COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA UNPUBLISHED
Present: Judges Huff, Athey and Fulton Argued at Lexington, Virginia
CALEB RASHAAD NOWLIN MEMORANDUM OPINION* BY v. Record No. 1691-22-3 JUDGE GLEN A. HUFF NOVEMBER 8, 2023 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF CAMPBELL COUNTY John T. Cook, Judge
Charles F. Felmlee (Chuck Felmlee Law, P.C., on brief), for appellant.
Virginia B. Theisen, Senior Assistant Attorney General (Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.
Following a bench trial in the Campbell County Circuit Court (the “trial court”), Caleb
Rashaad Nowlin (“appellant”) was convicted of raping a child under the age of 13, in violation of
Code § 18.2-61. The trial court sentenced appellant to 40 years’ incarceration with all but 10 years
suspended. On appeal, appellant argues that the trial court erred in finding the evidence sufficient to
sustain his conviction. For the following reasons, this Court affirms the trial court’s judgment.
* This opinion is not designated for publication. See Code § 17.1-413(A). BACKGROUND1
When S.M. was four years old, her father began dating appellant’s mother.2 For several
years, S.M. lived with her father and appellant’s mother in their North Carolina home, where
appellant frequently visited. In October 2019, S.M., her father, and appellant’s mother moved to
Campbell County, Virginia. Appellant followed them to Campbell County in December of that
year.
S.M.’s relationship with appellant was initially “like brother [and] sister,” but changed when
she turned 11 years old. At that time, appellant had a conversation with S.M. in which he told her
that she was his “girlfriend.” S.M. did not want to be his girlfriend. Appellant also wrote numerous
letters to S.M., wherein he proclaimed his love, complimented her, and reminisced about their
relationship. This inappropriate behavior towards S.M. started in North Carolina and continued
after the move to Campbell County.
One day during S.M.’s sixth grade school year, she was alone with appellant in her father’s
Campbell County home.3 She was playing a board game by herself in appellant’s bedroom when
appellant suddenly entered the room, pushed S.M. down onto his bed, and began to take her pants
off. He then flipped S.M. onto her stomach, removed his pants, and put his penis inside her vagina.
S.M. attempted to get away, but appellant continued to push her onto the bed, telling her to “shut
1 On appeal, this Court recites the facts “in the ‘light most favorable’ to the Commonwealth, the prevailing party in the trial court.” Hammer v. Commonwealth, 74 Va. App. 225, 231 (2022) (quoting Commonwealth v. Cady, 300 Va. 325, 329 (2021)). In doing so, this Court “discard[s] the evidence of the accused in conflict with that of the Commonwealth, and regard[s] as true all the credible evidence favorable to the Commonwealth and all fair inferences to be drawn therefrom.” Cady, 300 Va. at 329 (quoting Commonwealth v. Perkins, 295 Va. 323, 324 (2018)). 2 S.M. was born in March 2007. This Court refers to the child victim here by her initials in an attempt to protect her privacy. 3 While S.M. could not remember the exact date of the assault, she was certain it occurred while she was in sixth grade and that she turned 12 years old in the spring of that school year. -2- up.” S.M. “blacked out” and could not remember the rest of the assault. As S.M. later recounted at
trial, appellant had sexually assaulted her on both prior and subsequent occasions.
In May 2021, S.M.’s mother found love letters in S.M.’s room written to S.M. from
appellant. She confronted S.M. about the letters before contacting law enforcement. Campbell
County Sheriff Investigator Guthrie interviewed appellant, who admitted to writing the letters. He
told Investigator Guthrie that he wanted to induce S.M. to fall in love with him as revenge for
perceived mistreatment of his mother by S.M.’s father. When confronted with S.M.’s allegations of
sexual assault, appellant responded that “whatever the evidence shows, . . . that’s what it is.”
Appellant’s defense at trial rested on the inconsistencies between S.M.’s statements and the
timeline of offenses presented by the Commonwealth. He moved to strike the Commonwealth’s
evidence, arguing that it was insufficient to sustain a conviction because S.M. could not remember
her exact age when the rape occurred. The trial court denied appellant’s motion, but took the matter
under advisement before making a final ruling in the case. The trial court later determined that the
evidence was sufficient and that S.M.’s testimony was credible despite its inconsistencies. The
court then convicted appellant of rape under Code § 18.2-61 and sentenced him to 40 years’
incarceration with all but 10 years suspended. This appeal followed.
