State v. Schmidt

Harwell, Justice:

Appellant Schmidt was convicted of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the first degree and sentenced to thirty years in prison. He contends that the trial court’s limitation of his examination of witnesses and refusal to allow his proffer of testimony prevented fair trial. We reverse and remand for a new trial.

The minor child alleged that Schmidt made sexual advances toward her when she was six years old. Approximately two years elapsed between the alleged incident and the child’s first report of it. Prior to trial, the court granted the State’s motion to preclude any…