John David Cox, III v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: December 18, 2018
• Docket: 18A-CR-1428
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION FILED Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Dec 18 2018, 10:11 am Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as precedent or cited before any court except for the CLERK Indiana Supreme Court purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata, Court of Appeals and Tax Court collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE Brandon E. Murphy Curtis T. Hill, Jr. Cannon Bruns & Murphy Attorney General of Indiana Muncie, Indiana Matthew B. Mackenzie Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

John David Cox, III, December 18, 2018

Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Cause No. 18A-CR-1428 v. Appeal from the Blackford Circuit Court State of Indiana, The Honorable Dean A. Young, Judge Appellee-Plaintiff. Trial Court Cause No. 05C01-1712- F4-330

Riley, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1428 | December 18, 2018 Page 1 of 9 STATEMENT OF THE CASE [1] Appellant-Defendant, John Cox (Cox), appeals his conviction for child

molesting, a Level 4 felony, Ind. Code § 35-42-4-3(b).

[2] We affirm.

ISSUE [3] Cox presents one issue on appeal, which we restate as: Whether the State

presented sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to support his child

molesting conviction because the victim’s testimony was incredibly dubious.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY [4] In April 2015, Cox, R.C. (Mother), and Mother’s four children, including M.N.

born in 2007, moved to a house on Walnut Street, in Hartford City, Indiana.

Cox is not M.N.’s biological father. In 2017, M.N.’s family, as well as Cox,

moved out of the Walnut Street house and moved into a two-story house on

Elm Street in Hartford City, Indiana.

[5] While residing in the Elm Street house, Cox molested M.N. twice, once in her

bedroom and another time in the living room. During the bedroom incident,

M.N. had been watching television with her brother until they fell asleep. M.N.

was awakened by Cox, who pulled her short to the side, and then Cox put his

finger inside her vagina. Cox stopped when he heard Mother calling him.

During the second incident, M.N. was asleep on the couch in the living room.

M.N. was awakened by Cox who was touching her vagina with his fingers and

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1428 | December 18, 2018 Page 2 of 9 licking her vagina with his mouth. Meaning to escape, M.N. made an excuse

that she wanted to use the bathroom. Cox followed M.N. to the bathroom and

ordered M.N. to “squat naked” over his cellphone so that he could take a video

of her vagina. (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 23). Cox explained that he was

taking the video since he thought M.N. had “a bruise” in her vagina. (Tr. Vol.

II, p. 145). Cox threatened to hurt M.N. if she reported his actions to anyone.

[6] In August of 2017, M.N. disclosed the molestations to her aunt. M.N.’s aunt,

in turn, contacted the police. On August 28, 2017, M.N. was interviewed at a

Child Advocacy Center. During the interview, M.N. stated that she was eight-

years-old when Cox molested her while she and her family were residing at the

Walnut Street house. According to M.N., Cox molested her at least five times

in the Walnut Street house. M.N. also alleged that she was about nine-years-

old when Cox molested her on two occasions in the Elm Street house.

[7] On December 4, 2017, the State filed an Information, charging Cox with eight

Counts of child molesting, Level 4 felonies. On February 9, 2018, Cox filed a

motion to dismiss some of the charges on the basis that they were duplicative.

On March 12, 2018, the trial court conducted a hearing on Cox’s motion. The

following day, the trial court issued an order denying Cox’s motion, but stated

that it would reconsider its denial at the close of discovery. On April 2, 2018,

following discovery, Cox moved the trial court to reconsider its denial on his

motion to dismiss some of the duplicative charges. On May 2, 2018, after a

hearing, the trial court granted Cox’s motion by dismissing “Counts 2, 3, 4, 5,

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1428 | December 18, 2018 Page 3 of 9 7, and 8.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 119). For purposes of trial, the court

ordered that Count VI be renumbered as Count II.

[8] On May 15, 2018, a jury trial was conducted. M.N. testified that while residing

at the Elm Street house, Cox molested her once in the living room and once in

her bedroom. At the close of the evidence, the jury acquitted Cox on Count I,

but found him guilty on Count II. On June 11, 2018, the trial court conducted

a sentencing hearing and then ordered Cox to serve a six-year term in the

Department of Correction.

