Churchfield v. State

RAYMOND G. THIEME, Jr., Judge,

Ret’d, Specially Assigned.

Appellant John M. Churchfield was convicted of child abuse, Md.Code (1957, 1996 Repl.Vol., 2000 Cum.Supp.), Art. 27 § 35C, by a jury in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County. The court imposed a fifteen-year sentence, suspending all but seven and one-half years. Churchfield noted a timely appeal and asks:

1. Did the court below err when it restricted cross-examination by excluding certain information about the complainant’s sexual activities?

2. Did the court below err when it limited the defense’s cross-examination of the social worker…