Phillips v. State

Delano Phillips was convicted of rape in the second degree and sentenced to two years' imprisonment. The State's evidence established that the defendant, a 49-year-old man, had sexual intercourse with S.M.W., a 13-year-old girl.

On appeal, the defendant argues that the trial court erroneously prohibited him from eliciting testimony that S.M.W. had brought prior unfounded charges of rape against three other individuals. The defendant made an offer of proof that S.M.W. had previously claimed to have been raped three times by her uncle's cousin and that she had also accused one Roger L. and one…