NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION
STATE OF LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT
23-705
STATE OF LOUISIANA
VERSUS
QUINTIN M. SMITH
**********
APPEAL FROM THE TWELFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF AVOYELLES, NO. 230404 B HONORABLE WILLIAM J. BENNETT, DISTRICT JUDGE
GUY E. BRADBERRY JUDGE
Court composed of Candyce G. Perret, Gary J. Ortego, and Guy E. Bradberry, Judges.
AFFIRMED. Charles A. Riddle, III District Attorney Anthony F. Salario Andrea Ducote Aymond Assistant District Attorneys Twelvth Judicial District Court P.O. Box 1200 Marksville, LA 71351 (318) 253-6587 COUNSEL FOR: State of Louisiana
Edward K. Bauman LA Appellate Project P.O. Box 1641 Lake Charles, LA 70602-1641 (337) 491-0570 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT: Quintin M. Smith BRADBERRY, Judge.
On February 17, 2022, Defendant, Quintin M. Smith, was charged by bill of
indictment with first degree rape of a victim under the age of thirteen, in violation
of La.R.S. 14:42. On November 29, 2022, Defendant was convicted as charged by
a unanimous jury verdict. Defendant filed a “Motion for New Trial, Motion to
Continue Sentencing Hearing, & Request for Transcript of Trial” on May 23, 2023.
The motion for new trial and motion to continue were both denied at a hearing. After
waiving the sentencing delays, Defendant was sentenced to the mandatory term of
life imprisonment at hard labor without the benefit of parole, probation, or
suspension of sentence. The trial court granted Defendant’s “Notice of Appeal with
Designation of Record and Motion to Appoint Appellate Counsel” on June 14, 2023,
and he is now before this court alleging one assignment of error. For the following
reasons, we affirm Defendant’s conviction.
FACTS
Between 2013 and 2016, Defendant raped his daughter, Q.S., who was under
the age of thirteen at the time of the offense.1
ERRORS PATENT
In accordance with La.Code Crim.P. art. 920, all appeals are reviewed for
errors patent on the face of the record. After reviewing the record, we find there are
no errors patent.
1 The victim’s initials are used in accordance with La.R.S. 46:1844(W). ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
In his sole assignment of error, Defendant argues that the evidence was
insufficient to find him guilty of first degree rape. This court has discussed the
standard of reviewing claims of insufficient evidence as follows:
When the issue of sufficiency of evidence is raised on appeal, the reviewing court determines whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); State v. Mussall, 523 So.2d 1305 (La.1988). Discretion in determinations of credibility is vested in the jury, which may accept or reject testimony within the bounds of rationality, and we will only impinge upon its discretion “to the extent necessary to guarantee the fundamental protection of due process of law.” Mussall, 523 So.2d at 1310. Thus, other than ensuring the sufficiency evaluation standard of Jackson, “the appellate court should not second-guess the credibility determination of the trier of fact,” but rather, it should defer to the rational credibility and evidentiary determinations of the jury. State v. Ryan, 07-504, p. 2 (La.App. 3 Cir. 11/7/07), 969 So.2d 1268, 1270 (quoting State v. Lambert, 97-64, p. 5 (La.App. 3 Cir. 9/30/98), 720 So.2d 724, 727).
....
. . . “Louisiana jurisprudence has consistently held that the testimony of the victim alone can be sufficient to establish the elements of a sexual offense, even if there is no physical evidence.” State v. Simon, 10-1111, p. 7 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/13/11), 62 So.3d 318, 323 (quoting State v. Leyva-Martinez, 07-1255, pp. 6–7 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/30/08), 981 So.2d 276, 282, writ denied, 08-1200 (La. 1/30/09), 999 So.2d 747), writ denied, 11-1008 (La. 11/4/11), 75 So.3d 922. Further, “[i]n the absence of internal contradiction or irreconcilable conflict with physical evidence, one witness’ testimony, if believed by the trier of fact, is sufficient support for a requisite factual conclusion.” State v. Robinson, 02-1869, p. 16 (La. 4/14/04), 874 So.2d 66, 79, cert. denied, 543 U.S. 1023, 125 S.Ct. 658, 160 L.Ed.2d 499 (2004).
State v. Thomas, 17-959, pp. 13–15 (La.App. 3 Cir. 9/26/18), 255 So.3d 1189, 1199–
1200 (alteration in original), writ denied, 18-1757 (La. 4/22/19), 268 So.3d 294, writ
denied, 18-1662 (La. 4/22/19), 268 So.3d 303.
