Mims v. State

434 S.E.2d 832, 209 Ga. App. 901, 93 Fulton County D. Rep. 2980, 1993 Ga. App. LEXIS 1030

• Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia
• Decided: July 16, 1993
• Docket: A93A0777
• Status: Published

Opinions

Blackburn, Judge.

The appellant, Arnold Mims, was tried before a jury and convicted of molesting his 13-year-old cousin. On appeal, he contends that the trial court erred in failing to give certain requested jury instructions.

At trial, the 13-year-old victim testified that around midnight on June 27, 1992, she was in her mother’s bedroom watching television. Her cousin, the defendant, entered the room, sat down in front of the television, and annoyed her by repeatedly hitting her on the back. As the victim attempted to move away, the defendant grabbed both of her hands and held them behind her back, and covered her mouth with one of his hands. He then put his tongue in her mouth and “kept on kissing” her. When the defendant eventually released her hands, the victim immediately started hitting him in the face. In response, the defendant forced his hand inside the victim’s shorts and stuck one finger in her vagina. The victim continued to strike the defendant, finally managed to push away from him, and ran out of the room.

The victim immediately told her brother what happened, and also told her stepfather who was awakened by the commotion. The defendant subsequently gave a custodial statement in which he remembered touching the victim, but not how he had touched her. He also explained the presence of a scratch under his left eye, as occurring while he was trying to hold the victim down. Other evidence adduced at trial showed that the defendant had been drinking on the night in question, and that the victim was upset and the defendant was crying when the police arrived.

1. The testimony of the victim in this case was sufficient to authorize a rational trier of fact to find Mims guilty of child molestation beyond a reasonable doubt. Saunders v. State, 195 Ga. App. 810 (1) (395 SE2d 53) (1990). In view of this evidence, the trial court did not err in failing to give Mims’s requested charge on simple battery as a lesser-included offense of the crime of child molestation. “Under this testimony, [Mims] either committed an act of child molestation or he did not. His testimony would not show that he had merely made physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with the victim rather than fondling her with the intent to arouse or satisfy his sexual desires. [Cit.] Accordingly, it was not error to refuse to give [this] requested instruction, [cits.]” Brooks v. State, 197 Ga. App. 194, 195 (1) (397 SE2d 622) (1990). See also Freeman v. State, 202 Ga. App. 185, 186 (2) (413 SE2d 774) (1991).

2. Based upon the above evidence, almost all of which constituted direct evidence, the defendant requested a jury charge on the general law of circumstantial evidence as codified at OCGA § 24-4-6. That Code section provides that “[t]o warrant a conviction on circumstantial evidence, the proved facts shall not only be consistent with the hypothesis of guilt, but shall exclude every other reasonable hypothesis save that of the guilt of the accused.” (Emphasis supplied.) This statute represents a codification of the rule requiring a charge on circumstantial evidence where the state’s case depends entirely upon circumstantial evidence, derived from Martin v. State, 38 Ga. 293 (1868); Carter v. State, 46 Ga. 637 (1872); and Simmons v. State, 85 Ga. 224 (11 SE 555) (1890),' which were such cases.

Based upon the three cases from which OCGA § 24-4-6 and its predecessor statutes were derived, it was originally intended to apply only to those cases that were based entirely upon circumstantial evidence. Subject to certain exceptions, subsequent cases held that the general rule is that unless the evidence relied upon for the conviction is entirely circumstantial, a jury charge under OCGA § 24-4-6 is not required. “Where, as here, there is some direct evidence against the defendant, it is not error to fail to charge on circumstantial evidence.” Terrell v. State, 258 Ga. 722 (373 SE2d 751) (1988).

However, the Supreme Court has held that “if the only direct evidence comes from a witness who has been impeached, it is reversible error to fail to charge on circumstantial evidence upon request.” (Emphasis in original.) Whittington v. State, 252 Ga. 168, 176 (313 SE2d 73) (1984); Horne v. State, 93 Ga. App. 345 (4) (91 SE2d 824) (1956). The theory underlying this rule was that where both direct and circumstantial evidence of the defendant’s guilt is admitted, and the jury is authorized to find that all the direct evidence in the form of witness testimony, has been impeached, the jury is left to determine the guilt or innocence of the defendant based solely on the circumstantial evidence, and therefore must have some guidance on the quantum of circumstantial evidence which will authorize a conviction. See Green v. State, 167 Ga. App. 548 (306 SE2d 354) (1983).

