State v. Bey

857 So. 2d 1268, 2003 WL 22336023
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedOctober 15, 2003
Docket03-277
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 857 So. 2d 1268 (State v. Bey) 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. Bey, 857 So. 2d 1268, 2003 WL 22336023 (La. Ct. App. 2003).

Opinion

857 So.2d 1268 (2003)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
Felton Cofield BEY.

No. 03-277.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit.

October 15, 2003.

*1270 Robert Richard Bryant Jr., District Attorney, Carla Sue Sigler Esq., Assistant District Attorney, Lake Charles, LA, for Plaintiff/Appellee-State of Louisiana.

Kenota Pulliam Johnson, La. Appellate Project, Shreveport, LA, for Defendant/Appellant-Felton Cofield Bey.

Court composed of ULYSSES GENE THIBODEAUX, SYLVIA R. COOKS, and BILLY HOWARD EZELL, Judges.

THIBODEAUX, Judge.

The Defendant, Felton Cofield Bey, appeals his conviction by a jury of molestation of a juvenile, a violation of La.R.S. 14:81.2, on the basis of insufficiency of the evidence and his sentence of eight years at hard labor, with four years suspended, on the basis of excessiveness.

We reject both contentions and affirm his conviction and sentence.

FACTS

The Defendant was dating V.M., the mother of the victim.[1] He visited her residence while V.M. was at work and enticed J.M. into her mother's bedroom. Once inside the room, the Defendant began "tongue kissing" J.M. and rubbing her breast and vaginal areas. J.M. testified that he implored her to avoid writing about his actions in her diary as this would implicate him. Part of the incident was witnessed by L.M., J.M.'s sister. J.M. also told her what had happened. L.M. promptly telephoned their mother.

The Defendant denied touching J.M. in any manner.

SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE

The Defendant contends the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support the conviction of molestation of a juvenile. The Defendant specifically contends that he did not molest the victim and the testimony at trial was hearsay and inconsistent.

In reviewing sufficiency claims, this court has made the following observations:

When the issue of sufficiency of evidence is raised on appeal, the critical inquiry of the reviewing court is 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), rehearing denied, 444 U.S. 890, 100 S.Ct. 195, 62 L.Ed.2d 126 (1979); State ex rel. Graffagnino v. King, 436 So.2d 559 (La.1983); State v. Duncan, 420 So.2d 1105 (La.1982); State v. Moody, 393 So.2d 1212 (La.1981). It is the role of the fact finder to weigh the respective credibility of the witnesses, and therefore, the appellate court should not second guess the credibility determinations of the triers of fact beyond the sufficiency evaluations under the Jackson standard of review. See State ex rel. Graffagnino [v. King], 436 So.2d 559 [La.1983], (citing State v. Richardson, 425 So.2d 1228 (La.1983)). In order for this Court to affirm a conviction, however, the record must reflect that *1271 the state has satisfied its burden of proving the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.

State v. Kennerson, 96-1518, p. 5 (La. App. 3 Cir. 5/7/97), 695 So.2d 1367, 1371.

State v. Paddio, 2002-722, p. 2 (La.App. 3 Cir. 12/11/02); 832 So.2d 1120, 1123.

When circumstantial evidence is used to prove the commission of the offense, La.R.S. 15:438 mandates that "assuming every fact to be proved that the evidence tends to prove, in order to convict, it must exclude every reasonable hypothesis of innocence." This is not a purely separate test from the Jackson sufficiency standard to be applied instead of a sufficiency of the evidence test whenever circumstantial evidence forms the basis of the conviction. Ultimately, all evidence, both direct and circumstantial must be sufficient under Jackson to satisfy a rational juror that the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

State v. Rosiere, 488 So.2d 965, 968 (La. 1986).

State v. Oxley, 00-1523, p. 2 (La.App. 3 Cir. 5/16/01); 802 So.2d 35, 37.

The Defendant was convicted of molestation of a juvenile, a violation of La.R.S. 14:81.2.

To convict a defendant of molestation of a juvenile, the state must prove: (1) the defendant is a person over the age of 17; (2) the victim is a person under the age of 17; (3) there is an age difference of at least two years between the persons; (4) the defendant committed a lewd or lascivious act upon the person or in the presence of the victim; (5) the defendant committed such act with the intention of arousing or gratifying the sexual desires of either the defendant or the victim; and (6) the defendant committed the act either by the use of (a) force, violence, duress, menace, psychological intimidation, or threat of great bodily harm, or (b) influence by virtue of a position of control or supervision over the victim. (Citations omitted).

State v. Mickens, 31,737, p. 3 (La.App. 2 Cir. 3/31/99); 731 So.2d 463, 466.

Age

J.M. testified that she was twelve years old on November 15, 1998. The Defendant testified that his oldest child was thirty-five. Obviously, the Defendant exceeds the age of seventeen. Thus, there is an age difference of at least two years between the Defendant and J.M.

Lewd or Lascivious Act

The trial court chose to believe the testimony of J.M. regarding the specific acts of the Defendant. He denied those acts. The trier of fact made a credibility determination which we shall not disturb.

Intention of Arousing or Gratifying Sexual Desires

Quite simply, the acts of intrusion under the shirt and bra and touching of the breasts and vaginal area were sufficient to prove the essential element of specific intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire.

Supervision

The record is replete with evidence supporting the acts of Defendant in babysitting the minor children of V.M., assigning chores to them, and disciplining them. L.M. described Defendant as "pretty much of a father figure." Indeed, the Defendant specifically testified he was in control of everyone in the victim's house on November 15, 1998 and the minors were under his supervision.

The Defendant forcefully contends that the inconsistent testimonies of J.M. and L.M. bolsters his position that the evidence is too insufficient to warrant a conviction. We disagree. Only one of the alleged inconsistencies deals with the actions of *1272 the Defendant in molesting J.M. That inconsistency is the difference in the testimony of J.M. and L.M. regarding the actions of the Defendant. However, J.M.'s testimony concerning the Defendant's actions was corroborated by the testimony of V.M., her mother. All other inconsistencies do not affect the conclusion that the Defendant molested J.M.

The Defendant further attempts to discredit J.M. and L.M. by asserting that they concocted the molestation charge to remove him from their lives. Moreover, L.M.'s and J.M.'s accusations were vindictive because he, the Defendant, had punished J.M. for stealing candy on November 13, 1998. Again, the trier of fact made credibility determinations. We shall not disturb such determinations.

EXCESSIVE SENTENCE

In his second assignment of error, the Defendant contends the trial court imposed an excessive and unconstitutional sentence in light of the lack of specific facts and in the circumstances of this case.

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Bluebook (online)
857 So. 2d 1268, 2003 WL 22336023, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-bey-lactapp-2003.