Dyson v. State

591 So. 2d 559, 1991 Ala. Crim. App. LEXIS 1296, 1991 WL 178215
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Alabama
DecidedJuly 26, 1991
DocketCR-90-196
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 591 So. 2d 559 (Dyson v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dyson v. State, 591 So. 2d 559, 1991 Ala. Crim. App. LEXIS 1296, 1991 WL 178215 (Ala. Ct. App. 1991).

Opinion

TYSON, Judge.

Jimmy Dyson was indicted for sodomy, second degree, in violation of § 13A-6-64, Code of Alabama 1975. The petit jury returned a verdict of “guilty as charged in the indictment.” After reviewing the pre-sentence report and conducting a hearing, the trial court sentenced Dyson to five years in prison, ordered him to pay a $3,500 fine, costs of court, and a $250 assessment to the Victims’ Compensation Fund.

The victim, F.D., testified that between December 1987 and March 1988 the appellant, her uncle, would come to her house while her parents were at work. F.D. stated that the appellant was in his forties and that she was 15 years old at the time. During these visits, they kissed on the mouth numerous times, and he often told her he loved her. The appellant also wrote letters to F.D. and she wrote to him once.

F.D. further testified that in January 1988 the appellant touched her on her breasts and told her that “he would like to suck it.” On this occasion, he also took her hand and placed it on his “hard” penis.

In February 1988, F.D. stated that the appellant came to her house at approximately 7:00 p.m. While she was laying in a recliner, the appellant came over and told her he was “fixing to eat her.” He took off her pants and panties. F.D. went on to testify that he “unzipped his pants and took his dick out, and he put his tongue in my vagina.” They redressed and the ap[561]*561pellant stayed with F.D. until her mother returned. ■

F.D. testified that the appellant gave her money and a bracelet. She also stated that he would telephone her or write her notes. One of the notes was found in the pocket of her jeans by her mother, and this prompted the investigation.

During his testimony, the appellant admitted to being alone with F.D. when they kissed. He also admitted to giving her money and to touching her breast.

I

Appellant first contends that the delay in the filing of F.D.’s complaint against him was so extensive that it does not support a conviction. Specifically, he claims that the delay creates doubt in the veracity of the prosecuting witness. However, after a review of the record, we feel the State here presented proof, which, if believed to the required degree, would overcome any staleness caused by delay of the complaining witness. Hunt v. State, 44 Ala.App. 479, 213 So.2d 664, cert. denied, 282 Ala. 727, 213 So.2d 666 (1968).

Furthermore, any delay in complaining has been held to affect only the credibility of the prosecutrix, which is a jury matter. Holloway v. State, 43 Ala.App. 153, 182 So.2d 906 (1965), cert. denied, 279 Ala. 688, 182 So.2d 910 (1966); Crosslin v. State, 446 So.2d 675, 680 (AIa.Cr.App.1983); Cumbo v. State, 368 So.2d 871, 876 (Ala.Cr.App.1978), writ denied, Ex parte Cumbo, 368 So.2d 877 (Ala.1979); Suggs v. State, 403 So.2d 309, 313 (Ala.Cr.App.1981), writ denied, Ex parte Suggs, 403 So.2d 313 (1981), cert. denied, 455 U.S. 938, 102 S.Ct. 1428, 71 L.Ed.2d 648 (1982).

II

The appellant next contends that the trial court erred in refusing to allow evidence of a prior grand jury proceeding into evidence. Specifically, he argues that the refusal to inform the jury that there had been two separate grand juries over a year apart misled the jury.

In July 1988, the Henry County, Alabama, grand jury indicted Dyson for first degree sexual abuse based on testimony and other evidence presented concerning the appellant’s sexual activities with F.D. The district attorney informed the trial court that this indictment was dismissed due to a typographical error relating to age made by his clerical staff. Thereafter, in August 1989, the grand jury indicted the appellant for second degree sodomy based on testimony and other evidence presented concerning the appellant’s activities with F.D. during the period covered by the earlier indictment.

The trial court did allow the appellant’s counsel to elicit testimony from F.D. for impeachment purposes, i.e., that she had testified twice before the grand jury. Also, the appellant’s counsel was allowed to elicit testimony from F.D. that before the first grand jury she testified that Dyson had touched her breasts and before the second grand jury she testified that they had engaged in oral sex.

However, the trial court ruled that the nature of the charge returned by the first grand jury was irrelevant allowing testimony concerning it and would confuse the trial jury. The Court allowed the appellant’s counsel to question F.D. concerning her testimony before the first grand jury, but not to ask what the charges were. The trial judge felt it was not proper to go into prior indictments that had been dismissed because of the confusion it would cause the jury. It is within the trial court’s discretion to determine what is material. If the Court’s ruling is correct for any reason, it will not be reversed on appeal. Duncan v. State, 436 So.2d 883, 903 (Ala.Cr.App.1983), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 1047, 104 S.Ct. 720, 79 L.Ed.2d 182 (1984); Collier v. State, 413 So.2d 396, 403 (Ala.Cr.App.1981), affirmed, 413 So.2d 403 (Ala.1982); Womack v. State, 555 So.2d 299 (Ala.Cr.App.1989).

Ill

Dyson next contends that a comment made by the trial court prejudiced the rights of the appellant and influenced the verdict of the jury. The comment occurred [562]*562during Deputy Sheriff Bobby Joe Elliott’s testimony. The State asked Mr. Elliott if he had read the letter Dyson had written to F.D., and the trial judge remarked:

“THE COURT: Ask him in that direction rather than—apparently he hasn’t read the letter closely.
“MR. BENNETT [defense counsel]: We object to that, Your Honor.
“THE COURT: Okay, he has read the letter closely.
“MR. VALESKA [prosecutor]: Thank you, Judge.
“THE COURT: You might develop it by another method other than what you’re doing.” (R. 168.)

The appellant did not make a motion to exclude nor did he make a motion for the jury to disregard the statement. Furthermore, because there was no adverse ruling on this matter, there is nothing for this Court to review. Hill v. State, 409 So.2d 943 (Ala.Cr.App.1981). Without a ruling, a request for a ruling, or an objection to the trial court’s failure to rule, there is nothing preserved for review. Moore v. State, 457 So.2d 981 (Ala.Cr.App.1984), cert. denied, 470 U.S. 1053, 105 S.Ct. 1757, 84 L.Ed.2d 820 (1985); Singleton v. State, 553 So.2d 689 (Ala.Cr.App.1989). As a result, this argument has not been preserved for our review.

IV

The appellant claims that the evidence was insufficient to sustain a conviction and that the trial court erred in denying his motion for judgment of acquittal. In this case, Dyson was convicted of sodomy in the second degree, in violation of § 13A-6-64, Code of Alabama 1975. In our opinion, the testimony of F.D. established every element of this offense. F.D. testified that she was 15 years old in February 1988 and that the appellant was in his forties. She further stated that Dyson “... took her pants and panties off, and he unzipped his pants and took his dick out, and he put his tongue in my vagina.”

“ ‘The standard for appellate review of the sufficiency of the evidence in a case such as this one was aptly set out in

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Bluebook (online)
591 So. 2d 559, 1991 Ala. Crim. App. LEXIS 1296, 1991 WL 178215, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dyson-v-state-alacrimapp-1991.