[9] Cox now appeals. Additional facts will be provided as necessary.

DISCUSSION AND DECISION [10] Cox’s sole argument on appeal is that the evidence is insufficient to support his

conviction. When reviewing a claim of insufficient evidence, it is well

established that our court does not reweigh evidence or assess the credibility of

witnesses. Walker v. State, 998 N.E.2d 724, 726 (Ind. 2013). Instead, we

consider all of the evidence, and any reasonable inferences that may be drawn

therefrom, in a light most favorable to the verdict. Id. We will uphold the

conviction “‘if there is substantial evidence of probative value supporting each

element of the crime from which a reasonable trier of fact could have found the

defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Id. (quoting Davis v. State, 813

N.E.2d 1176, 1178 (Ind. 2004)).

[11] To convict Cox of Level 4 felony child molesting conviction, the State was

required to establish that he, “with a child under fourteen (14) years of age, Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1428 | December 18, 2018 Page 4 of 9 perform[ed] or submit[ted] to any fondling or touching, of either [M.N. or

himself], with intent to arouse or to satisfy the sexual desires of either [M.N. or

himself.]” I.C. § 35-42-4-3(b). Cox does not argue that specific elements are

unsupported by sufficient evidence; instead, he argues that the rule of incredible

dubiosity renders the evidence insufficient as a whole.

[12] In general, the uncorroborated testimony of the victim is sufficient to sustain a

conviction. Bailey v. State, 979 N.E.2d 133, 135 (Ind. 2002). We may make an

exception, however, when that testimony is incredibly dubious. The incredible

dubiosity rule allows the reviewing court to impinge upon the factfinder’s

responsibility to judge the credibility of witnesses when confronted with

evidence that is “so unbelievable, incredible, or improbable that no reasonable

person could ever reach a guilty verdict based upon that evidence alone.”

Moore v. State, 27 N.E.3d 749, 751 (Ind. 2015). The rule is applied in limited

circumstances, namely where there is “1) a sole testifying witness; 2) testimony

that is inherently contradictory, equivocal, or the result of coercion; and 3) a

complete absence of circumstantial evidence.” Id. at 756. Application of the

incredible dubiosity rule is “rare and the standard to be applied is whether the

testimony is so incredibly dubious or inherently improbable that no reasonable

person could believe it.” Love v. State, 761 N.E.2d 806, 810 (Ind. 2002).

“[W]hile incredible dubiosity provides a standard that is ‘not impossible’ to

meet, it is a ‘difficult standard to meet, [and] one that requires great ambiguity

and inconsistency in the evidence.’” Moore, 27 N.E.3d at 756 (quoting Edwards

v. State, 753 N.E.2d 618, 622 (Ind. 2001)).

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1428 | December 18, 2018 Page 5 of 9 [13] M.N. and Mother were the only testifying witnesses for the State. Mother’s

testimony related to how many children she had, and where she and Cox had

resided during the existence of their relationship; but there was no inquiry as to

the child molesting claims made against Cox. As such, Mother’s testimony

would likely have been insufficient to find Cox guilty of the charged offenses.

Thus, the State only had M.N.’s testimony, who was the sole witness to the

child molesting incidents, to prove the elements of the crimes against Cox.

With that said, we find that the first Moore factor is satisfied. Furthermore, we

note the absence of circumstantial evidence to support Cox’s conviction and

conclude that the third Moore factor is equally satisfied.

