State v. Jackson

746 So. 2d 698, 1999 WL 974464
Louisiana Court of Appeal·Decided October 13, 1999·No. 99-KA-401·Published·Cited by 7 cases

Opinion

746 So.2d 698 (1999)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
Milton JACKSON.

No. 99-KA-401.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fifth Circuit.

October 13, 1999.

*699 J. Rodney Baum, Louisiana Appellate Project, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for appellant Milton Jackson.

Paul D. Connick, Jr., District Attorney, 24th Judicial District Court, Rebecca J. Becker, Marie D. Butler, Assistant District Attorneys, Gretna, Louisiana, for appellee State of Louisiana.

Panel composed of Judges SOL GOTHARD, JAMES L. CANNELLA and THOMAS F. DALEY.

CANNELLA, J.

Defendant, Milton Jackson, appeals his conviction of aggravated rape and sentence. We affirm both.

Defendant was charged on June 13, 1996 with aggravated rape of Darlene Lewis (the victim), a violation of La.R.S. 14:42. He filed discovery motions and motions to suppress the confession, identification and evidence. The discovery motions were satisfied on August 12, 1996 and the motion to suppress the confession was denied on April 23, 1998. Before trial, the State notified the defendant of its intention to *700 introduce statements made by the defendant. Trial was held on May 26, 27, 28, 1998, following which, defendant was found guilty as charged by a twelve person jury.

On July 10, 1998, the trial judge denied the defendant's motion for new trial and sentenced the defendant to life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence, as required by La.R.S. 14:42.

The testimony at trial established that the victim met and became friends with the defendant in April of 1996. They were not involved sexually. She testified that on May 20, 1996, defendant raped and beat her. She stated that at approximately 1:00 p.m. on that day, defendant picked her up at her father's house and, eventually, they went to the defendant's residence in Marrero. When they entered the house, the defendant locked the door with a key. The victim and the defendant then went into the bedroom where they normally watched television. She said the defendant brought her some wine and that she drank a small amount of it. Defendant then went into the living room and sat on the sofa to smoke a cigarette, while the victim stood in the doorway between the two rooms. During the course of their conversation, defendant remarked that she liked to be in control.

The victim testified that the defendant said that he wanted to talk, so she returned to the bedroom with him. However, when she sat on the bed, the defendant shoved her back on the bed and lay on top of her. The victim testified that she asked him to get off of her, but he refused, saying that it was "his turn to be in control." She tried to push him away, but he pinned her arms over her head. She stated that defendant threatened to kill her and throw her body in the Mississippi River. He punched her in the chest. He then ordered her to remove her pantyhose. When she hesitated, defendant hit her with his fists and his belt. When she still refused to comply, defendant struck her arms, legs, and stomach with his belt buckle. Ultimately, the victim obeyed the defendant. After she removed her undergarments, defendant put on a condom, held her down and had sexual intercourse with her.

After it was over, the defendant brought the victim home. Remembering the defendant's threats, she worried about reporting the incident. The victim decided to telephone her sister, who, in turn, called their father and the police. Shortly thereafter, the victim's father arrived. He brought her to his home. Both he and the victim's sister testified that the victim was crying hysterically.

Detective Terry Graffeo of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, the first officer to respond to the telephone call, testified that he observed bruises and welts on the victim's arms. He identified State's Exhibits 1 through 5 as photographs of these injuries. He testified that the victim was taken to Lakeside Hospital where a rape examination was performed by Dr. Neil Wolfson.

Dr. Wolfson testified that the victim had bruises and abrasions on her arms, shoulders and chest that were consistent with being struck by a belt and buckle. He stated that she also had bruises on her thigh, which were consistent with fingermarks, as if her thighs had been pinned down or pried apart. According to Dr. Wolfson, the results of the physical examination were consistent with the victim's claim that she was beaten and raped.

Detective Michael Carrone and Lieutenant Antoinette Ulmer of the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office Personal Violence Unit were also involved in the investigation. Detective Carrone prepared a photographic line-up and the victim positively identified defendant from the line-up. Detective Carrone testified that he and other officers executed a search warrant at defendant's residence where they discovered that the bed had been stripped and the linens placed in the washing machine.

*701 The next day, defendant arrived at the police station and gave an audio-recorded statement. Both Detective Carrone and Lieutenant Ulmer testified that defendant was advised of his Miranda[1] rights, waived those rights, and freely and voluntarily gave a statement. This tape was admitted into evidence and was played for the jury. Defendant told the officers that he had been with his girlfriend, Lynette Lewis,[2] the night of the alleged rape. He admitted that he knew the victim, but stated that he never had sex with her and denied that he raped her. Lieutenant Ulmer testified that Lynette Lewis did not corroborate the defendant's alibi and defendant was arrested.

Defendant gave a second recorded statement after his arrest, which was also played for the jury. In this statement, he said that he remembered holding the victim down and trying to kiss her, but did not recall having sexual intercourse with her. Defendant also admitted to the police that he beat the victim. He said the blood on the bed probably resulted from the wounds he had inflicted. Defendant further commented in the statement that he realized he had done something wrong and that he attempted to cover it up by washing the sheets.

According to defendant's father, approximately a month after his arrest, defendant called the victim's father and asked him to convey an apology to the victim. The victim got hysterical when she learned this. Additionally, the victim observed defendant bring roses and a poem to her place of employment. The card with the flowers had a pre-printed heading, "With Deepest Sympathy" and was signed, "Hope you're feeling better. Call me soon, please." In the poem, defendant apologized for hurting her and wrote that he had prayed that God would touch her heart to set him free. She also found a note taped to the door of her home. The note taped to the door was signed, "Your friend," and also contained an apology.

Bonnie DuBourg, an expert serologist, tested evidence collected from the victim and defendant. DuBourg testified that blood consistent with the victims' blood type was found on the victim's dress. She also said that human blood was detected on the victim's pantyhose and panties, as well as in the vaginal swab that had been performed on the victim at the hospital. DuBourg stated that she did not detect any seminal fluid on any of the samples, including defendant's clothing and the linens. However, she testified that her findings were consistent with the suspect wearing a condom, assuming that it had not ruptured.

At trial, defendant testified, denying that he raped the victim.

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State v. Jackson, 746 So. 2d 698, 1999 WL 974464 (La. Ct. App. 1999).

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