People v. Morse

In People v. Morse, 231 Mich App 424, 436-437; 586 NW2d 555 (1998), the Court identified several safeguard procedures that must be followed when determining whether evidence of prior sexual abuse involving the victim and another person is admissible. First, the defendant is obligated to make an offer of proof and demonstrate relevance. If this preliminary hurdle is surmounted, the trial court must then conduct an in-camera evidentiary hearing to determine whether: (1) the proffered evidence is relevant; (2) the defendant can establish that another person was convicted of criminal sexual conduct involving the complainant; (3) the facts underlying the previous conviction are significantly similar to be relevant to the proceedings. Id. at 437.