People v. Marshall

Defendant was found guilty of grooming in connection with his activities as a church volunteer and was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 30 months of sex offender probation. Defendant appealed, arguing that the trial court erred in admitting testimony from the defendant’s former girlfriend and church pastor and in defining certain terms for the jury. The appellate court reversed and remanded, finding that the trial court abused its discretion in the admission of evidence. The appellate court further explained that the trial court incorrectly allowed testimony to establish false exculpatory statements where the statements at issue were unrelated to the charges against the defendant. The appellate court also explained that the testimony was improper because it amounted to impeachment on a collateral matter through the use of extrinsic evidence. (HARRIS and DeARMOND, concurring)