Pinnell v. State

¶1Harry William Pinnell appeals from his conviction and sentence for two counts of lewd and lascivious assault. We affirm.

¶2Pinnell asserts that the trial court reversibly erred by determining that a PACE 1 social worker could not be questioned about a conversation with the victim as the conversation fell within the sexual assault counselor-victim privilege created

¶3by section 90.5035, Florida Statutes. That section provides, in part:

“(1) For purposes of this section:

(a) A ‘rape crisis center’ is any public or private agency that offers assistance to victims of sexual assault or sexual battery and their families.

(b) A ‘sexual assault counselor’ is any employee of a rape crisis center whose primary purpose is the rendering of advice, counseling, or assistance to victims of sexual assault or sexual battery.

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(2) A victim has a privilege to refuse to disclose, and to prevent any other person from disclosing, a confidential communication made by the victim to a sexual assault counselor or any record made in the course of advising, counseling, or assisting the victim.... This privilege includes any advice given by the sexual assault counselor in the course of that relationship.”

¶4§ 90.5035(l)(a),(b),(2), Fla. Stat. (1999).

¶5The trial court found that PACE met the statutory definition of a “rape crisis center” and that the PACE social worker could be considered a “sexual assault counselor” as statutorily definéd. Consequently, the trial court held that the statutory sexual assault counselor-victim privilege applies. After a careful examination of the record, we cannot say that, under the circumstances presented, we disagree with the trial court’s factual findings regarding either the PACE Center for Girls, Inc. or its social worker.2

¶6Affirmed.