### IN THE CO URT OF CR IMINAL APPEALS OF T ENN ESSEE
AT JACKSON

Ass ig ne d o n B rie fs Octo be r 4, 2 01 1

STATE OF TENNESS EE v . BOBB Y JO E CROOM

D i r e c t A p p e a l f

r o m t h e C i r c u i t C o u r t f o r M a d i s o n C o u n t y
N o

. 1 0

- 6 5 R o y B

. M o r g a n , J r

. , J u d g e

N o

. W 2 0 1 1

- 0 0 4 6 1

- C C A

- R 3

- C D

- F i l e d M a y 1 0
, 2 0 1 2

T h e d ef en d an t, B o b b y Jo e C ro o m , w as co n v icted b y a M ad iso n C o u n ty C ircu it C o u rt j u ry

o f th ree co u n ts o f rap e o f a ch ild

, a C lass A f elo n y , an d th ree co u n ts o f ag g rav ated sex u al
b a t t e r y , a C lass B f

elo n y

. H e w as sen ten ced to an ef f ectiv e term o f f

if ty y ears in th e D ep artm en t o f C o rrectio n

. O n ap p eal, h e arg u es th at th e trial co u rt e r r e d i n n o t req u irin g th e S tate to elect th e p articu lar in stan ces o f rap e an d sex u al b att ery it w as rely in g o n f o r

co n v ictio n an d th at th e ev id en ce is in su f f icien t to su stain h is co n v ictio n s. A f ter rev iew

, w e

rev erse an d rem an d in p art, an d rev erse an d d ism iss in p art.

T e n n

. R

. A p p

. P

. 3 A p p e a l a s o f R i g h t ; J u d g m e n t s o f t h e C i r c u i t C o u r t R e v e r s e d

a n d R e m a n d e d i n P a r t , R e v e r s e d a n d D i s m i s s e d i n P a r t

A LA N E

. G LE N N
, J

. , d e l i v e r e d t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e C o u r t

, i n w h i c h J O S E P H M

. T IP T O N
, P

. J

. , a n d

J A M E S C U R W O O D W IT T
, J R

. , J

. , j o i n e d

.

D a r l e n e R e b o w e , F r a n k l i n , T e n n e s s e e ( o n a p p e a l ) ; a n d S u s a n B

. K o r s n e s , A s s i s t a n t P u b l i c
D e f e n d e r , J a c k s o n , T e n n e s s e e ( a t t r i a l )

, f o r t h e a p p e l l a n t

, B o b b y J o e C r o o m

.

R o b e r t E

. C o o p e r , J r

. , A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l a n d R e p o r t e r ; S o p h i a S

. L e e , S e n i o r C o u n s e l ; J a m e s G

. W o o d a l l

, D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l ; a n d J o d y S

. P i c k e n s , A s s i s t a n t D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l

, f

o r t h e a p p e l l e e , S t a t e o f T e n n e s s e e

.

O P I N I O N

F A C T S

T h is case arises out o f th e d ef en d an t’s alleg ed sex u al in teractio n s w ith h is g irlf rien d ’s eig h t-y ear-o ld d au g h ter d u rin g a th ree-w eek p erio d in Ju ly 2 0 0 9

. A s a resu lt, th e d ef en d an t

w as in d icted f

o r th ree co u n ts o f rap e o f a ch ild an d th ree co u n ts o f ag g rav ated sex u al b attery– o n e rap e o f a ch ild an d o n e ag g rav ated sex u al b attery o ccu rrin g in each tim e p erio d o f Ju ly

1 -4 , Ju ly 5 -1 1 , an d Ju ly

1 2 -1 8

.

S ta te’s P ro o f

A t trial, th e v ictim testif

ied th at sh e w as p resen tly n in e y ears o ld an d h ad b een eig h t
in Ju ly 2 0 0 9

. T h ro u g h a series o f q u estio n s, th e v ictim d em o n strated t h a t sh e k n ew th e d if f eren ce b etw een th e tru th an d a lie an d th at o n e g ets in tro u b le f o r tellin g a lie b u t n o t f

o r tellin g th e tru th

. A lso

, th ro u g h a series o f q u estio n s an d a d iag ram o f a n ak ed b o y an d g irl,
th e v ictim testif

ied th at b o th b o y s an d g irls h av e p riv ate p arts. S h e d escrib ed a g irl’s p riv ate

p art o n h e r c h e s t a s “[ b ] o o b s,” a g irl’s p riv ate p art b etw een h er leg s as h er “m id d le p art,”

an d p riv ate ar e a o n h e r b ack sid e as “b u tt.” S h e f u rth er d escrib ed a b o y ’s p riv ate p art b etw een h is leg s as h is “m id d le p art.”

T h e v ictim testif

ied th at, th e p rev io u s su m m er, sh e liv ed in Jack so n w ith h er m o th er, h er b ro th ers, ag es elev en an d six

, an d th e d ef en d an t, w h o m sh e ref

erred to as “T y so n .” T h e

v ictim ex p lain ed th at h er m o th er an d t h e d e f en d an t sh ared a b ed ro o m , h er tw o b ro th ers sh ared a b ed ro o m , an d sh e h ad h er o w n b ed ro o m

. S h e said th at h er m o th er p resen tly w o rk ed

at a M cD o n ald ’s restau ran t an d h ad w o rk ed th ere th e p rev io u s su m m er as w ell.

T h e v ictim testif

ied th at th e d ef

en d an t h ad d o n e so m eth in g to h er th at m ad e h er f eel
b ad an d th at th e actio n s to o k p lace d u rin g th e d ay o r th e n ig h ttim e w h en h er m o th er w as at

w o rk

. T h e d ef

en d an t to o k h er in to h is b ed ro o m , rem o v ed th eir clo th es, an d “p u t h is m id d le

p art in [ h er] m id d le p art.” T h e v ictim illu strated th at th e d ef en d an t h ad h er lean b ack w ith
h er arm s an d leg s sp read o p en , w h ile h e w as o n h is k n ees in a th ru stin g m o tio n . S h e said
th at th e d ef

en d an t d id th is to h er “[ a] lo t,” b u t sh e d id n o t k n o w if it h ap p en ed ev ery

d ay

. T h e v ictim stated th at it h u rt w h en th e d ef en d an t p u t h is “m id d le p art” in h er “m id d le p art.”

