's conviction.

Background

The facts most favorable to the convictions indicate that in July, 2007, C.E. told the police that Defendant had raped…