The Supreme Court noted in Robinson v. State, 261 Ga. 698 (410 SE2d 116) (1991), that it was impossible to determine whether the jury found the state’s witnesses had not been impeached and thus based its verdict on the direct evidence, or whether the jury found that the state’s witnesses had been impeached and thus based its verdict on circumstantial evidence (giving rise to a need for a jury charge on circumstantial evidence). To avoid such problems in the future, the Supreme Court devised the following rule: “[W]here the state’s case depends, in whole or in part, on circumstantial evidence, a charge on the law of circumstantial evidence must be given on request. This rule will apply whether or not the jury is authorized to find that the direct evidence presented by witness testimony has been impeached.” (Emphasis supplied.) Id. at 699-700.

The questions which must be answered in applying Robinson, are: what is the meaning of the word “depends” as used therein, and what charge on circumstantial evidence must be given, where a charge is required? It is only where the state’s case “depends” upon circumstantial evidence that such a jury charge becomes necessary. The state’s case “depends” upon circumstantial evidence only where such evidence is necessary to prove one of the essential elements of the offense for which the defendant is on trial. See Rash v. State, 207 Ga. App. 585 (5) (428 SE2d 799) (1993).

Robinson by no means requires a jury charge on the law of circumstantial evidence in every case in which some circumstantial evidence is adduced. See, e.g., Berry v. State, 262 Ga. 614 (422 SE2d 861) (1992), wherein the Supreme Court, citing Robinson, found no error in the trial court’s refusal to give a requested jury charge on circumstantial evidence that was not properly adjusted to the evidence in the case.

If the state had depended on a mixture of direct and circumstantial evidence to prove essential elements of the offense, no charge on circumstantial evidence would have been required absent a proper request to charge the law on circumstantial evidence adjusted to the facts of the case. There was no independent duty on the court to create and give a proper charge on circumstantial evidence, adjusted to the evidence of the case. It is only where the state relies wholly on circumstantial evidence that a charge on circumstantial evidence must be given without request. Gentry v. State, 208 Ga. 370 (66 SE2d 913) (1951); Campbell v. State, 202 Ga. 705 (44 SE2d 903) (1947). This rule has not been changed by Robinson.

Inasmuch as OCGA § 24-4-6, as written, applies only to cases in which the state depends entirely upon circumstantial evidence and the subject case involves a mixture of direct and circumstantial evidence, it was not error for the court to refuse to charge said Code section. Indeed, to have done so, would have misled the jury as OCGA § 24-4-6 provides, in part, “[t]o warrant a conviction on circumstantial evidence, . . .” (emphasis supplied) while the direct evidence in the instant case was sufficient to convict the defendant. Thus, the charge requested by the defendant was not adjusted to the evidence of this case (a mixture of direct and circumstantial evidence) and the court properly refused to give same. “If any portion of a requested charge is inapt, incorrect, misleading, confusing, not adequately adjusted or tailored, or not reasonably raised or authorized by the evidence, denial of the charge request is proper.” Harris v. State, 202 Ga. App. 618 (414 SE2d 919) (1992); Hill v. State, 259 Ga. 557 (3b) (385 SE2d 404) (1989).

Under OCGA § 16-6-4 (a), “[a] person commits the offense of child molestation when he does any immoral or indecent act to or in the presence of or with any child under the age of 14 years with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of either the child or the person.” In the instant case, the victim’s testimony and the defendant’s custodial statement constituted direct evidence which, standing alone, was sufficient to establish the defendant’s commission of this offense beyond a reasonable doubt. The circumstantial evidence presented in the case corroborated that direct evidence, but the state did not depend thereon to prove any of the essential elements of the offense of child molestation. Where the direct evidence alone suffices to establish the charged offense, and any circumstantial evidence is merely cumulative, no jury charge on circumstantial evidence is required even under Robinson. Rash v. State, supra.

In summary, the rule regarding a jury charge on circumstantial evidence set forth in Robinson v. State, supra, applies only where the state relies upon such evidence to prove one of the essential elements of the offense for which the defendant is on trial. The limited quantity of circumstantial evidence adduced in the instant case was not used or needed for that purpose, and thus no jury charge on circumstantial evidence was required under Robinson v. State, supra.