[14] Nonetheless, Cox must show the remaining Moore factor, whether M.N.’s

testimony was inherently contradictory, equivocal, or the result of coercion, is

satisfied. See Moore, 27 N.E.3d at 758, (holding that each of the three factors

must be shown in order to invoke the incredible dubiosity rule.) We note that

there is no evidence—and Cox does not argue—that M.N.’s testimony was the

result of coercion. Cox primarily directs us to purported inconsistencies

between M.N.’s trial testimony and the statements she made before trial. For

example, Cox notes that at trial, M.N. admitted that she had lied to law

enforcement that Cox had covered her mouth and threatened her during the

molestation incidents. Cox continues to argue that M.N.’s pretrial statements

are littered with inconsistent accounts as to how many times Cox molested her,

“about who was present during the events,” or “whether the events occurred in

the fall or just before her tenth birthday.” (Appellant’s Br. p. 13).

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1428 | December 18, 2018 Page 6 of 9 [15] In the instant case, Cox was charged with two Level 4 felony child molesting

offenses. In Count I, the State alleged, in part, that “between July 11, 2015 and

July 11, 2016 . . . Cox did perform or submit to fondling or touching [] M.N, a

child under the age of fourteen years, to wit: . . .with intent to arouse or satisfy

sexual desires of the child or defendant.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 224). As

for Count II, the State claimed, in pertinent part, that “between July 11, 2016

and January 31, 2017. . . Cox did perform or submit to fondling or touching []

M.N, a child under the age of fourteen years, to wit: . . .with intent to arouse or

satisfy sexual desires of the child or defendant.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p.

225). At trial, Mother testified that as of April 2015, she, Cox, and her

children, including M.N., were living at the Walnut Street house. In January of

2017, Mother’s family moved to the Elm Street house. It appears from the

charging information, Count I related to the molestation that occurred at the

Walnut Street house, and Count II related to the molestation allegations that

occurred at the Elm Street house. The jury acquitted Cox on Count I but

convicted him on Count II. See Hoover v. State, 918 N.E.2d 724, 730 (Ind. Ct.

App. 2009) (holding that an acquittal on one count and a conviction on another

count survives a claim of inconsistency if there is sufficient evidence to support

the conviction), trans. denied.

[16] At trial, M.N. unequivocally and consistently testified that when she was living

in the Elm Street house, Cox molested her once in her bedroom and once in the

living room. For the bedroom incident, M.N. was asleep, and she was

awakened by Cox who pulled her shorts aside. Referring to her vagina as “hoo-

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1428 | December 18, 2018 Page 7 of 9 hoo,” M.N. testified that Cox touched the “inside” of her vagina with his

“fingers.” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 72). As for the living room incident, M.N. testified

that Cox touched her “[h]oo-hoo inside” with “his hand and mouth.” (Tr. Vol.

II, p. 73). M.N.’s clear, unequivocal testimony establishes the necessary

elements of the charged offense. See Fajardo v. State, 859 N.E.2d 1201, 1209

(Ind. 2007). (holding that despite the inconsistencies from an eleven-year-old

witness, the child’s clear and unequivocal testimony established the necessary

elements and the incredible dubiosity rule did not apply).

[17] Although Cox focuses on differences between M.N.’s statements to the Child

Advocacy Center and her deposition, M.N.’s trial testimony was not internally

inconsistent or inherently contradictory regarding the elements of the crime

alleged. We reiterate that the second prong is satisfied “only when the witness’s

trial testimony was inconsistent within itself, not [when] it was inconsistent

with other evidence or prior testimony.” Smith, 34 N.E.3d at 1221. In other

words, discrepancies between a witness’ testimony and earlier statements do

not render testimony incredibly dubious. Holeton v. State, 853 N.E.2d 539, 541-

42 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006). M.N.’s testimony on the important facts regarding

Cox’s molestation on Count II remained consistent. Accordingly, we conclude

that M.N.’s testimony was not inherently improbable or contradictory, thus, the

second Moore factor has not been established and we find that the incredible

dubiosity rule does not apply.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1428 | December 18, 2018 Page 8 of 9 CONCLUSION [18] For the reasons stated, we conclude that the incredible dubiosity rule does not

apply, and M.N.’s testimony was sufficient to support Cox’s child molesting

conviction. Therefore, we affirm.

[19] Affirmed.

[20] Kirsch, J. and Robb, J. concur

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1428 | December 18, 2018 Page 9 of 9