ANALYSIS
“When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, ‘[t]he judgment of the trial court is
presumed correct and will not be disturbed unless it is plainly wrong or without evidence to support
it.’” McGowan v. Commonwealth, 72 Va. App. 513, 521 (2020) (alteration in original) (quoting
Smith v. Commonwealth, 296 Va. 450, 460 (2018)). “In such cases, ‘[t]he Court does not ask itself
whether it believes that the evidence at the trial established guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Id.
(alteration in original) (quoting Secret v. Commonwealth, 296 Va. 204, 228 (2018)). “Rather, the
relevant question is whether ‘any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the
-3- crime beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Vasquez v. Commonwealth, 291 Va. 232, 248 (2016) (quoting
Williams v. Commonwealth, 278 Va. 190, 193 (2009)). “If there is evidentiary support for the
conviction, ‘the reviewing court is not permitted to substitute its own judgment, even if its opinion
might differ from the conclusions reached by the finder of fact at the trial.’” McGowan, 72
Va. App. at 521 (quoting Chavez v. Commonwealth, 69 Va. App. 149, 161 (2018)).
Appellant argues that the Commonwealth’s evidence was insufficient to sustain a conviction
because it did not prove the alleged offense occurred in Virginia. S.M. asserted that the rape
occurred while she was in sixth grade, at which time appellant contends he still lived in North
Carolina. He claims that S.M.’s testimony thus demonstrates that the offense could not have
occurred in Campbell County, Virginia, while she was under the age of 13 because he did not move
there until the following year. Accordingly, appellant argues that the Commonwealth’s evidence
established a set of inconsistent facts—that the sexual assault occurred during S.M.’s sixth grade
year and that appellant did not live at the Campbell County address during that time—which cannot
support his conviction. This Court disagrees.
A reviewing court “must accept the ‘[fact finder]’s determination of the credibility of
witness testimony unless, “as a matter of law, the testimony is inherently incredible.”’” Hammer v.
Commonwealth, 74 Va. App. 225, 239 (2022) (quoting Lambert v. Commonwealth, 70 Va. App.
740, 759 (2019)); see also Kelley v. Commonwealth, 69 Va. App. 617, 626 (2019) (holding that any
“‘inconsistencies in testimony are resolved by the fact finder,’ not the appellate court” (quoting
Towler v. Commonwealth, 59 Va. App. 284, 292 (2011))). Furthermore, a fact finder’s evaluations
of credibility are not limited to choosing between competing accounts offered by different
witnesses. See, e.g., Hamilton v. Commonwealth, 279 Va.
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COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA UNPUBLISHED
Present: Judges Huff, Athey and Fulton Argued at Lexington, Virginia
CALEB RASHAAD NOWLIN MEMORANDUM OPINION* BY v. Record No. 1691-22-3 JUDGE GLEN A. HUFF NOVEMBER 8, 2023 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF CAMPBELL COUNTY John T. Cook, Judge
Charles F. Felmlee (Chuck Felmlee Law, P.C., on brief), for appellant.
Virginia B. Theisen, Senior Assistant Attorney General (Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.
Following a bench trial in the Campbell County Circuit Court (the “trial court”), Caleb
Rashaad Nowlin (“appellant”) was convicted of raping a child under the age of 13, in violation of
Code § 18.2-61. The trial court sentenced appellant to 40 years’ incarceration with all but 10 years
suspended. On appeal, appellant argues that the trial court erred in finding the evidence sufficient to
sustain his conviction. For the following reasons, this Court affirms the trial court’s judgment.
* This opinion is not designated for publication. See Code § 17.1-413(A). BACKGROUND1
When S.M. was four years old, her father began dating appellant’s mother.2 For several
years, S.M. lived with her father and appellant’s mother in their North Carolina home, where
appellant frequently visited. In October 2019, S.M., her father, and appellant’s mother moved to
Campbell County, Virginia. Appellant followed them to Campbell County in December of that
year.