The current status of the law concerning charging the jury on circumstantial evidence can be stated as follows: (1) Where the state relies wholly on circumstantial evidence to prove its case a charge on circumstantial evidence as provided by OCGA § 24-4-6 is required, without request from the defendant; (2) Where the state relies on a mixture of direct and circumstantial evidence to prove essential elements of the charged offense, a proper charge on circumstantial evidence adjusted to the fact of there being mixed direct and circumstantial evidence is required, upon proper request, without regard to whether or not the state’s witnesses may have been impeached.

Moreover, as this court noted in Rash v. State, supra at 587, “there is yet another reason for not reversing this case for failure to charge the law of circumstantial evidence. That is, no other reasonable hypothesis save that of the guilt of the accused has been suggested. Should the case be retried so a jury can hear those words when no other reasonable hypothesis has been offered? Our answer is in the negative.” (Citations and punctuation omitted.)

Taken to its logical conclusion, in arguing that the rule set forth in Robinson v. State, supra, must always be applied when the state uses circumstantial evidence to establish criminal intent, the dissent’s position would require instructing the jury on the law of circumstantial evidence in every criminal case in which the defendant does not admit criminal intent. Proof of criminal intent, by its nature, must rely “upon consideration of the words, conduct, demeanor, motive, and all other circumstances connected with the . act for which the accused is prosecuted.” OCGA § 16-2-6. “ ‘Sometimes the intention can be proved, sometimes it can only be inferred or presumed. . . .’” Mallette v. State, 119 Ga. App. 24, 27 (165 SE2d 870) (1969).

However, “[w]hen the facts from which the inference of guilt or innocence is to be drawn are all established by direct proof, and only the intent with which the alleged criminal act was committed, or the degree of criminality, must be inferred, the trial judge, in the absence of a timely request, is not required to give in charge to the jury the usual rule applicable to circumstantial evidence, to the effect that if the proved facts are consistent with innocence, the defendant should be acquitted; this for the reason that every one is presumed to intend the natural and legitimate consequences of his acts.” Reddick v. State, 11 Ga. App. 150 (3) (74 SE 901) (1912); Hester v. State, 32 Ga. App. 81 (2) (122 SE 721) (1924).

Reddick and Hester indicate that the focus should be on the nature of the evidence used to show criminal intent. Where criminal intent may be demonstrated by direct evidence of the defendant’s commission of an offense, rather than by purely circumstantial evidence of such, there is no requirement to give the standard jury charge on circumstantial evidence codified at OCGA § 24-4-6. This is consistent with the long-standing rule that where there is some direct evidence against the defendant, it is not error to fail to charge on circumstantial evidence. See Terrell v. State, supra.

This court has already decided this issue, contrary to the dissent’s position, in Rash v. State, supra, wherein the defendant contended that the trial court erred in not giving a requested charge on circumstantial evidence because such (in the form of proof of his commission of a prior act of child molestation) was used to prove his criminal intent in his present prosecution. In response to that contention, we held that “even assuming that to be true, the ‘prior offense’ evidence was merely cumulative. The direct evidence, standing alone, was sufficient to prove appellant’s commission of a prohibited act with the requisite intent.” Id. at 587.

In Johnson v. State, 209 Ga. App. 632 (434 SE2d 169) (1993), we rejected the defendant’s contention that the trial court erred in failing to give a requested charge on the law of circumstantial evidence, which was used to show criminal intent. This court’s basis for rejecting that contention in Johnson was that the trial court’s standard jury charge on criminal intent, coupled with the instructions on presumption of innocence and the state’s burden of proof, substantially covered the same principle contained in OCGA § 24-4-6.

Review of the record in the instant case reveals that the trial court instructed the jury that “[i]ntent is an essential element of any crime and must be proved by the state beyond a reasonable doubt. A person will not be presumed to act with criminal intent but the jury may find such intention or the absence thereof upon a consideration of words, conduct, demeanor, motive and other circumstances connected with the act for which the accused is being prosecuted.” This is essentially the same charge on criminal intent as given in Johnson. Inasmuch as the trial court in the instant case also gave the standard jury charges on presumption of innocence and the state’s burden of proof, the same combination of jury charges exists in this case as in Johnson, and we conclude that the trial court’s jury charge in this case also substantially covered the same principle contained in OCGA § 24-4-6.

3. Mims’ remaining enumeration of error is without merit.

Judgment affirmed.

Pope, C. J., Beasley, P. J., Cooper and Johnson, JJ., concur. McMurray, P. J., Birdsong, P. J., and Andrews, J., concur specially. Beasley, P. J., also concurs specially. Smith, J., dissents.