T h e v ictim testif

ied th at th e d ef

en d an t also u sed h is m o u th to “lick [ ] [ h e r ] mi d d l e

p art.” T h e d ef

en d an t u n d ressed h er an d sp read h er arm s an d leg s o p en , w h ile th e d ef en d an t lay o n h is sto m ach p ro p p ed u p o n h is elb o w s. S h e said th at th e act o ccu rred in h er m o th er’s

ro o m w h en h er m o th er w a s at w o rk

. S h e recalled th at it h ap p en ed “[ a] lo t[ ,] ” b u t sh e d id

n o t k n o w if

it h ap p en ed ev ery

d ay

.

T h e v ictim testif

ied th at th e d ef

en d an t “p u t h i s mi d d l e p art in [ h er] b u tt.” H e also

ru b b ed h er m id d le p art b ack an d f o rth w it h t h e p a l m o f h is h an d

. S h e recalled th at th e d ef en d an t also “sp [ a] t o n [ h er] m id d le p art.” T h e v ictim sta t ed th at sh e h ad o b serv ed th e d ef en d an t’s “m id d le p art” an d th at, w h en th e d ef en d an t to u ch ed h er, h e said

, “A in ’t th is th e b est y o u ev er h ad ? ”

-2-T h e v ictim testif ied th at sh e w as sev en y ears o ld w h en th e ab u se started a n d e i g h t

y ears o ld w h en sh e rep o rted th e ab u se. T h e v ictim to ld h er u n cle, h er g ran d m o th er, an d th en h er m o th er. A f

ter sh e rep o rted th e in cid en ts, sh e w as ex am in ed b y a d o cto r.

T h e v ictim ’s g ran d m o th er testif ied th at th e v ictim w as stay in g w ith h er th e w eek o f

Ju ly 2 3

, 2 0 0 9

, w h en th e v ictim d isclo sed to h er th at th e d ef en d an t “h ad b een m essin g w ith
h e r .” S h e im m ed iately called h er d au g h ter, th e v ictim ’s m o th er, an d called th e p o lice th e f o llo w in g d ay

.

T h e v ictim ’s m o th er t estif ied th at, in Ju ly 2 0 0 9

, sh e liv ed w ith th e v ictim

, h er tw o

so n s, an d th e d ef

en d an t. S h e co n f

irm ed th at sh e an d th e d ef en d an t sh ared a b ed ro o m , th e b o y s sh ared a b ed ro o m , an d th e v ictim h ad h er o w n ro o m

. S h e said th at th e d ef en d an t h ad
b een liv in g w ith h er f

o r alm o st tw o y ears at th at tim e.

T h e v ictim ’s mo th er testif ied th at sh e w o rk ed at M cD o n ald ’s th e en tire tw o -y ear

p erio d th e d ef

en d an t liv ed w ith h er an d co n tin u ed to w o rk th ere ab o u t f o rty h o u rs a w eek

. S h e said th at h er w o rk sh if t v aried

. In Ju ly 2 0 0 9

, h er sh if ts th e f irst w eek w ere as f

o llo w s: sh e w as o f

f o n Ju ly 1 an d w o rk ed 7 :0 0 a.m

. to 2 :3 0 p .m

. o n Ju ly 2

, 3

, an d 4

. H er sh if ts th e

seco n d w eek w ere as f

o llo w s: sh e w as o f

f o n Ju ly 5

, w o rk ed 5 :0 0 p .m

. to 1 :0 0 a.m

. o n Ju ly

6

, 7

, an d 8

, w o rk ed 9 :0 0 a.m

. to 3 :0 0 p .m

. o n Ju ly 9

, w o rk ed 7 :0 0 a.m

. to 2 :0 0 p .m

. o n Ju ly

1 0

, an d w as o f

f o n Ju ly 1 1

. H er sh if

ts th e th ird w eek w ere as f o llo w s: sh e w as o f

f o n Ju ly

1 2

, w o rk ed 4 :0 0 p .m

. to 1 :0 0 a.m

. o n Ju ly 1 3

, w as o f f Ju ly 1 4

, an d w o rk ed 7 :0 0 a.m

. to 2 :0 0

p .m

. o n Ju ly 1 5

, 1 6

, 1 7

, an d 1 8 . Wh en sh e w as at w o rk , th e v ictim w as eith er at sch o o l o r

at h o m e w ith th e d ef

en d an t, as th e d ef

en d an t w a s th e b ab y sitter f o r th e su m

m er. S h e recalled th at th e v ictim stay ed w ith h er g ran d m o th er, th e w itn ess’s m o th er, th e w eek o f Ju ly

1 9

.

T h e v ictim ’s m o th er testif ied th at sh e learn ed

, o n Ju ly 2 3

, 2 0 0 9

, th at th e d ef en d an t
“h ad b een f

o n d lin g w ith [ th e v ictim ] .” S h e w as “scared

, n erv o u s[ ,] [ an d ] co n f u sed ” w h en sh e h eard th e n ew s. S h e co n f ro n ted th e d ef

en d an t, an d h e “n ev er d en ied it. H e n ev er really
said an y th in g .” In stead , h e m o v ed o u t. S h e called th e p o lice th e f o llo w in g d ay

.

S h e testif ied th at sh e atten d ed th e p relim in ary h earin g an d h eard th e v ictim testif y th at th e d ef en d an t h ad said

, “A in ’t th is th e b est y o u ev er h ad ? ” to h er. A f terw ard s, sh e receiv ed

a letter f ro m th e d ef

en d an t in w h ich th e d ef

en d an t w ro te, “A n d w h o to ld h er to say , ‘A in ’t
th is th e b est y o u ev er h ad ? ’ B itch , I to ld y o u th at sh it.”

