State v. Owunta

734 So. 2d 57, 1999 WL 225418
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedMarch 31, 1999
Docket98-KA-0006
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 734 So. 2d 57 (State v. Owunta) 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. Owunta, 734 So. 2d 57, 1999 WL 225418 (La. Ct. App. 1999).

Opinion

734 So.2d 57 (1999)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
Fidelis OWUNTA.

No. 98-KA-0006.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fourth Circuit.

March 31, 1999.
Rehearing Denied April 30, 1999.

Harry F. Connick, District Attorney of Orleans Parish, Joseph E. Lucore, Assistant District Attorney, New Orleans, Louisiana, Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellee.

Dwight Doskey, Orleans Indigent Defender Program, New Orleans, Louisiana, Counsel for Defendant/Appellant.

Court composed of Judge STEVEN R. PLOTKIN, Judge JAMES F. McKAY III, Judge DENNIS R. BAGNERIS Sr.

BAGNERIS, Judge.

On August 7, 1996, defendant, Fidelis Owunta, was charged by bill of information with five counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile in violation of La. R.S. 14:80. Defendant entered a plea of not guilty to all counts. On June 17, 1997, a jury acquitted him on counts one, two, three and five, and found him guilty as charged on count four. The trial court sentenced defendant to five years at hard labor, the sentence was suspended and defendant was placed on three years active probation. Defendant was ordered to serve fifty-two (52) weekends in parish prison.

*58 STATEMENT THE CASE

(Because the victim was fourteen years old at the time of the alleged crimes she will be referred to as "victim.")

Victim testified that defendant was a friend of her family's who taught her and her mother. One day in February of 1996, defendant gave victim a ride home after school, no one was home. Defendant asked victim if he could use her bathroom to which she agreed. After entering the house, victim went into the living room while defendant went into the bathroom. After defendant exited the bathroom he approached victim telling her how much he liked her and believed her feelings were mutual. Defendant forced victim to remove her underwear and began to apply cream to her vagina. Defendant had sexual intercourse with her. Defendant told victim not to tell anyone as no one would believe her. He also told her to bathe that night so she would not have an odor at school the following day.

Victim further testified that she did not attend school the next day because she felt ill. Defendant took notice of this and phoned victim's mother. He informed the mother that victim was scheduled to take a math test the next day and suggested that he come over after school to tutor her. That afternoon, defendant went to victim's home to tutor her, her mother was home, but she left shortly thereafter for work. After her mother left, defendant forced victim to have sexual intercourse. Defendant reminded victim he was the one in charge. Victim stated she felt intimidated by defendant. One week later another such incident occurred.

A fourth incident occurred on the Saturday prior to Mardi Gras. Defendant phoned victim's mother and asked if her family was going to the parade. Victim's mother informed defendant that everyone but victim was going. After victim's family left for the parade, defendant came to her house, but victim refused him entry. Defendant started crying and told victim he was sorry and it would not happen again. Victim let him in because she felt sorry for him. She showed him to the living room and then went to her bedroom and closed the door. Defendant followed. Defendant approached victim and removed her clothes. He then forced victim to have sexual intercourse.

The last incident occurred in April of 1996. Defendant offered to give victim a ride home from an academic function. Victim had called home in an attempt to have her mother pick her up, but no one was home. Victim accepted defendant's offer. Instead of taking victim home, defendant took her to a motel where they had sexual intercourse. Defendant then took her home.

At first, victim testified she did not tell anyone of the incidents with defendant, however, after some time she told her brother. Victim told her brother that she wanted to tell their mother, but she was afraid that her mother would not believe her. Instead, victim and her brother decided to confront defendant to have him admit to his indecent behavior. They invited defendant to their house where they tape-recorded their conversation with him. Defendant admitted to his relationship with victim and wanted to do something for victim to show that he was sorry.

Victim and her brother played the tape for their mother who contacted the police and took victim for a medical examination. Victim also underwent counseling. Victim stated that she had been a virgin before defendant molested her.

Victim's brother testified that he knew defendant as a family friend. Defendant taught both his sister and his mother. In April of 1996, victim told him about her relationship with defendant. She was very upset and cried. He told her she should tell their mother. In June of 1996, he and victim confronted defendant about the relationship. They tape-recorded the conversation they had with defendant. They did not threaten defendant. In the conversation defendant admitted to his relationship *59 with victim and expressed his sorrow for causing her pain. He offered to do something to alleviate the hurt he caused her.

Victim's brother testified that his barber had dated his older sister. He denied telling his barber that he was going to extort money from defendant.

Victim's neighbor testified she and victim's mother were very close friends. They had been neighbors for seven years. She had met defendant on one occasion, but she had seen his vehicle in front of victim's house on numerous occasions. On the Saturday before Mardi Gras, she saw defendant's vehicle outside the house. She knew victim was home alone. She called victim and told her that defendant should leave because her mother was not home. Victim agreed and hung up the phone.

New Orleans Police Detective Joseph Lorenzo met with victim and her mother on June 13, 1996. They gave him an audiocassette tape. After listening to the tape, the officer obtained an arrest warrant for defendant.

Victim's mother testified that victim's date of birth is July 15, 1981. In June of 1996, victim told her about the relationship with defendant. Victim played the tape for her. She heard defendant's voice on the tape, but did not listen to it in its entirety, as it upset her. She immediately arranged for counseling for her daughter.

Victim's mother was shocked by defendant's behavior. He had taught her at Southern University. She was pleased he was also teaching her daughter as she considered him intelligent and a good teacher. Defendant contacted her in late spring about victim attending a computer summer school at Southern University. When she told victim about the program, victim stated she did not want to attend. Victim told her about the relationship after this conversation. She did not recall having a conversation with defendant the Saturday before Mardi Gras, however, she acknowledged that victim never went to parades.

In April of 1996, victim participated in a literary rally at St. Mary's Academy. Victim told her mother she would be home around 11:30 a.m. When victim did not arrive on schedule, victim's mother went to the school looking for her, but was unable to find her.

One day, after she had reported defendant to the police, defendant approached her at Southern University and asked if they could settle the matter out of court. She denied she had spoken to defendant about needing a car or a home. She further denied that she authorized her children to negotiate with defendant for such items. She stated that she never left her daughter home alone with a man.

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Related

State v. Jinks
267 So. 3d 688 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2019)
State v. Smith
846 So. 2d 786 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2003)
State v. Owunta
761 So. 2d 528 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 2000)
State v. Blackwell
746 So. 2d 205 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1999)

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Bluebook (online)
734 So. 2d 57, 1999 WL 225418, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-owunta-lactapp-1999.