Woods v. State

The defendant appeals his conviction and sentence for sexual battery on a person less than twelve years of age. Because the trial court erred in excluding a critical prior inconsistent statement of the victim, we reverse.

The salient testimony at trial can be briefly summarized. M.O., the victim in this case, is the defendant’s granddaughter and was ten years old at the time of trial. The victim testified at trial that one night when her mother (“Mother”) was away, she was sleeping in her parents’ room when defendant grabbed her and put her on the couch. Defendant touched her in her “private,”…