People v. Leatherwood CA1/5

BACKGROUND

A.

Jane Doe and Leatherwood dated for about five years. They lived together—in Doe’s home—for three of those years. Before meeting Leatherwood, Doe had been sexually assaulted, when she was a teenager. She testified that she told Leatherwood about the assault and that she remained traumatized.

1 Doe and Leatherwood’s relationship was unstable from the beginning. They frequently argued and sometimes their fights turned physical. Doe repeatedly asked Leatherwood to move out over the course of their relationship. But Leatherwood ignored her.

On one occasion, in March 2015, Leatherwood and Doe argued after attending a work party. Doe testified she complained to Leatherwood that he had not introduced her to anyone and he began “screaming.” Doe said she became particularly scared when Leatherwood tried to open the passenger door while driving her home on the freeway. Once home, Doe slapped Leatherwood. He called the police and, although she attempted to explain that she slapped him because she felt both angry and threatened, she was arrested. No charges were filed.

After Doe’s arrest, Leatherwood temporarily moved out. She let him move back in because he made her feel…