Masaniai v. American Samoa Government

6 Am. Samoa 2d 114
CourtHigh Court of American Samoa
DecidedDecember 8, 1987
DocketAP No. 8-87
StatusPublished

This text of 6 Am. Samoa 2d 114 (Masaniai v. American Samoa Government) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering High Court of American Samoa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Masaniai v. American Samoa Government, 6 Am. Samoa 2d 114 (amsamoa 1987).

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

This is an appeal from the trial court’s decision convicting the appellant of the offenses of Sodomy and Sexual Abuse, in violation of A.S.C.A. ■§§ 46.3’611 and 46.3615 respectively.

The appellant present^ the following for appellate review: (1) whether the trial court violated the defendant’s right to a public trial by hearing the complainant witness’ testimony in camera; ('2) whether the government had adduced sufficient evidence to sustain the conviction of defendant; and (3) whether the .terms of probation imposed by the Court upon the defendant were violative’of A.S.C.A.. i 46.2201 et. seq.

Public Trial

[116]*116Appellant concedes that, while he is secured the fundamental right to public trial, this right-is not an absolute one. Appellant admits as settled law that the trial court has inherent power to exclude the public "when there is an overriding interest or existence of special or exceptional circumstances." It is argued that the trial court was without "genuine" reason to.conclude that there was an overriding interest or special and exceptional circumstances to justify the exclusion of the public, as well as defendant’s' family members, while hearing the testimony of complainant.

We disagree. Firstly, the applicable review standard in determining whether the record sufficiently supports the trial judge’s exclusion of spectators from the courtroom is whether there has been an abuse of discretion. United States v. Eisner, 533 F.2d 987 (6th Cir. 1976), cert. denied 429 U.S. 919. Further it is inveterate law that a trial judge may, .in the exercise of his discretion, exclude some or all of the spectators from^th^ courtroom while the testimony of a particular witness is being taken where it appears necessary to protect or 'shield the witness; to prevent embarrassment or emotional disturbance; or to enable the witness, who is otherwise reluctant in public, to testify to the facts that are material in the case. State v. Poindexter, 92 So.2d 390 (La. 1956); Kirstowsky v. Superior Court in and for Sonoma County, 300 P.2d 163 (Cal. App. 1956).

Examination of the record reveals that the trial judge carefully undertook a public hearing in accordance with the holding in Globe Newspaper Co. v. Superior Court, 457 U.S 596 (1982), seeking of every spectator who wished to remain in the courtroom his or her reasons for wanting to stay. Family members related to both the defendant and the complainant were the only people who requested to be present during the complainant’s testimony. The Court accorded each of these people the opportunity to be heard on the 'question of their exclusion, as well as hearing from the complainant to determine whether she needed shielding and protection. On the evidence taken, the trial judge articulated findings which, in the lower court’s view, sustained a closed hearing. The Court found that the immediate relatives clearly hoped to intimidate and influence the complainant. Exclusion of these relatives was therefore [117]*117necessary from the complainant’s point of view, as well as in the interests of enhancing the pcssibility of her testifying truthfully. The distant relatives who were excluded testified that they were curious as to what went on. 'The Court found this factor to be outweighed by the interest of the victim in not becoming an object of salacious curiosity. See Globe Newspaper Co., supra, 457 U.S. at 607-08. With the victim’s .age and the nature of the charges, the Court was also concerned with protecting her psychological well-being.

We find sufficient grounds articulated on the record to warrant a finding below to exclude spectators during the testimony of complainant and that there was no abuse of discretion on the part of the trial judge. Indeed, the compromise of the defendant’s rights (as well as the public’s first amendment right to be present in the courtroom) was limited to the taking of complainant’s testimony. The hearing thereafter was reopened to the public.

Sufficiencv of Evidence

We note at the outset the applicable standard for review as provided in A.S.C.A. § 46.2403(b). That is, findings of fact may not be set aside by the appellate division unless clearly erroneous.

Appellant excepts to his conviction for the offense of sodomy in the following manner. He contends that the offense is comprised of four elements: (1) deviate sexual intercourse; (2) with another person to whom he is not married; (3) without that person’s consent; (4) by using forcible 'compulsion.

Appellant concedes proof of elements one and two but objects to the sufficiency of proof of elements three and four.

The first observation to be made of appellant’s argument is that elements three and four are disjunctive, whereby proof of element three obviates the need for proof of four and viceversa.

Contrary to appellant’s claims, a conclusion by the trial court that complainant did not consent to the deviate sexual intercourse is clearly substantiated on the record. A.S.C.A. § [118]*11846.3111(4)(c) provides that consent or lack of consent may be expressed or implied, but that: "[a]ssent does not constitute consent if: it is induced by force, duress or deception . . . ." There was testimony relating to a history of vaginal checks imposed by the defendant upon the complainant. She had succumbed to these checks for fear of being beaten, as had'happened before. The incident which gave rise to the criminal charges was subsequent to a violent beating of the complainant by the defendant the afternoon beforehand, because complainant had remained after school for a volleyball game. She was subjected to a vaginal check the following morning” after the rest of the household (except for a year-old baby) had left. Defendant was insistent on checking the complainant’s virginity. When complainant was reluctant to allow the. defendant access, the defendant "yanked her legs apart" by "pushing both knees aside."

The background of checks by her father, enforced at times by beatings, together with his insistence on checking her virginity after remaining late at school and after being severely punished therefor, were all circumstances sufficient for the trial court to find the absence of consent.

Appellant further complains of insufficient showing as to all the elements of the offense of Sexual Abuse. The offense includes the element of "sexual contact," which requires a touching “for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire of any person." See A.S.C.A. § 46.3601(b). It is this element which appellant claims was not proven by the prosecution beyond a reasonable doubt.

We disagree. The record was again sufficient to sustain an inference of arousal or gratification of sexual desire, beyond the claims of clinical checking for virginity. Defendant took several minutes with his exercise, which first involved massaging of the pubic area and thighs. There was further massaging utilizing baby oil prior to defendant’s internal checking. Subsequent to his internal check, defendant continued with massaging as before.

The government’s case in chief thus provided adequate evidence to withstand a motion for acquittal, while the record at the close of, [119]*119evidence also substantially supported the conclusions of guilt.

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Related

United States v. Callie Blaine Eisner
533 F.2d 987 (Sixth Circuit, 1976)
United States v. Joseph Michael Rice, Jr.
645 F.2d 691 (Ninth Circuit, 1981)
Kirstowsky v. Superior Court
300 P.2d 163 (California Court of Appeal, 1956)
State v. Poindexter
92 So. 2d 390 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1956)
People v. Tedford
445 N.E.2d 841 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1983)

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Bluebook (online)
6 Am. Samoa 2d 114, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/masaniai-v-american-samoa-government-amsamoa-1987.