People v. Noel CA3

FACTS AND HISTORY OF THE PROCEEDINGS

The People’s Case

The following is a summary of testimony and evidence presented by the People, with the exception of the testimony of the CSAAS expert, Dr. Blake Carmichael. Because the admission of CSAAS evidence is central to issues defendant raised on appeal, we will set forth a summary of Dr. Carmichael’s testimony in a separate section that also outlines the parties’ motions and the trial court’s rulings regarding that testimony.

Report and Investigation

Angelena Meier is a speech language pathologist intern who provides speech therapy to R. On February 6, 2018, when R. was seven years old, Meier made a report of suspected child abuse of R. She made the report after R. came in for therapy and was acting in a strange way. R. said defendant was going to kill her mother, K., which would mean R. would have to live with defendant, which R. said would be a really bad thing. During their conversation, R. also told Meier defendant frequently would force K. to orally copulate him, and R. provided details about how one would suck a man’s penis which Meier saw as a red flag. Luke Hughes, a social worker for the Modoc County Department…