D an ielle Jo n es, an in v estig ato r w ith th e Jack so n P o lice D ep artm en t, testif ied th at sh e b ecam e in v o lv ed in th e in v estig atio n o f th is case o n Ju ly 2 4

, 2 0 0 9

. S h e called th e d ef en d an t th e n ex t d ay to talk w ith h im ab o u t th e sex u al alleg atio n s m ad e b y th e v ictim

. T h e d ef en d an t

-3-d id n o t d en y th e alleg atio n s an d in f o rm ed In v estig ato r Jo n es th at h e w a s o u t o f to w n an d

w o u ld “g et b ack w ith [ h er] later o n th at ev en in g .” T h e d ef en d an t n ev er called h er b ack

, an d
h e w as tak en in to cu sto d y ap p ro x im ately a m o n th af ter In v estig ato r Jo n es h ad called h im

.

D r. L isa P iercy

, a p ed iatrician

, t e s t i f ied th at sh e h ad p erf

o rm ed ex am in atio n s o n

ap p ro x im ately 3 0 0 ch ild ren w h o w ere su sp ected v ictim s o f sex u al ab u se. D r. P iercy
in terv iew ed an d ex am in ed th e v ictim o n Ju ly 2 4

, 2 0 0 9

. S h e ex p lain ed th at sh e w as th e o n ly

o n e p resen t d u rin g th e in terv iew o f th e v ictim an d th at sh e rec e i v ed n o in f o rm atio n ab o u t th e alleg ed ab u se so th at sh e d id n o t lead th e v ictim o r f o cu s o n th e w ro n g th in g d u rin g th e in terv iew

.

D r. P iercy testif

ied th at sh e ask ed th e v ictim if an y th in g b ad h ad h ap p en ed to h er, an d
th e v ictim to ld h er th a t h e r mo t h er’s b o y f rien d h ad b een g iv in g h er a “b ad to u ch .” Wh en sh e ask ed th e v ictim w h en th e last “b ad to u ch ” h ad o ccu rred

, th e v ictim said

, “[ A ] f ew d ay s

ag o .” D r. P iercy ex p lain ed th at th e v ictim ’s resp o n se w as ap p ro p riate f o r h er ag e in th at elem en tary sch o o l ag ed ch ild ren o f ten h av e p ro b lem s w ith co n cep ts o f tim e an d w ill recall
“b ig o ccasio n s” lik e b irth d ay s an d h o lid ay s b u t n o t “last w eek ” o r certain d ates.

D r. P iercy testif

ied th at th e v ictim t o l d h e r t h at th e d ef en d an t “w o u ld f

eel o n [ h er]

m id d le p art w ith h is h an d s o n th e in sid e, an d it h u rt. H e p u t h is m o u th o n [ h er] m id d le p art,

an d th en h e w o u ld p u t h is m id d le p art in [ h er] m id d le p art, an d it h u rt.

. . . H e p u t h is f in g ers i n [ h er] b u tt.” T h e v ictim to ld h er th at, d u rin g th e in cid en ts, th e d ef en d an t w o u ld t e l l h e r th at sh e “w as th e b est h e ev er h ad .” T h e v ictim in d icated th at th e sam e th in g s h ap p en ed

ev ery tim e.

D r. P iercy testif

ied th at sh e th en co n d u cted th e p h y sical ex am in at i on of t h e v ictim an d
d escrib ed th e ex am in atio n o f th e v ictim ’s v ag in a as “v ery m ark ed ly ab n o rm al.” D r. P iercy
elab o rated th at th e b o tto m h alf o f th e v ictim ’s h y m en al tissu e w as m issin g , w h ich w a s

co n sisten t w i t h t h e v ictim ’s rep o rt o f rep eated p en ile an d d ig ital p en etratio n

. S h e d id n o t

o b serv e an y laceratio n s o r ab rasio n s b u t ex p lain ed th at is n o rm al w h ere th e ab u se is rep eated

an d th e b o d y h as tim e to ad ap t to th e a b u s e

. S h e d i d n o t co llect a rap e k it b ecau se th e

o f f e n ses o ccu rred o u tsid e th e tim e f ram e f o r co llectin g an y D N A ev id en ce. D r. P iercy
ad m itted th at sh e co u ld n o t tell f ro m th e ex am in atio n w h en th e ab u se o ccu rred

.

D ef en d a n t’s P ro o f

B ev erly C ro o m , th e d ef

en d an t’s au n t, testif

ied th at th e d ef

en d an t h elp ed h er m o v e th e

seco n d w eek o f Ju ly 2 0 0 9

. S h e recalled th at h e h elp ed h er th e seco n d F rid ay an d S atu rd ay

o f th e m o n th an d th at h e w as w ith h er th e en tire d ay . O n th e f irst d ay , h e arriv ed b etw een 7 :0 0 a n d 7 :3 0 a.m

. an d lef t b etw een 5 :0 0 an d 6 :0 0 p .m

. O n th e seco n d d ay , h e arriv ed

-4-aro u n d 8 :0 0 a.m . an d lef t aro u n d 4 :0 0 p .m

.

G lo ria H erro n , th e d ef

en d an t’s m o th er, testif

ied th at sh e saw th e d ef

en d an t “[ a] ll th e tim e” in Ju ly 2 0 0 9

. S h e said th at h e cam e to h er h o u se o r sh e w en t to h is h o u se, g en erally
in th e ev en in g

. S h e u su ally v isited th e d ef en d an t a b o u t o n c e a w eek

. S h e n ev er saw

an y th in g o u t o f

th e o rd in ary

w h en sh e w as at th e d ef

en d an t’s h o u se.

