# State v. Jeffries

> Court of Appeals of Iowa · October 28, 1987 · 417 N.W.2d 237

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/9672486

## Case

- **Full name:** STATE of Iowa, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Willie James JEFFRIES, Jr., Defendant-Appellant
- **Court:** Court of Appeals of Iowa
- **Decided:** October 28, 1987
- **Citations:** 417 N.W.2d 237; 1987 Iowa App. LEXIS 1745; 1987 WL 31387
- **Precedential status:** Published
- **Opinion:** Dissent by Schlegel
- **Judges:** Oxberger, Sackett, Schlegel, Snell
- **Cited by:** 23 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

## Citator (automated)

- No negative treatment found by the automated citator. That is not the same as a confirmation that the case is good law; read the citing cases.
- Full citator and citing cases: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/9672486

## Opinion text

*241 SCHLEGEL, Judge
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent.
The majority concludes that the State did not present evidence opening the door for the defendant’s rebuttal evidence of Freda’s past sexual behavior. Rather, the majority notes, the State’s evidence “relates to the victim’s progress in reforming her prior drug-related life style” and therefore, “only, opened the door as to the victim’s general character.” I believe that the record indicates that the State presented evidence raising the inference that Freda was of upstanding character. Thus, the door was open for the defendant to rebut such an inference. The defendant, in order to preserve his constitutional rights to confront and cross-examine witnesses and to a fair trial, must be allowed to effectively rebut the State’s character evidence of Freda. The defendant must be allowed to present rebuttal evidence which provides the jury with a complete picture of the complainant’s character so as to accurately judge her credibility. Therefore, I would hold that the evidence pertaining to Freda’s past sexual behavior is admissible as rebuttal character evidence and thus, reverse and remand for a new trial.

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/9672486. Public record. Not legal advice.