State v. Allo

510 So. 2d 14
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedMay 1, 1987
Docket87-KA-18
StatusPublished
Cited by15 cases

This text of 510 So. 2d 14 (State v. Allo) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Allo, 510 So. 2d 14 (La. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinion

510 So.2d 14 (1987)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
Murphy ALLO.

No. 87-KA-18.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fifth Circuit.

May 1, 1987.
Rehearing Denied August 17, 1987.

*16 Ralph L. Barnett, George P. Vedros, Gretna, for defendant/appellant.

Louise Korns, of counsel, Dorothy A. Pendergast, Asst. Dist. Atty., Research & Appeals, New Courthouse Annex, Gretna, for State.

Before CHEHARDY, BOWES and WICKER, JJ.

BOWES, Judge.

This appeal arises from a six-person jury verdict of guilty of attempted obscenity in violation of LSA-R.S. 14:27, 14:106. Defendant appeals.

A bill of information was filed charging defendant with a violation of L.R.S. 14:106, in that he did "willfully and unlawfully commit the crime of obscenity in that he did indecently and publicly expose his penis in a place open to the view of people and the public at large with the intent of arousing sexual desires." At the conclusion of the trial, a six-person jury returned a verdict of guilty of attempted obscenity (L.R.S. 14:27, 14:106).

Defendant was sentenced to serve a term of six months without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence in the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center. Defendant was also ordered to pay a fine of $250.00, plus costs. This appeal was subsequently filed. We affirm the conviction but annul the sentence and remand the case for resentencing.

The crucial, factual, testimony of this case is conflicting and determinative of the jury's verdict. The victim, Nicole Gross, 13 years old at the time of the incident, testified that on June 10, 1985, while she was outside, the defendant called her over to his house, which is enclosed by a wooden fence six feet high, to ask her if she would feed his dog for him while he and his family went on vacation. After Nicole agreed, Allo closed the gate and proceeded to show her where the dog food was. The victim further testified that he then showed her how to use the water hose and, when he did that, he lifted his leg up against the wall and his penis fell out of his gym shorts. When Nicole saw this happen, she testified that she was shaken up, but thought perhaps it was an accident.

At this initial encounter, defendant and Nicole were talking inside his closed wooden gate, which the testimony showed to be 6 feet high and the "width of a driveway." Nicole testified that she then went home, but, about twenty minutes later, the defendant called her back over to his house and that this time he was sitting in a chair about a foot and a half to two feet behind his gate, which was open. She said she could see him from her lawn across the street. When she was approaching his gate and about six feet away from him, she noticed he was exposing himself (his penis). She testified that this could be seen from outside the gate and that she thought Allo intentionally exposed himself the second time.

Allo testified that the first time he saw Nicole that day he did call her over to his house to discuss feeding his dog, but at no time was he aware that he was exposed to her. However, he also testified that the second time Nicole came over she did so on her own volition to ask him where his wife was and when she would be returning. He stated that, while this exchange took place, he was partially kneeling on the ground working on his lawn mower and did not pay much attention to Nicole, and that at no time did he expose himself to her.

Defendant presents six assignments of error:

1. The Trial Court committed reversible error by denying defense counsel's request to call to the stand Mr. Milton Bourne.
2. The Trial Court committed reversible error in denying defense counsel's Motion for a Mistrial.
3. The Trial Court committed reversible error by not allowing defendant to show a possible motive for the mother of the victim to lie.
*17 4. The Trial Court committed reversible error in failing to quash the Bill of Information.
5. The Trial Court committed reversible error in the sentencing of the defendant.
6. Errors patent on the face.

Assignment of Error No. 1

Defendant contends that after the sequestration of witnesses was ordered in this case, he became aware of the possibility that someone who had been sitting through the trial could be a witness for the defense. As the sequestration order was in effect, the trial judge refused to allow the individual to testify.

The sequestration rule is contained in LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 764 and reads in pertinent part:

Art. 764. Exclusion and conduct of witnesses
A. Upon its own motion, the court may, and upon request of the state or the defendant the court shall, order that the witnesses be excluded from the courtroom or from where they can see or hear the proceedings and refrain from discussing the facts of the case or the testimony of any witness with anyone other than the district attorney or defense counsel. The court may modify its order in the interest of justice.

The purpose of this article is to prevent witnesses from being influenced by the testimony of earlier witnesses and to strengthen the role of cross-examination in developing the facts. The trial judge, in his discretion, may determine the disqualification of a witness when a rule of sequestration has been violated. State v. Narcisse, 426 So.2d 118 (La.1983), cert. den. Narcisse v. Louisiana, 464 U.S. 865, 104 S.Ct. 202, 78 L.Ed.2d 176 (1983), rehearing den. 464 U.S. 1004, 104 S.Ct. 515, 78 L.Ed.2d 702 (1983). Ordinarily, the trial judge's ruling will not be disturbed on appeal absent a clear showing of abuse of discretion. There are, of course, certain constitutional limitations on the exercise of that discretion. See State v. Warren, 437 So.2d 836 (La.1983).

In the present case, the precluded testimony did not go to the actual occurrence, but rather went to the demeanor of the victim after the alleged occurrence. Although the evidence would be relevant to impeach the testimony of the State's witnesses, it does not shed any light on whether defendant actually committed the offense; therefore, it does not appear the exclusion of the evidence would have any effect on the jury's verdict. Furthermore, the defendant took the stand and testified in his own behalf and also called several other witnesses to testify in his behalf. More importantly, because the individual listened to all the testimony, there is a great probability that his testimony would be tainted.

The exclusion of the sought-after testimony does not affect the substantial rights of the accused in regard to whether or not the offense was committed. Accordingly, we find no error in the trial judge's ruling, but, if there was any, we hold it to be harmless. This assignment lacks merit.

Assignment of Error No. 2

During cross-examination of Wendy Johnson, one of the victim's friends who had been called by the defense, the prosecutor asked her if she had ever told anyone that the defendant gave her the creeps and that he looked at her like he was trying to take her clothes off of her. Defense counsel objected to this line of questioning as being prejudicial in that it tended to attack the reputation of the defendant, which was not at issue, and then moved for a mistrial. Defendant contends that a mistrial should have been granted pursuant to LSA-C. Cr.P. art. 770[1] and art. 775.[2]

*18

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Bluebook (online)
510 So. 2d 14, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-allo-lactapp-1987.