H o w ard B ern ard C ro o m , th e d ef en d an t’s u n cle, testif

ied th at, in Ju ly 2 0 0 9

, h e v isited
th e d ef en d an t “[ j ] u st ab o u t ev ery d ay .” H e d i d n o t o b serv e th e d ef en d an t ev er act o d d ly

aro u n d th e v ictim

o r h u rt h er in an y

w ay

.

T h e th irty -n in e-y ear-o l d d e f en d an t testif

ied th at h e liv ed w ith th e v ictim ’s m o th er; h er so n ; h er d au g h ter, th e v ictim ; an d h is so n , M arq u ev iu s, in Ju ly 2 0 0 9

. A f ter h is

u n em p lo y m en t b en ef

its ran o u t in M ay , h e b eg an search in g f o r a j o b ev ery m o rn in g

. A cco rd in g to th e d ef

en d an t, as p art o f h is ro u tin e, h e to o k th e v ictim ’s m o th er to w o rk

, to o k
th e ch ild ren to a b ab y sitter’s h o u se, an d w en t to a tem p o rary em p lo y m en t ag en cy to lo o k f

o r

a j o b u n til n o o n

. T h ereaf ter, h e w en t h o m e an d clean ed th e h o u se. E v ery ev en in g , h i s f rien d s cam e to h is h o u se to so cialize. In resp o n se to q u estio n in g , th e d ef en d an t elab o rated
th at h is u n cle cam e o v er so m e m o rn in g s af ter h e p u t in ap p licatio n s f o r th e d ay

. L ik ew ise,

s o me o f h is f

rien d s sto p p ed b y af

ter h e p u t in h is ap p licatio n s to sm o k e cig arett e s a n d

m arij u an a. H e d id n o t lo o k f o r a j o b o n T h u rsd ay s, F rid ay s, o r S atu rd ay s. T h e d ef en d an t recalled sp ecif

ically th at h e h elp ed h is au n t m o v e o n Ju ly 1 8 an d 1 9 , 2 0 0 9

.

T h e d ef en d an t d en ied rap in g th e v ictim o r h av in g an y in ap p ro p riate sex u al co n tact

w ith h e r

. H e recalled th at, w h en h e w as co n f ro n ted b y th e v ictim ’s m o th er ab o u t th e alleg atio n s, h e d en ied rap in g th e v ictim

. H e also recalled th at th e v ictim ’s m o th er ask ed h im

to l e a v e th e h o u se. T h e d ef en d an t ad m itted th at In v estig ato r Jo n es called h im to d iscu ss

so m e is s u e s b u t th at sh e d id n o t tell h im th at it w as co n cern in g ch ild sex u al ab u se ev en th o u g h h e “f

ig u red ” th at w as w h at it w as ab o u t. H e h ad lef t Jack so n an d w as in M em p h is

w h en In v estig ato r Jo n es called h im . H e th en w en t to M ich ig an to atten d a f am ily reu n io n b ef o re retu rn in g to Jack so n

. T h e d ef en d an t claim ed th at h e called In v estig ato r Jo n es b ack

. T h e d ef en d an t ad m itted to w ritin g letters to th e v ictim ’s m o th er an d u sin g th e p h rase, “A in ’t
th is th e b est y o u ev er h ad ? ” b u t ex p lain ed th at th e p h rase w as f ro m a so n g o n th e rad io

.

R eb u tta l P ro o f

In v estig ato r Jo n es testif

ied th at, acco rd in g to h er n o tes, the de fe ndan t to ld h er th at “h e

w o u ld co m e b y an d th en h e h u n g u p th e p h o n e” an d th at sh e d id n o t h av e an y o th er p h o n e

co n v ersatio n s w ith th e d ef en d an t.

-5-A N A L Y S IS

T h e d ef en d an t arg u es t h a t th e trial co u rt erred in n o t req u irin g th e S tate to m ak e an electio n as to w h ich in stan ces o f rap e o f a ch ild an d a g g r a v ated sex u al b attery it w as

su b m ittin g to th e j u ry an d th at th e e v i d e n c e i s i n s u f f i c i e n t t o s u s t a i n h i s c o n v i c t i o n s b e c a u s e

t h e S t a t e o f

f e r e d n o e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e c r i m e s t o o k p l a c e d u r i n g t h e d a t e s c h a r g e d i n t h e i n d i c t m e n t s

. W e w i l l a d d r e s s t h e s e t w o i s s u e s t o g e t h e r b e c a u s e t h e y a r e i n t e r r e l a t e d

.

1

T h e T en n essee C o n stitu tio n saf eg u ard s th e rig h t o f a crim in al d ef en d an t to a

u n an im o u s j u ry v erd ict b ef o re a co n v ictio n m ay b e im p o sed

. S tate v

. L em ack s, 9 9 6 S .W.2 d

1 6 6

, 1 6 9 -7 0 (T en n

. 1 9 9 9 ). Wh ere th e S tate p resen ts ev id en ce sh o w in g th at m o re o f f en ses

o ccu rred th an are ch arg ed

, b u t th e in d ictm en t is n o t sp ecif ic f o r w h ich o f

f en se th e d ef

en d an t is b ein g tried

, it is th e resp o n sib ility o f th e trial co u rt to req u ire th e S tate to e l e c t w h ich

o f f en se is b ein g su b m itted to th e j u ry

. S ee S tate v

. Jo h n so n , 5 3 S

. W

. 3 d 6 2 8

, 6 3 0 (T en n

. 2 0 0 1 ) (citin g S tate v

. K en d rick

, 3 8 S

. W

. 3 d 5 6 6

, 5 6 8 (T en n

. 2 0 0 1 ); S tate v

. B ro w n , 9 9 2
S .W.2 d 3 8 9

, 3 9 1 (T en n

. 1 9 9 9 ). T h e electio n req u irem en t “en ab les th e d ef en d an t to p rep are f o r th e sp ecif

ic ch arg e; it p ro tects a d ef en d an t ag ain st d o u b le j eo p ard y ; it en ab les th e trial j u d g e to rev iew th e w eig h t o f th e ev id e n c e in its ro le as th irteen th j u ro r; an d it en ab les an

ap p ellate co u rt to rev iew th e leg al su f f icien cy o f th e ev id en ce.” B ro w n , 9 9 2 S .W.2 d at 3 9 1

. M o st im p o rtan tly

, th e electio n req u irem en t “saf eg u ard s th e d ef

en d an t’s state co n stitu tio n al rig h t to a u n an im o u s j u ry v erd ict b y e n su rin g th at j u ro rs d elib erate an d ren d er a v erd ict
b ased o n th e sam e ev id en ce.” Jo h n so n , 5 3 S .W.3 d at 6 3 1 (citin g B ro w n , 9 9 2 S .W.2 d at
3 9 1 ).