2 At the time of the commission of the offense, La.R.S. 14:41 defined rape as2:
A. Rape is the act of anal, oral, or vaginal sexual intercourse with a male or female person committed without the person’s lawful consent.
B. Emission is not necessary, and any sexual penetration, when the rape involves vaginal or anal intercourse, however slight, is sufficient to complete the crime.
C. For purposes of the Subpart, “oral sexual intercourse” means the intentional engaging in any of the following acts with another person:
(1) The touching of the anus or genitals of the victim by the offender using the mouth or tongue of the offender.
(2) The touching of the anus or genitals of the offender by the victim using the mouth or tongue of the victim.
Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:42 defined first degree rape, in pertinent part,
as3:
A. First degree rape is a rape committed upon a person sixty-five years of age or older or where the anal, oral, or vaginal sexual intercourse is deemed to be without lawful consent of the victim because it is committed under any one or more of the following circumstances:
(4) When the victim is under the age of thirteen years. Lack of knowledge of the victim’s age shall not be a defense.
The first witness to testify at trial was Detective Michael Cammack with the
Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office. For the last several years, Detective Cammack
investigated special victim crimes which he indicated involved allegations of
2 Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:41 has since been amended. 2022 La. Acts No. 173, § 1. However, it is well-settled that “the law in effect at the time of the commission of the offense” applies. State v. Sugasti, 01-3407, p. 4 (La. 6/21/02), 820 So.2d 518, 520.
3 Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:42 has since been amended. 2022 La. Acts No. 173, § 1. Again, “the law in effect at the time of the commission of the offense” applies. Sugasti, 820 So.2d at 520.
3 physical or sexual abuse to children. On August 2, 2021, a report was made that
alleged Defendant engaged in indecent behavior with a fourteen-year-old child, Q.S.
Detective Cammack’s investigation revealed the alleged sexual misconduct
occurred when the child was six to nine years old. After Detective Cammack
contacted the Child Advocacy Center (CAC), a forensic interview with Q.S. was
conducted on August 6, 2021. According to Detective Cammack, Q.S. disclosed
sexual acts committed by her father which, based on his education and experience,
constituted first degree rape and molestation of a juvenile. Detective Cammack said
in the case of delayed reporting, it is not often that the police can recover physical
evidence. Delayed reporting is not uncommon for children, especially when the
perpetrator is related to the victim. Detective Cammack testified that Defendant was
in his thirties at the time.
Rebecca Mayeux was a sex offender coordinator with the Avoyelles Parish
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION
STATE OF LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT
23-705
STATE OF LOUISIANA
VERSUS
QUINTIN M. SMITH
**********
APPEAL FROM THE TWELFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF AVOYELLES, NO. 230404 B HONORABLE WILLIAM J. BENNETT, DISTRICT JUDGE
GUY E. BRADBERRY JUDGE
Court composed of Candyce G. Perret, Gary J. Ortego, and Guy E. Bradberry, Judges.
AFFIRMED. Charles A. Riddle, III District Attorney Anthony F. Salario Andrea Ducote Aymond Assistant District Attorneys Twelvth Judicial District Court P.O. Box 1200 Marksville, LA 71351 (318) 253-6587 COUNSEL FOR: State of Louisiana
Edward K. Bauman LA Appellate Project P.O. Box 1641 Lake Charles, LA 70602-1641 (337) 491-0570 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT: Quintin M. Smith BRADBERRY, Judge.
On February 17, 2022, Defendant, Quintin M. Smith, was charged by bill of
indictment with first degree rape of a victim under the age of thirteen, in violation
of La.R.S. 14:42. On November 29, 2022, Defendant was convicted as charged by
a unanimous jury verdict. Defendant filed a “Motion for New Trial, Motion to
Continue Sentencing Hearing, & Request for Transcript of Trial” on May 23, 2023.
The motion for new trial and motion to continue were both denied at a hearing. After
waiving the sentencing delays, Defendant was sentenced to the mandatory term of
life imprisonment at hard labor without the benefit of parole, probation, or
suspension of sentence. The trial court granted Defendant’s “Notice of Appeal with
Designation of Record and Motion to Appoint Appellate Counsel” on June 14, 2023,
and he is now before this court alleging one assignment of error. For the following
reasons, we affirm Defendant’s conviction.
FACTS
Between 2013 and 2016, Defendant raped his daughter, Q.S., who was under
the age of thirteen at the time of the offense.1
ERRORS PATENT
In accordance with La.Code Crim.P. art. 920, all appeals are reviewed for
errors patent on the face of the record. After reviewing the record, we find there are
no errors patent.