S.M.’s relationship with appellant was initially “like brother [and] sister,” but changed when
she turned 11 years old. At that time, appellant had a conversation with S.M. in which he told her
that she was his “girlfriend.” S.M. did not want to be his girlfriend. Appellant also wrote numerous
letters to S.M., wherein he proclaimed his love, complimented her, and reminisced about their
relationship. This inappropriate behavior towards S.M. started in North Carolina and continued
after the move to Campbell County.
One day during S.M.’s sixth grade school year, she was alone with appellant in her father’s
Campbell County home.3 She was playing a board game by herself in appellant’s bedroom when
appellant suddenly entered the room, pushed S.M. down onto his bed, and began to take her pants
off. He then flipped S.M. onto her stomach, removed his pants, and put his penis inside her vagina.
S.M. attempted to get away, but appellant continued to push her onto the bed, telling her to “shut
1 On appeal, this Court recites the facts “in the ‘light most favorable’ to the Commonwealth, the prevailing party in the trial court.” Hammer v. Commonwealth, 74 Va. App. 225, 231 (2022) (quoting Commonwealth v. Cady, 300 Va. 325, 329 (2021)). In doing so, this Court “discard[s] the evidence of the accused in conflict with that of the Commonwealth, and regard[s] as true all the credible evidence favorable to the Commonwealth and all fair inferences to be drawn therefrom.” Cady, 300 Va. at 329 (quoting Commonwealth v. Perkins, 295 Va. 323, 324 (2018)). 2 S.M. was born in March 2007. This Court refers to the child victim here by her initials in an attempt to protect her privacy. 3 While S.M. could not remember the exact date of the assault, she was certain it occurred while she was in sixth grade and that she turned 12 years old in the spring of that school year. -2- up.” S.M. “blacked out” and could not remember the rest of the assault. As S.M. later recounted at
trial, appellant had sexually assaulted her on both prior and subsequent occasions.
In May 2021, S.M.’s mother found love letters in S.M.’s room written to S.M. from
appellant. She confronted S.M. about the letters before contacting law enforcement. Campbell
County Sheriff Investigator Guthrie interviewed appellant, who admitted to writing the letters. He
told Investigator Guthrie that he wanted to induce S.M. to fall in love with him as revenge for
perceived mistreatment of his mother by S.M.’s father. When confronted with S.M.’s allegations of
sexual assault, appellant responded that “whatever the evidence shows, . . . that’s what it is.”
Appellant’s defense at trial rested on the inconsistencies between S.M.’s statements and the
timeline of offenses presented by the Commonwealth. He moved to strike the Commonwealth’s
evidence, arguing that it was insufficient to sustain a conviction because S.M. could not remember
her exact age when the rape occurred. The trial court denied appellant’s motion, but took the matter
under advisement before making a final ruling in the case. The trial court later determined that the
evidence was sufficient and that S.M.’s testimony was credible despite its inconsistencies. The
court then convicted appellant of rape under Code § 18.2-61 and sentenced him to 40 years’
incarceration with all but 10 years suspended. This appeal followed.
ANALYSIS
“When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, ‘[t]he judgment of the trial court is
presumed correct and will not be disturbed unless it is plainly wrong or without evidence to support
it.’” McGowan v. Commonwealth, 72 Va. App. 513, 521 (2020) (alteration in original) (quoting
Smith v. Commonwealth, 296 Va. 450, 460 (2018)). “In such cases, ‘[t]he Court does not ask itself
whether it believes that the evidence at the trial established guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Id.
(alteration in original) (quoting Secret v. Commonwealth, 296 Va. 204, 228 (2018)). “Rather, the
relevant question is whether ‘any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the
-3- crime beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Vasquez v. Commonwealth, 291 Va. 232, 248 (2016) (quoting
Williams v. Commonwealth, 278 Va. 190, 193 (2009)). “If there is evidentiary support for the
conviction, ‘the reviewing court is not permitted to substitute its own judgment, even if its opinion
might differ from the conclusions reached by the finder of fact at the trial.’” McGowan, 72
Va. App. at 521 (quoting Chavez v. Commonwealth, 69 Va. App. 149, 161 (2018)).