R eco g n izin g th e p ractical d if f icu lties p resen t in ap p ly in g th e electio n req u irem en t in

cases o f ch ild sex u al ab u se, o u r su p rem e co u rt h as p ro v id ed th e f o llo w in g g u id elin es:

B y in sistin g u p o n electio n , w e em p h asize th at th e state is n o t req u ired

to id en tif y th e p articu lar d ate o f th e ch o sen o f f en se. . . . If

, f o r ex am p le, th e

ev id en ce in d icates v ario u s ty p es o f ab u se, th e p ro secu tio n ma y id en tif y a

p articu lar ty

p e o f ab u se an d elect th at o f f en se. M o reo v er, w h en recallin g an

assau lt, a ch ild m ay b e ab le to d escrib e u n iq u e su rro u n d in g s o r circu m stan ces th at h elp to id en tif

y an in cid en t. T h e ch ild m ay b e ab le to id en tif y an assau lt

w ith ref eren ce to a m ean in g f

u l ev en t in h is o r h er lif

e, su ch as th e b eg in n in g

o f sch o o l, a b irth d ay , o r a relativ e’s v is i t

. A n y d escrip tio n th at w ill id en tif y th e p r o s e cu ted o f

f en se f o r th e j u ry is su f

f icien t. In f

u lf illin g its o b lig atio n

u n d er B u r liso n [ v

. S tate, 5 0 1 S .W.2 d 8 0 1 (T en n

. 1 9 7 3 ),] to en su re th at an electio n o ccu rs, th e trial co u rt sh o u ld b ear in m in d th at th e p u rp o se o f electio n

He do es not cha ll enge t hat th e vict im’s t est imony sup por te d t he e le m ent s of th e of fe nse s. 1

-6-is to en su re th at e a ch j u ro r is co n sid erin g th e sam e o ccu rren ce. If th e

p ro secu tio n can n o t id en tif y an ev en t f

o r w h ich to ask f

o r a co n v ictio n , th en th e co u rt can n o t b e assu red o f a u n an im o u s d ecisio n

.

S h elto n , 8 5 1 S .W.2 d at 1 3 7 -3 8 (citatio n s an d f o o tn o te o m itted ).

W h e n t h e s u f

f i c i e n c y o f t h e c o n v i c t i n g e v i d e n c e i s c h a l l e n g e d

, t h e r e l e v a n t q u e s t i o n

o f t h e r e v i e w i n g c o u r t i s “ w h e t h e r , a f t e r v i e w i n g t h e e v i d e n c e i n t h e l i g h t m o s t f a v o r a b l e t o

t h e p r o s e c u t i o n , a n y r a t i o n a l t r i e r o f f a c t c o u l d h a v e f

o u n d t h e e s s e n t i a l e l e m e n t s o f t h e c r i m e b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t

. ” J a c k s o n v

. V i r g i n i a , 4 4 3 U

. S

. 3 0 7

, 3 1 9 ( 1 9 7 9 ) ; s e e a l s o T e n n

. R

. A p p

. P

. 1 3 ( e ) ( “ F i n d i n g s o f g u i l t i n c r i m i n a l a c t i o n s w h e t h e r b y t h e t r i a l c o u r t o r j u r y s h a l l

b e s e t a s i d e i f

t h e e v i d e n c e i s i n s u f

f i c i e n t t o s u p p o r t t h e f

i n d i n g s b y t h e t r i e r o f

f a c t o f g u i l t
b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t

. ” ) ; S t a t e v

. E v a n s , 8 3 8 S

. W

. 2 d 1 8 5

, 1 9 0

- 9 2 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 2 ) ; S t a t e

v

. A n d e r s o n , 8 3 5 S

. W

. 2 d 6 0 0

, 6 0 4 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 9 2 )

.

A l l q u e s t i o n s i n v o l v i n g t h e c r e d i b i l i t y o f w i t n e s s e s , t h e w e i g h t a n d v a l u e t o b e g i v e n

t h e e v i d e n c e , a n d a l l f

a c t u a l i s s u e s a r e r e s o l v e d b y t h e t r i e r o f f a c t

. S e e S t a t e v

. P a p p a s , 7 5 4

S

. W

. 2 d 6 2 0

, 6 2 3 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 8 7 )

. “ A g u i l t y v e r d i c t b y t h e j u r y , a p p r o v e d b y t h e

t r i a l j u d g e , a c c r e d i t s t h e t e s t i m o n y o f t h e w i t n e s s e s f o r t h e S t a t e a n d r e s o l v e s a l l c o n f l i c t s i n f a v o r o f t h e t h e o r y o f t h e S t a t e

. ” S t a t e v

. G r a c e , 4 9 3 S

. W

. 2 d 4 7 4

, 4 7 6 ( T e n n

. 1 9 7 3 )

. O u r

s u p r e m e c o u r t s t a t e d t h e r a t i o n a l e f o r t h i s r u l e :

T h i s w e l l

- s e t t l e d r u l e r e s t s o n a s o u n d f o u n d a t i o n

. T h e t r i a l j u d g e a n d

t h e j u r y s e e t h e w i t n e s s e s f a c e t o f a c e , h e a r t h e i r t e s t i m o n y a n d o b s e r v e t h e i r d e m e a n o r o n t h e s t a n d

. T h u s t h e t r i a l j u d g e a n d j u r y a r e t h e p r i m a r y i n s t r u m e n t a l i t y o f j u s t i c e t o d e t e r m i n e t h e w e i g h t a n d c r e d i b i l i t y t o b e g i v e n

t o t h e t e s t i m o n y o f w i t n e s s e s

. I n t h e t r i a l f o r u m a l o n e i s t h e r e h u m a n

a t m o s p h e r e a n d t h e t o t a l i t y o f t h e e v i d e n c e c a n n o t b e r e p r o d u c e d w i t h a

w r i t t e n r e c o r d i n t h i s C o u r t

.