1 The victim’s initials are used in accordance with La.R.S. 46:1844(W). ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
In his sole assignment of error, Defendant argues that the evidence was
insufficient to find him guilty of first degree rape. This court has discussed the
standard of reviewing claims of insufficient evidence as follows:
When the issue of sufficiency of evidence is raised on appeal, the reviewing court determines whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); State v. Mussall, 523 So.2d 1305 (La.1988). Discretion in determinations of credibility is vested in the jury, which may accept or reject testimony within the bounds of rationality, and we will only impinge upon its discretion “to the extent necessary to guarantee the fundamental protection of due process of law.” Mussall, 523 So.2d at 1310. Thus, other than ensuring the sufficiency evaluation standard of Jackson, “the appellate court should not second-guess the credibility determination of the trier of fact,” but rather, it should defer to the rational credibility and evidentiary determinations of the jury. State v. Ryan, 07-504, p. 2 (La.App. 3 Cir. 11/7/07), 969 So.2d 1268, 1270 (quoting State v. Lambert, 97-64, p. 5 (La.App. 3 Cir. 9/30/98), 720 So.2d 724, 727).
....
. . . “Louisiana jurisprudence has consistently held that the testimony of the victim alone can be sufficient to establish the elements of a sexual offense, even if there is no physical evidence.” State v. Simon, 10-1111, p. 7 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/13/11), 62 So.3d 318, 323 (quoting State v. Leyva-Martinez, 07-1255, pp. 6–7 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/30/08), 981 So.2d 276, 282, writ denied, 08-1200 (La. 1/30/09), 999 So.2d 747), writ denied, 11-1008 (La. 11/4/11), 75 So.3d 922. Further, “[i]n the absence of internal contradiction or irreconcilable conflict with physical evidence, one witness’ testimony, if believed by the trier of fact, is sufficient support for a requisite factual conclusion.” State v. Robinson, 02-1869, p. 16 (La. 4/14/04), 874 So.2d 66, 79, cert. denied, 543 U.S. 1023, 125 S.Ct. 658, 160 L.Ed.2d 499 (2004).
State v. Thomas, 17-959, pp. 13–15 (La.App. 3 Cir. 9/26/18), 255 So.3d 1189, 1199–
1200 (alteration in original), writ denied, 18-1757 (La. 4/22/19), 268 So.3d 294, writ
denied, 18-1662 (La. 4/22/19), 268 So.3d 303.
2 At the time of the commission of the offense, La.R.S. 14:41 defined rape as2:
A. Rape is the act of anal, oral, or vaginal sexual intercourse with a male or female person committed without the person’s lawful consent.
B. Emission is not necessary, and any sexual penetration, when the rape involves vaginal or anal intercourse, however slight, is sufficient to complete the crime.
C. For purposes of the Subpart, “oral sexual intercourse” means the intentional engaging in any of the following acts with another person:
(1) The touching of the anus or genitals of the victim by the offender using the mouth or tongue of the offender.
(2) The touching of the anus or genitals of the offender by the victim using the mouth or tongue of the victim.
Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:42 defined first degree rape, in pertinent part,
as3:
A. First degree rape is a rape committed upon a person sixty-five years of age or older or where the anal, oral, or vaginal sexual intercourse is deemed to be without lawful consent of the victim because it is committed under any one or more of the following circumstances:
(4) When the victim is under the age of thirteen years. Lack of knowledge of the victim’s age shall not be a defense.
The first witness to testify at trial was Detective Michael Cammack with the
Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office. For the last several years, Detective Cammack
investigated special victim crimes which he indicated involved allegations of
2 Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:41 has since been amended. 2022 La. Acts No. 173, § 1. However, it is well-settled that “the law in effect at the time of the commission of the offense” applies. State v. Sugasti, 01-3407, p. 4 (La. 6/21/02), 820 So.2d 518, 520.
3 Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:42 has since been amended. 2022 La. Acts No. 173, § 1. Again, “the law in effect at the time of the commission of the offense” applies. Sugasti, 820 So.2d at 520.
3 physical or sexual abuse to children. On August 2, 2021, a report was made that
alleged Defendant engaged in indecent behavior with a fourteen-year-old child, Q.S.