Appellant argues that the Commonwealth’s evidence was insufficient to sustain a conviction
because it did not prove the alleged offense occurred in Virginia. S.M. asserted that the rape
occurred while she was in sixth grade, at which time appellant contends he still lived in North
Carolina. He claims that S.M.’s testimony thus demonstrates that the offense could not have
occurred in Campbell County, Virginia, while she was under the age of 13 because he did not move
there until the following year. Accordingly, appellant argues that the Commonwealth’s evidence
established a set of inconsistent facts—that the sexual assault occurred during S.M.’s sixth grade
year and that appellant did not live at the Campbell County address during that time—which cannot
support his conviction. This Court disagrees.
A reviewing court “must accept the ‘[fact finder]’s determination of the credibility of
witness testimony unless, “as a matter of law, the testimony is inherently incredible.”’” Hammer v.
Commonwealth, 74 Va. App. 225, 239 (2022) (quoting Lambert v. Commonwealth, 70 Va. App.
740, 759 (2019)); see also Kelley v. Commonwealth, 69 Va. App. 617, 626 (2019) (holding that any
“‘inconsistencies in testimony are resolved by the fact finder,’ not the appellate court” (quoting
Towler v. Commonwealth, 59 Va. App. 284, 292 (2011))). Furthermore, a fact finder’s evaluations
of credibility are not limited to choosing between competing accounts offered by different
witnesses. See, e.g., Hamilton v. Commonwealth, 279 Va. 94, 105 (2010). Rather, the fact finder is
often called to resolve conflicts within a single witness’s testimony, as in the case at hand, which
includes the power to accept the parts of the testimony deemed credible and reject the portions
-4- deemed incredible. See Commonwealth v. McNeal, 282 Va. 16, 22 (2011). Here, the trial court—
sitting as trier of fact—determined that S.M.’s testimony was credible and that any perceived
inconsistencies were not fatal to the Commonwealth’s case. This Court finds no basis in the record
for overturning that ruling.
S.M. consistently testified that the rape occurred in her father’s home in Campbell County,
Virginia. She was also consistent in her testimony that the rape occurred before she was 13 years
old.4 It was uncontested that between December 2019 and March 2020, appellant lived in Campbell
County, and that S.M. was 12 years old. The record reflects that S.M. would have been in sixth
grade for the 2018-2019 school year but would likely have been in seventh grade during the events
she described. Nevertheless, she remained under the age of 13 until March 2020. The trial court
was free to resolve the conflict in the evidence regarding which grade she was in at the time of the
offense without having to find S.M.’s testimony incredible. See McNeal, 282 Va. at 21-22. The
trial court also found that appellant’s love letters and statements to Investigator Guthrie corroborated
S.M.’s testimony regarding her age at the time of the rape.
In addressing the inconsistency in S.M.’s testimony, the trial court acknowledged that a
fifteen-year-old witness will “say some things that are a little bit different” on cross-examination,
but noted that S.M. “clearly said under oath she was under thirteen” and “there was nothing to
contradict [her].”5 See Kelley, 69 Va. App. at 626 (“Testimony may be contradictory or contain
inconsistencies without rising to the level of being inherently incredible as a matter of law.”).
4 Appellant asserts that, during cross-examination, S.M. was unable to remember her exact age at the time of the offense. That statement, however, is not inherently inconsistent with her continuing assertion that she was under the age of 13—that age threshold being the relevant factor in the trial court’s consideration of appellant’s guilt pursuant to Code § 18.2-61. 5 The court ruled similarly at a later hearing, indicating that it was “not surprising” that the testimony of a 15-year-old girl might have “some inconsistencies.” S.M. was 15 years old when she testified at trial. -5- Moreover, the trial court found that “there was clearly opportunity for [the offense] to [have
occurred] in Campbell County” during one of appellant’s frequent visits to S.M.’s Virginia home,
regardless of when appellant officially changed his own address. Considering the totality of the
evidence and the trial court’s findings, this Court cannot say that no rational fact finder could have
found appellant guilty under Code § 18.2-61 for raping a child under the age of 13.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Affirmed.
-6-