B o l i n v

. S t a t e , 2 1 9 T e n n

. 4

, 1 1

, 4 0 5 S

. W

. 2 d 7 6 8

, 7 7 1 ( 1 9 6 6 ) ( c i t i n g C a r r o l l v

. S t a t e , 2 1 2

T e n n

. 4 6 4

, 3 7 0 S

. W

. 2 d 5 2 3 ( 1 9 6 3 ) )

.

“ A j u r y c o n v i c t i o n r e m o v e s t h e p r e s u m p t i o n o f i n n o c e n c e w i t h w h i c h a d e f e n d a n t i s i n i t i a l l y c l o a k e d a n d r e p l a c e s i t w i t h o n e o f g u i l t

, s o t h a t o n a p p e a l a c o n v i c t e d d e f e n d a n t h a s

t h e b u r d e n o f d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e i s i n s u f f i c i e n t

. ” S t a t e v

. T u g g l e , 6 3 9 S

. W

. 2 d

9 1 3

, 9 1 4 ( T e n n

. 1 9 8 2 )

.

“R ap e o f a ch ild is th e u n l a w f u l s e x u al p en etratio n o f a v ictim b y th e d ef en d an t o r

t h e d ef en d an t b y a v ictim

, if th e v ictim is m o re th an th ree (3 ) y ears o f ag e b u t less t h a n

-7-th irteen (1 3 ) y ears o f ag e.” T en n

. C o d e A n n

. § 3 9 -1 3 -5 2 2 (a) (2 0 0 6 ). “‘S ex u al p en etratio n ’

m ean s sex u al in terco u rse, cu n n ilin g u s, f ellatio

, an al in terco u rse, o r an y o th er i n t r u s i o n , h o w ev er slig h t, o f an y p art o f a p erso n ’s b o d y o r o f an y o b j ect i n t o t h e g en ital o r an al

o p en in g s o f th e v ictim ’s, th e d ef en d an t’s, o r an y o th er p erso n ’s b o d y , b u t em issio n o f sem en is n o t req u ired .” Id

. § 3 9 -1 3 -5 0 1 (7 ). “A g g rav ated sex u al b attery is u n law f u l sex u al co n tact

w ith a v ictim b y th e d ef

en d an t o r th e d ef

en d an t b y a v ictim [ w h ere]

. . . [ t] h e v ictim is less
th an th irteen (1 3 ) y ears o f a g e.” Id

. § 3 9 -1 3 -5 0 4 (a)(4 ). “‘S ex u al co n tact’ in clu d es th e i n ten tio n al to u ch in g o f th e v ictim ’s, th e d ef en d an t’s, o r an y o th er p erso n ’s in tim a t e p a r t s ,

. . . if th at in ten tio n al to u ch in g can b e reaso n ab ly co n stru ed as b ein g f o r t h e p u rp o se o f

sex u al aro u sal o r g ratif

icatio n [ .] ” Id . § 3 9 -1 3 -5 0 1 (6 ).

A t th e clo se o f th e p ro o f

, th e trial co u rt m en tio n ed electio n d u rin g d i scu ssio n s

co n cern in g th e j u ry

ch arg e. T h e co u rt stated :

In th is p articu lar case, I w an t to n o te th at th e electio n is n o t

- - a s f ar as T P I,
d o esn ’t seem to b e n ecessary in th is case b ecau se th e in d ictm en t is v e r y
sp ecif ic as to C o u n ts 1 an d 2 o ccu rrin g w ith in th at c ertain f ew d ay s an d
C o u n ts 3 an d 4 w ith in a certain f ew d ay s an d C o u n ts 5 an d 6 w ith in a certain
f ew d ay s, an d th is ch arg e is v e r y s p e c if ic, tw o sep arate ch arg es f o r each o f
th o se tim es. T h ere’s n o t an y ev id en ce o f

f ered o f o th er crim es f

o r w h ich th e D ef en d an t is n o t o n trial f

o r th o se sam e d ates. S o u n d er th e law , y o u w o u ld

n o t say th e S tate’s g o t to m ak e an electio n b ecau se th ere w ere o th er -- th ere’s

o th er ev id en ce o f o th er crim es d u rin g th o se d ates, so w e h av e to elec t th is

p articu lar crim e o n th is d ay

.

In resp o n se, th e p ro secu to r n o ted th at h e w as g o in g to m ak e an electio n as to th e ty p e

o f p en etratio n ; h o w ev er, b o th th e p ro secu to r an d d ef en se co u n sel ag reed w i th th e trial

co u rt’s d ecisio n to n o t in stru ct th e j u ry o n electio n o f

o f f en ses b ased o n th e p ro o f

.