Detective Cammack’s investigation revealed the alleged sexual misconduct
occurred when the child was six to nine years old. After Detective Cammack
contacted the Child Advocacy Center (CAC), a forensic interview with Q.S. was
conducted on August 6, 2021. According to Detective Cammack, Q.S. disclosed
sexual acts committed by her father which, based on his education and experience,
constituted first degree rape and molestation of a juvenile. Detective Cammack said
in the case of delayed reporting, it is not often that the police can recover physical
evidence. Delayed reporting is not uncommon for children, especially when the
perpetrator is related to the victim. Detective Cammack testified that Defendant was
in his thirties at the time.
Rebecca Mayeux was a sex offender coordinator with the Avoyelles Parish
Sheriff’s Office. One of her duties included registering convicted sex offenders who
resided or worked in Avoyelles Parish. Deputy Mayeux testified that Defendant had
been convicted of attempted indecent behavior with a juvenile on November 10,
2009. 4 Following his release from prison, Defendant registered as a Tier-1 sex
offender on July 30, 2013. Deputy Mayeux stated that a Tier-1 sex offender had to
register once a year for fifteen years. The State introduced the certified court minutes
from Defendant’s prior conviction into evidence.
Kelly Cleveland was a forensic interviewer at the CAC in Alexandria. Ms.
Cleveland interviewed Q.S. on August 6, 2021, when Q.S. was fourteen years old.
4 According to the bill of indictment, Defendant had been charged with the aggravated rape of K.P., a victim under the age of thirteen, on October 23, 2008. Aggravated rape is now designated as first degree rape. “[A]ny reference to the crime of aggravated rape is the same as a reference to the crime of first degree rape.” La.R.S. 14:42(E).
4 The recorded interview was entered into evidence without objection as State’s
Exhibit 2 and played for the jury. In the CAC interview, Q.S. said she was six when
Defendant got out of jail, and Defendant began inappropriately touching her shortly
thereafter. Because she was excited to have her father back home, she did not say
anything about the touching. Q.S. said she had recently been told by her birth mother
that Defendant had been in jail for raping her older sister, a fact which her
grandmother confirmed.
Q.S. said that when she was about nine years old, she had a nightmare and
went into Defendant’s bedroom to sleep with him. Defendant tried to put his “thing”
in her butt but stopped; he went to use the bathroom and then went back to bed. She
said the touching usually happened when her grandmother was gone, but if her
grandmother was home, Defendant would touch her while putting her to bed for the
night. One time, Defendant was watching porn when Q.S. entered the room. Q.S.
said she did not want to “do it” with Defendant, so she “compromised” by giving
Defendant a blowjob. According to Q.S., a blowjob was when she put her mouth or
her hand on his “thing” until he “came.” Q.S. stated Defendant would also touch his
“thing,” would rub his “thing” against her private part, and would try to “push his
thing in as far as it would go.” Q.S. clarified that Defendant put his “thing” in her
butthole or “other hole,” which she said was painful. On the day prior to the CAC
interview, Q.S. said that Defendant called her to say he was going to “off himself”
if he went back to prison. Q.S. did not want Defendant to go back to prison.
At trial, Q.S. said her date of birth was October 26, 2006. Q.S. testified that
she had lived with her grandmother, who she sometimes called mom, for most of her
life. At one point, Q.S. lived in the same house as Defendant. She could not recall
5 exactly when she lived with him, but she testified that it was when he got out of jail.
Q.S. thought she was around five or six years old.
A. For the most part I would have to give him BJs, if you know what that is.
Q. No, can you tell us, I’m sorry we ... just to make sure everybody has the same understanding.
A. Blow jobs.
Q. O.K. Did any part of your dad’s body go into any part of your body?
A. He would ... very much so try... I remember one of the times I had a nightmare so I went [to] sleep with him and he tried to take advantage of me. And I had woke up in the middle of it.
