Hoover v. State

582 N.E.2d 403, 1991 Ind. App. LEXIS 2102, 1991 WL 257511
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedDecember 9, 1991
Docket90A05-9101-CR-00028
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 582 N.E.2d 403 (Hoover v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hoover v. State, 582 N.E.2d 403, 1991 Ind. App. LEXIS 2102, 1991 WL 257511 (Ind. Ct. App. 1991).

Opinion

RUCKER, Judge.

William P. Hoover was convicted of three counts of child molesting, 1 as Class C felonies. Hoover presents twenty-three issues for our review which we consolidate and rephrase as:

1. Did the trial court err in finding the child witnesses competent to testify?

2. Did the trial court err in denying Hoover’s motion for psychiatric examination of the child witnesses?

3. Did the trial court err in admitting videotaped statements into evidence?

4. Did the trial court err in refusing to give Hoover’s tendered jury instruction concerning the special status of child witnesses?

5. Did the trial court abuse its discretion in denying Hoover's motion for change of judge?

6. Did the trial court err by admitting into evidence testimony of the mothers of three of the child witnesses over Hoover’s hearsay objection?

7. Did the trial court err in denying Hoover’s motion for mistrial?

We affirm. 2

*406 William and Betty Hoover, husband and wife, served as baby sitters for several children. Among them were P.J., H.C., L.C., and D.C. The Hoovers, whom the children called “Grandpa Bill” and “Grandma Betty,” frequently allowed the children to spend the night, took the children on outings, and regularly escorted the children to church on Sundays.

In January, 1989, D.C. told her mother that her “bottom” was sore. D.C. explained that Grandpa Bill (Hoover) touched her; however, the touching was a secret. D.C. told her mother that Hoover had also touched H.C. and L.C., but asked her mother not to tell Grandma Betty because she would get angry with them. That evening, D.C.’s mother telephoned the mother of eight-year old H.C. and three-and-a-half-year-old L.C. and advised her of D.C.’s comments. H.C. started crying when her mother began questioning her. The police were contacted immediately.

Within a few days, Officer Teresa Oxley of the Hartford City Police Department met with D.C., H.C., and another child, P.J. and conducted a videotaped interview. Over a year later, In April, 1990, Officer Oxley also conducted a videotaped interview with L.C. During the videotaped interviews, each of the girls recounted instances of Hoover touching their buttocks, vaginal areas, and chests under their clothing. At trial, the videotapes of D.C., H.C., and L.C. were admitted into evidence without objection. P.J. testified in person.

Hoover testified in his own defense and admitted grabbing the children inside their clothing, tickling and squeezing their groin areas and buttocks, touching P.J.’s chest while tickling her, and rubbing L.C.’s chest under her clothing. However, Hoover denied he engaged in such conduct with the intent to arouse his or the children’s sexual desires.

I.

Hoover alleges the trial court erred in determining the State’s minor witnesses were competent to testify at trial.

The test of competency of a witness is whether the witness has sufficient mental capacity to perceive, to remember and to narrate the incident observed and to understand and appreciate the obligation of an oath. Hughes v. State (1989), Ind., 546 N.E.2d 1203, 1209. It is the trial court’s responsibility to determine whether a witness is competent to testify and the trial court’s decision will only be reversed for a manifest abuse of discretion. Brewer v. State (1990), 562 N.E.2d 22.

Eleven-year-old P.J. was the only child witness called to testify at trial. The oath was administered and P.J. testified Hoover touched her in her “private parts” and went on to explain she was referring to her vagina and breasts. Record at 986-87. P.J. also testified that she observed Hoover touch H.C., D.C. and L.C. on their breasts and that most of the times the touching was under their clothing, but sometimes it occurred on top of their clothing. Record at 989.

Carol Mott, a therapist with Family Services of Marion, Indiana testified P.J. was referred to her for counseling after a report of sexual abuse. Without objection, Mott testified P.J. was not prone to exaggerate or fantasize about sexual matters, and that P.J. had no motivation to harm Hoover.

The record before us amply demonstrates P.J. had sufficient mental capacity to perceive, to remember and to narrate the incident concerning Hoover’s conduct. The record also demonstrates P.J. had the ability to understand and appreciate the obligation of an oath. The trial court did not err in determining P.J. was competent to testify at trial.

Hoover next claims Ind.Code § 34-1-14-5 establishes a rebuttable presumption that H.C., D.C. and L.C. were incompetent witnesses and the State failed to overcome that presumption. Under this statute children under the age of ten are not competent witnesses unless it appears that they understand the nature and obligation of an oath.

Trial began in this case on July 31, 1990. Effective July 1, 1990, I.C. § 34-1-14-5 *407 was amended by P.L. 37-1990. The amendment deleted the provision relating to children under ten years of age. Hence, for purposes of competency, a child witness is treated no differently than any other witness. Ordinarily, the test for competency is whether the witness has sufficient mental capacity to perceive, to remember and to narrate the incident observed and to understand and appreciate the nature and obligation of an oath. Hughes, supra. It is within the discretion of the trial court to determine competency of a witness and we will reverse the court’s decision only upon a showing of abuse of discretion. Id.

We first note, whether H.C., D.C. and L.C. could “understand and appreciate the nature and obligation of an oath” is not relevant to this case. The State filed a petition to introduce into evidence the out-of-court videotaped statements of H.C., D.C., and L.C. pursuant to Ind.Code § 35-37-4-6. Under this statute, a videotape statement of a child may be introduced into evidence, provided other statutory conditions are met, even where the child is “incapable of understanding the nature and obligation of an oath.” Ind.Code § 35-37-4-6(d). However, despite the statute, H.C., D.C., and L.C. did “understand and appreciate the nature and obligation of an oath.” 3

The videotapes clearly show each of the children had the mental capacity to perceive, to remember, to recount their experiences and to demonstrate what happened to them. The trial court did not abuse its discretion by determining the child witnesses were competent to testify.

II.

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Bluebook (online)
582 N.E.2d 403, 1991 Ind. App. LEXIS 2102, 1991 WL 257511, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hoover-v-state-indctapp-1991.