L ater, d u rin g th e S tate’s clo sin g a r g u m en t, th e p ro secu to r “elected ” th e p articu lar
in cid en ts u p o n w h ich each ch arg e w as b ased an d th e tim e f ram e in w h ich th ey h ad o ccu rred
as f o llo w s:

N o w , in th is case, w e’v e alleg ed b asically th ree o n e-w eek p erio d s, an d
in each o f th o se o n e-w eek p erio d s t h e r e ’ s a co u n t o f rap e o f a ch ild an d a

co u n t o f ag g rav ated sex u al b attery

. O k ay ? N o w y o u ’v e g o t th e sch ed u le an d
th e testim o n y o f th o se w itn esses, an d it’s b een h ig h lig h ted

. T h o se are th e d ay s

an d tim es th at [ th e v ictim ’s m o th er] w o u ld b e w o rk in g , an d th o s e w ere th e d ay s an d tim es th at [ th e v ictim ] w o u ld b e l e f t i n [ th e d ef

en d an t’s] care,

cu sto d y an d co n tro l, o k ay , an d sh e said th is h ap p en ed ab o u t ev ery d ay , ab o u t

-8-ev ery d ay

. 2

T h e f irst p erio d is Ju ly th e 1 st th ro u g h Ju ly th e 4 th

. T h e S tate is rely in g

u p o n f o r C o u n t 1

, rap e o f a ch ild

, rap in g h er w ith h is p en is, an d also w ith th e

ag g rav ated sex u al b attery

, w h en h e p u t h is m o u th
-- in h er w o rd s, lick ed h er

m id d le p art. T h at’s C o u n t 1 an d C o u n t 2

. C o u n ts 3 an d 4

, rap e o f a ch ild

, th e S tate is rely in g u p o n h im rap in g h er w ith h is p en is d u rin g th at tim e. O k ay ?

A g g rav ated sex u al b attery f o r th at tim e is w h en h e w o u ld to u ch h er w ith h is
h an d

. O k ay ? T h at’s w h at th e S tate’s rely in g u p o n

. C o u n ts 5 an d 6

, 5 b ein g

rap e o f a ch ild f

ro m Ju ly th e 1 2 th o f

‘0 9 to Ju ly

th e 1 8 th o f

‘0 9 . T h e S tate’s rely in g u p o n th e rap e o f a ch ild th at h e rap ed h er w ith h is p en is d u rin g th at tim e, an d d u rin g th at tim e, th at h e p laced h is mo u t h o n h er p riv ate p art f o r C o u n t 6

, th e ag g rav ated sex u al b attery

. T h at’s w h at th e S tate is rely in g u p o n

. S h e to ld y o u th at it h ap p en ed all th e tim e. A n d th at’s th e th in g

. S h e can ’t tell

y o u a sp ecif

ic d ay , b u t w e k n o w it h ap p en ed alm o st ev ery d ay , a n d i t
h ap p en ed alm o st ev ery

d ay th at th e m o th er w en t to w o rk

.

We co n clu d e th at th e trial co u rt sh o u ld h av e req u ired th e S tate to m ak e an electio n b ecau se th e v ictim ’ s testim o n y alleg ed m o re sex u al acts b y th e d ef en d an t th an w ere ch arg ed

. T h e in d ictm en t alleg ed

, in co u n t o n e, th at th e d ef en d an t “o n o r ab o u t Ju ly 1 th ro u g h 4

, 2 0 0 9

,

. . . d id in ten tio n ally

, k n o w in g ly

, an d /o r reck lessly en g ag e in sex u al p en etratio n w ith [ th e

v ictim ]

, D O B : 4 /7 /0 1

, a ch ild less th an th irteen (1 3 ) y ears o f ag e, in v io latio n o f T .C .A

. §
3 9 -1 3 -5 2 2 [ .] ” T h e in d ict me n t a l l e g ed

, in co u n t tw o , th at th e d ef en d an t “o n o r ab o u t Ju ly

1 th ro u g h 4

, 2 0 0 9

, . . . d id u n law f u lly

, in ten tio n ally

, k n o w in g ly an d /o r reck lessly en g ag e in

sex u al co n tact

. . . w ith [ th e v ictim ]

, D O B : 4 /7 /0 1

, a p erso n less th an th irteen (1 3 ) y ears o f

ag e, in v io latio n o f T .C .A

. § 3 9 -1 3 -5 0 4 [ .] ” T h e d ef en d an t w as ch arg ed sim ilarly in co u n ts th ree an d f

o u r f o r in cid en ts o ccu rrin g “o n o r ab o u t Ju ly 5 th ro u g h 1 1

, 2 0 0 9 ,” an d in co u n ts
f iv e an d six f

o r in cid en ts o ccu rrin g “o n o r ab o u t Ju ly 1 2 th ro u g h 1 8 , 2 0 0 9 .”

T h e v ictim testif

ied t h a t t h e i n cid en ts started w h en sh e w as sev en y ears o ld

, h ap p en ed “a lo t,” o ccu rred w h en h er m o th er w as at w o rk

, an d th at sh e w as eig h t y ears o ld
b ef o re sh e to ld an y o n e. Wh en ask ed w h eth er th e in cid en ts h ap p en ed ev ery d ay , th e v ictim
said

, “I d o n ’t k n o w .” T h e v i c t i m ’s m o th er p ro d u ced h er w o rk sch ed u le f o r Ju ly 2 0 0 9

, sh o w in g w h at d ay s sh e w as sch ed u led to w o rk th at mo n th at M cD o n ald ’s. H o w ev er, th e

ev id en ce sh o w s th at sh e w as em p lo y ed at M cD o n ald ’s th e en tire tw o y ears th at th e d ef en d an t liv ed w ith h er f

am ily

, an d th ere w as n o ev id en ce to p in p o in t th at th e in cid en ts in
f act o ccu rred o n th o se d ates sh e w o rk ed in Ju ly

. D r. P iercy

, th e f o ren sic ex am in er, testif

ied

We not e tha t the victi m never te st if ie d tha t the inc ide nts hap pen ed “ab out every day.” She sai d tha t 2

it hap pen ed “ a l ot, ” bu t s he s ai d, “ I don ’t know” whe n as ked if it hap pen ed e very day.

-9-th at th e v ictim to ld h er o n Ju ly 2 4 th at th e d ef en d an t’s actio n s m o st recen tly o ccu rred a “f ew d ay s ag o ” b u t th at d o es n o t h elp f o cu s th e j u ry ’s atten t i o n to an y sp ecif ic in cid en t.
M o reo v er, D r. P iercy co u ld n o t tell f ro m h er ex am in atio n w h en th e v i ctim ’s in j u ries

o ccu rred

.