Q. How had he tried to take advantage of you, [Q.S.]?
A. He ... he ... I was ... (tearing up) I’m sorry...
Q. Let me ask you this. Did any ... at any time did your dad’s private parts touch any of your private parts?
A. Yes.
Q. Did his front private part ever touch any of your private parts?
Q. Can you tell me which of your private parts, your dad’s front private part touched?
A. You mean when he ... like what do you call it, I don’t know if I should [say] a kid[’]s term for it.
Q. However you can.
A. The vagina.
Q. Did his private part go inside of your vagina?
A. He would try most part he could just get the top and I’d try to push him off a little bit.
6 Q. How did that make you feel, [Q.S.]?
A. Oh it hurt.
Q.S. said she would tell Defendant if it started hurting her, but he would try
“to push a little bit more.” Q.S. could not recall whether Defendant’s “front private
part” ever went into her behind, but she said it did go into her mouth. According to
Q.S., this happened a lot. Defendant told Q.S. not to tell anyone because he might
get in trouble and have to go back to jail. Q.S. did not want him to go back to jail,
which was one reason she did not tell anyone about the sexual misconduct. The first
adult she told was her birth mother. After Q.S. identified Defendant in the
courtroom, the following colloquy ensued:
Q. We’re almost finished. So [Q.S.], . . . when did it stop, about how old were you?
A. Nine.
Q. And that’s when you moved?
A. NO VERBAL RESPONSE...
Q. And his private part did touch, go inside your front girl’s private part?
A. Not fully but yes.
Q. And also in your mouth?
On cross-examination, defense counsel asked Q.S. about her statement during
the CAC interview where she indicated that she wanted to live with her birth mother
when Ms. Cleveland asked Q.S. what she wanted to happen with the case. Q.S. had
not lived with her birth mother since she was about one year old. Q.S. said that she
went to live with her birth mother for a period of time when she started having
arguments with her grandmother.
7 Q. So earlier Ms. Aymond, the one that was just talking to you, asked you about whether any of your dad’s private parts went into your ... any of your private parts, you said not in the like front area yes but back area no. Is that what I understood you to say?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. O.K. Because on the video you did say there [were] lots of times it happened in the back area as well.
A. I could be mistaken because I had given and talked to the child services whenever and did all that. But the most part I tried to forget about it …
Q.S. thought Defendant had went to jail for “a rape or sexual assault against
one of [her] older siblings[,]” but she did not know the whole story or whether it was
true. Q.S. believed her sibling was her birth mother’s child. Q.S. said that
everything she said at trial was true. Following Q.S.’s testimony, the State rested its
case-in-chief.
Defendant testified in his own defense. Defendant said Q.S. was a “pretty
decent child” and was attached to his hips. However, he said that it got a bit rougher
when Q.S. became a teenager. Defendant testified he had pled guilty to attempted
indecent behavior with a juvenile, because he was threatened with a life sentence
and did not have anyone to fight for him. Defendant served five years in prison and
got released when Q.S. was almost seven years old. Defendant had sole custody of
Q.S. until his mother, Jane Smith, adopted her. Defendant denied that he did any of
the things Q.S. accused him of doing. He said Q.S.’s “mother is quite manipulative
and she’s attempted this before which is the reason I went [and] did time the first
time.”
On cross-examination, the State asked Defendant about his prior conviction.
The bill of indictment alleged he committed oral sexual intercourse with K.P., a child
under the age of thirteen. Defendant said K.P. was his stepdaughter. According to
8 Defendant, Samantha Percell accused him of having her daughter, K.P., give him
blowjobs. Samantha Percell was also Q.S.’s birth mother. The State questioned
Defendant about the relationship between Q.S. and her birth mother:
Q. All right. So it’s your contention that when she became a teenager she had some contact with her mother [for the] first time in a long time and all of a sudden all this stuff gets developed?
A. Correct.
Q. And that’s just your idea? I mean you didn’t play any role in any conversations or hear of any conversations anything like that?
A. No, never.
Q. That’s your justification for describing what your daughter is saying about you?
A. Exactly.
Defendant said it was possible that Samantha taught Q.S. the sexual terms and
helped her fabricate the different locations, acts, and bad dreams to frame him.
Defendant indicated that he did not have custody of Q.S., and Samantha did not have
custody of Q.S. The defense called no further witnesses and rested its case.
In brief to this court, Defendant summarizes his argument as follows:
The jury chose to accept the testimony of QS, that her father, Mr. Smith, had her perform oral sex on him, and that Mr. Smith also attempted vaginal sex, at the very least. As QS’s testimony was internally inconsistent on key issues, it could not form the sole basis for a conviction. The evidence introduced at trial was based upon statements made by QS, with no other evidence offered to corroborate even a portion of her testimony. Although QS’s allegations touch one’s paternal or maternal instincts, they lacked the specificity or reliability that should be required to sustain a conviction on charges that carry a sentence of mandatory life imprisonment.
For these reasons, the State failed to carry its burden of proving the necessary elements of the charged offense of first degree rape beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, Mr. Smith’s conviction should be reversed, his sentence should be vacated, and a judgment of acquittal should be entered.
9 Defendant calls Q.S.’s credibility into question insomuch as her trial
testimony was inconsistent with her statements during the CAC interview, and there
were no corroborating witnesses called to testify. During the CAC interview, Q.S.
reported anal penetration. Specifically, she said Defendant tried to put his “thing in
[her] butt.” At trial, Q.S. testified that Defendant tried to put his “thing” in her
vagina but could not recall whether Defendant attempted anal penetration.
