State v. Huss

734 S.E.2d 612, 223 N.C. App. 480, 2012 N.C. App. LEXIS 1300
CourtCourt of Appeals of North Carolina
DecidedNovember 20, 2012
DocketNo. COA12-250
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 734 S.E.2d 612 (State v. Huss) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Huss, 734 S.E.2d 612, 223 N.C. App. 480, 2012 N.C. App. LEXIS 1300 (N.C. Ct. App. 2012).

Opinion

ELMORE, Judge.

Wayne Anthony Huss (defendant) appeals from judgments entered upon jury convictions of 1) first-degree kidnapping, 2) second-degree sexual offense, and 3) second-degree rape. Judgment was arrested on the second-degree rape conviction, and defendant was sentenced to 71 to 95 months imprisonment on both the first-degree kidnapping and second-degree sexual offense convictions, to run consecutively. After careful consideration, we reverse the judgments of the trial court.

I. Background

Defendant and the victim first met in the fall of 2006. At that time, the victim was employed as the director for an after-school program at Central Latino, a non-profit organization in Hickory. Defendant was a martial arts instructor who taught classes at the local YMCA. The two met when the victim attended a self-defense class taught by defendant. Later, in January 2007, the victim invited defendant to begin teaching self-defense programs at Central Latino. Soon after, defendant and the victim began a romantic relationship.

Their relationship continued for several months, but the couple began experiencing difficulties in March of that same year. Defendant became frustrated with the victim because she maintained an ongoing relationship with her prior boyfriend. The victim was similarly [482]*482frustrated with defendant, because she felt as though he was not giving her enough space. Ultimately, the couple decided to end their relationship. In doing so, they agreed to meet on 9 May 2007 at defendant’s home, and, without telling the victim, defendant decided to videotape their interactions during the meeting.

Both the victim and defendant disagree as to what happened that day. According to defendant, he and the victim engaged in consensual sex, which included vaginal intercourse, digital penetration, the use of a vibrator, and defendant tying the victim’s hands behind her back with a martial arts belt. Defendant maintains that this type of sexual activity was not abnormal for the couple, as they often engaged in spanking, role-playing, and bondage.

However, according to the victim, the two had never before engaged in the use of restraints or role-playing during consensual sex. In this particular instance, the victim maintains that defendant insisted the two have sex one last time, and that she realized he wasn’t going to let her go unless she did.

After the event, the victim did not immediately discuss details of the incident with anyone. However, several days later she saw defendant again at a festival in downtown Hickory. There, the two got into a public argument, and the victim then decided to report the event to the police.

Defendant was arrested on 1 August 2007 and charged with 1) first-degree kidnapping, 2) second-degree sexual offense, and 3) second-degree rape. On 28 July 2011, the case came on for trial. At the close of all evidence, defendant moved to dismiss all charges, which the trial court denied. On 1 July 2011, defendant was convicted of all charges. Judgment was arrested on the second-degree rape conviction, and defendant was sentenced to 71 to 95 months imprisonment on both the first-degree kidnapping and second-degree sexual offense convictions, to run consecutively. Defendant now appeals.

II. Arguments

Defendant presents four arguments on appeal. He argues that: 1) The trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss all charges at the close of evidence because the victim was not “physically helpless” as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. §14-27.1(3); 2) The trial court erred in failing to dismiss the kidnapping charge because there was insufficient evidence of a restraint separate from any rape or sex offense; 3) The trial court erred in failing to intervene ex mero motu in response [483]*483to the prosecutor’s closing arguments; 4) The trial court committed plain error by failing to instruct the jury that lack of consent is an element of rape and sexual offense of a “physically helpless” person. We agree, in part, with defendant’s first argument. As such, we need not address defendant’s remaining arguments on appeal.

III. Analysis

A. Physically helpless

Defendant first argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss, because the victim was not “physically helpless” as the term is defined under our general statutes. According to defendant, the term “physically helpless” applies only to individuals who are asleep, who are unconscious, or who suffer from a permanent physical condition. We agree, in part, with defendant’s argument.

“This Court reviews the trial court’s denial of a motion to dismiss de novo.” State v. Smith, 186 N.C. App. 57, 62, 650 S.E.2d 29, 33 (2007). “Upon defendant’s motion for dismissal, the question for the Court is whether there is substantial evidence (1) of each essential element of the offense charged, or of a lesser offense included therein, and (2) of defendant’s being the peipetrator of such offense. If so, the motion is properly denied.” State v. Fritsch, 351 N.C. 373, 378, 526 S.E.2d 451, 455, cert. denied, 531 U.S. 890, 148 L. Ed. 2d 150 (2000). “In making its determination, the trial court must consider all evidence admitted, whether competent or incompetent, in the light most favorable to the State, giving the State the benefit of every reasonable inference and resolving any contradictions in its favor.” State v. Rose, 339 N.C. 172, 192, 451 S.E.2d 211, 223 (1994), cert. denied, 515 U.S. 1135, 132 L. Ed. 2d 818 (1995).

Here, the indictment charged defendant, in part, with second-degree rape under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-27.3(a), and second-degree sexual offense under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-27.5(a). According to the second-degree rape statute,

A person is guilty of rape in the second degree if the person engages in vaginal intercourse with another person: (1) By force and against the will of the other person; or (2) Who is mentally disabled, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless, and the person performing the act knows or should reasonably know the other person is mentally disabled, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless.

[484]*484N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-27.3(a)(1)-(2) (2012). The language of the second-degree sexual offense statute is nearly identical, with the term “sexual act” replacing “vaginal intercourse.” See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-27.5 (2012). At trial, the State proceeded under a theory that the victim was “physically helpless,” in essence, prosecuting defendant only under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-27.3(a)(2) and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-27.5(a)(2). Thus, at issue is whether the victim in this case was “physically helpless.”

According to our General Statutes, ‘“[pjhysically helpless’ means (i) a victim who is unconscious; or (ii) a victim who is physically unable to resist an act of vaginal intercourse or a sexual act[.]” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-27.1(3) (2012). Here, neither party contends that the victim was unconscious during the event. Thus, we will review whether the victim fell under the second category of “physically helpless.”

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Bluebook (online)
734 S.E.2d 612, 223 N.C. App. 480, 2012 N.C. App. LEXIS 1300, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-huss-ncctapp-2012.