G iv en th e v ictim ’s im

p recise testim o n y co n cern in g w h en th e in cid en ts o ccu rred

, th e j u r y c o u l d h av e b ased its d ecisio n in th e f irst tw o co u n ts o n in cid en ts p o ssib ly h ap p en in g

o n an y o f th e th ree d if

f eren t d ay s th e v ictim ’s m o th er w o rk ed d u rin g th at tim e p erio d

, w h ich

w as th e f irst w eek o f Ju ly

, 2 0 0 9

. D u rin g th e seco n d an d th ird tim e p erio d s, th e seco n d an d
th ird w eek s o f Ju ly

, 2 0 0 9

, sh e w o rk ed f iv e d ay s each p erio d

, so d if f eren t m em

b e r s o f th e j u ry co u ld h av e b ased th eir d ecisio n s o n in cid en ts p o ssib ly h ap p en in g o n f iv e d if f eren t d ay s. T h ere w as n o p ro o f

, eith er a sp ecif

ic d ate o r d escrip tiv e ev en t, o f f ered to d if

f eren tiate an y

o f th e in cid en ts. T h e v ictim related th at th e d ef

en d an t b asically d id th e sam e th in g s to h er

ev ery tim e an d i n t h e sam e p lace. S h e g av e n o sep arate id en tif y in g in f o rm atio n to d istin g u ish an y o f th e in cid en ts; f o r ex am p le, an in stan ce th at o ccu rred in an o th er ro o m , an in stan ce w h ere th e d ef

en d an t g av e h er a lo llip o p , o r an in stan ce th at o ccu rred clo se in tim e
to a h o lid ay o r b ig ev en t. T h e S tate attem p ted to m ak e an electio n in its clo sin g arg u m en t, b u t th e S tate’s “attem

p t” d id n o th in g to f

o cu s th e j u ry ’s atten tio n to sp ec if ic in cid en ts in lig h t o f th e f

act th e v ictim ’s m o th er w o rk ed m o re th an o n e d ay in each o f th e ch arg ed tim e

p erio d s. T h e f

ailu re to elect o f

f en ses co n stitu tes rev ersib le erro r.

With reg ard to th e su f

f i c i e n c y o f th e ev id en ce, th e o n ly p ro o f th at th e in cid en ts

o ccu rred d u rin g th e m o n th o f Ju ly 2 0 0 9 w a s D r

. P iercy ’s testim o n y th at, w h en sh e in terv iew ed th e v ictim o n Ju ly 2 4

, th e v ictim to ld h er th at th e last in cid en t o ccu rred a “f ew d ay s ag o .” A literal “f

ew d ay s ag o ” f

ro m th e d ay th e v ictim to ld D r. P iercy w o u ld h av e b een

w ith in th e tim e f

ram e th e v ictim w as stay in g w ith h er g ran d m o th er an d n o t aro u n d th e d ef en d an t. H o w ev er, D r. P iercy f u rth er testif

ied th at y o u n g ch ild ren o f ten h av e p ro b lem s

w ith co n cep ts o f tim e an d can n o t recall “l a s t w e e k ” o r certain d ates. T h eref o re, h ad th e S tate m ad e a p ro p er electio n o f o f f en ses in co u n ts f

iv e an d six

, th e last o f

f en ses in tim e, th e j u ry co u ld h av e co n ceiv ab ly d eterm in ed th at a “f ew d ay s a g o ” f

e ll w ith in th e tim e f

ram e alleg ed in th o se co u n ts o f Ju ly 1 2 th ro u g h 1 8

. H o w ev er, w ith th e o th erw ise co m p lete lack

o f p ro o f th at th e in cid en ts h ap p en ed in th e tim e p erio d s ch arg e d

, w e f ail to see an y

co n ceiv ab le w ay th e j u ry co u ld h av e co n clu d ed th at th e in cid en ts in co u n ts o n e, tw o , th ree,

an d f o u r o c cu rred in th e resp ectiv e ch arg ed tim e p erio d s. S ee S tate v

. Jo h n n y L ee H in es, N o

. 0 1 C 0 1 -9 7 0 9 -C C -0 0 4 0 5

, 1 9 9 9 WL 3 3 1 0 7

, at * 3 -4 (T en n

. C r i m. A p p

. Jan

. 2 7

, 1 9 9 9 ) (in d icatin g th at w h en S tate elects to d escrib e o f f en ses b y p articu lar d ates, th e o f f en se m u st b e p ro v en to h av e o ccu rred o n th at d ate).

A s su ch

, e v en th o u g h th e v ictim ’s claim s o f sex u al ab u se an d rap e w ere su p p o rted
b y m ed ical p ro o f

, w e are co n strain ed to rev erse th e d ef en d an t’s co n v ictio n s in co u n ts o n e

-10-th ro u g h f

o u r, d ism iss th o se ch arg es, an d v acate t h o se sen ten ces. H o w ev er, w ith reg ard to

co u n ts f i v e an d six

, w e rev erse th e d ef en d an t’s co n v ictio n s an d rem an d f o r a n ew trial o n th o se co u n ts. C f

. S t ate v

. Willie G iv en s, N o

. M 2 0 0 0 -0 2 8 8 3 -C C A -R 3 -C D

, 2 0 0 2 WL
1 4 0 0 0 4 9 , at * 1 2 -1 4 (T en n . C rim . A p p . Ju n e 2 8 , 2 0 0 2 ).

C O N C L U S IO N

B ased o n th e f

o reg o in g au th o rities an d reaso n in g , w e rev erse an d d ism iss co u n ts o n e th ro u g h f o u r an d v acate th o se sen ten ces, an d w e rev erse an d rem an d co u n ts f iv e an d six f

o r

a n ew trial.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A L A N E

. G L E N N

, J U D G E

-11-