Defendant also notes that Q.S.’s birth mother, grandmother, other family members,
and friends were not called to testify for corroboration. Based on the conflict
between Q.S.’s CAC statements and her trial testimony, Defendant suggests there
are internal contradictions and irreconcilable conflicts which cause reasonable doubt
to exist in this case.
The State proposes the testimony of the victim alone is sufficient to establish
the elements of the offense, and credibility determinations are within the province
of the jury as the trier of fact. Q.S. gave consistent accounts of the rape to her mother
and in her CAC interview, and she continued to be detailed and consistent in her trial
testimony. Thus, the evidence was sufficient to support Defendant’s conviction. In
support of its argument, the State cites State v. Mangrum, 20-243 (La.App. 1 Cir.
2/22/21), 321 So.3d 986, writ denied, 21-401 (La. 10/1/21), 324 So.3d 1050.
Therein, the defendant noted that even though the victim testified, she did not
remember details or the statements she gave to interviewers, the victim did not say
in her initial interview that the defendant touched her private parts, the victim’s
mother denied the victim ever told her the defendant touched her private parts, and
the victim testified that her mother did nothing about the allegations but told
interviewers that her mother stabbed the defendant when she found out. The
defendant argued that due to the victim’s admitted untruths and her grandmother’s
10 ability to influence her, the victim’s credibility was questionable. The first circuit
affirmed the conviction because it could not say that the jury’s verdict was irrational
under the facts and circumstances presented.
We find the evidence presented was sufficient to prove sexual intercourse
beyond a reasonable doubt. Q.S. affirmatively testified that Defendant penetrated
her vagina, which she said was painful, and Q.S. testified that she performed oral
sexual intercourse on Defendant at his insistence. Though Defendant claims there
is a fatal inconsistency as to whether anal penetration occurred, that argument raises
the issue of credibility.
In State v. Craft, 22-553, p. 24 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/1/23), 355 So.3d 1237, 1253
(alteration in original), writ denied, 23-287 (La. 10/10/23), 371 So.3d 456, this court
said:
Physical and scientific evidence are not required to convict Defendant. The victim’s testimony alone can be sufficient to establish the elements of a sexual offense. State v. Thacker, 13-516, p. 15 (La.App. 3 Cir. 1/28/15), 157 So.3d 798, (quoting “State v. Ware, 11-337, p. 4 (La.App. 3 Cir. 11/23/11), 80 So.3d 593, 597, writs denied, 11-1391 (La. 3/9/12), 84 So.3d 549, and 12-46 (La. 8/22/12), 97 So.3d 358).
Furthermore, the testimony of a single witness is sufficient to support a conviction “[i]n the absence of internal contradiction or irreconcilable conflicts with physical evidence.” State v. Dixon, 04-1019, p. 12 (La.App. 5 Cir. 3/15/05), 900 So.2d 929, 936. The trier of fact may accept or reject the testimony of any witness, and the determination of the credibility of that witness, in whole or in part, is left to its sound discretion and “will not be re-weighed on appeal.” Id. at 936.
State v. F.B.A., 07-1526, p. 2 (La.App. 3 Cir. 5/28/08), 983 So.2d 1006, 1009, (alteration in original), writ denied, 08-1464 (La. 3/27/09), 5 So.3d 138.
The jury heard any minor contradictions between the precise details of the
rape. Q.S. consistently reported that Defendant vaginally raped her, though she
11 could not recall anal penetration at trial. There were several years between the date
of the offense and trial. The jury was free to ascribe Q.S.’s trial testimony however
much weight it judged reasonable, or no weight at all if it found Defendant’s
testimony more credible. The record supports the jury’s findings, and the
jurisprudence has consistently held that it is not this court’s function “to assess the
credibility of witnesses or to reweigh the evidence.” State v. Barton, 22-642, p. 5
(La.App. 3 Cir. 2/15/23), 357 So.3d 907, 912 (citing State v. Smith, 94-3116 (La.
10/16/95), 661 So.2d 442). The evidence, when viewed in a light most favorable to
the prosecution, was sufficient to prove Defendant committed a first degree rape
upon Q.S.
Accordingly, we affirm Defendant’s conviction.
CONCLUSION
Defendant’s conviction is affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
This opinion is NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION. Uniform Rules—Courts of Appeal, Rule 2–16.3.