IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT JACKSON
FEBRUARY 1999 SESSION FILED May 7, 1999
Cecil Crowson, Jr. Appellate Court Clerk STATE OF TENNESSEE, ) ) C.C.A. NO. 02C01-9808-CR-00237 Appellee, ) ) SHELBY COUNTY V. S ) ) HON. W. FRED AXLEY, IVORY DUBOSE, ) JUDGE ) Appellant. ) (Aggravated Sexual Battery)
FORTHEAPPELLANT: F RT EA P L E : O H P EL E
A C WHARTON JOHN KNOX WALKUP District PublicDefender Attorney General &Reporter
WALKER GWINN CLINTON J. MORGAN Asst. PublicDefender Asst. Attorney General 201Poplar Ave. Cordell Hull Bldg., 2ndFl. M phis, TN 38103 em 425FifthAve., North (OnAppeal) Nashville, TN 37243-0493
MARY K. KENT WILLIAM L. GIBBONS Asst. PublicDefender District Attorney General 201Poplar Ave. M phis, TN 38103 em DAVID B. SHAPIRO (A T l) t ria Asst. District Attorney General 201Poplar Ave., ThirdFl. M phis, TN 38103 em
O IN NF E : P IO IL D
AFFIRMED
JOHN H. PEAY, Judge OPINION
Thedefendant wa foundgultybyajuryofaggravatedsexu battery. Thetrial courtsentencedthedefendant s i al
toatermof tw ye tobese dintheTenness D elve ars rve ee epartm of C ctio Thedefendant'ssubsequent m for anew ent orre n. otion
tria was denied by the trial court. The defendant now appeals and contends that the evidence is insufficient to sustain his l
convictionandthat hissentenceisexcessive.
Thedefendant'sconvictionstem fromeventsthat occurredonJune28, 1997. Accordingtothevictim Viola s ,
Backe atabout 4:00p.m that afternoon, shesawthedefendantoutside. Thevictimtestifiedthat shehadknownthedefendant rs, .
for thepast fortyyears. Thevictimfurtherstatedthat thedefendant wasfullyawareof her"left-sideweakness" causedbyastroke
becau he had asked about her condition on a prior occasion. Since she was not feeling well that day, the victimasked the se
defendant tobuyapackof cigarettesforher. Thedefendant agreed. Shortlythereafter, thedefendant returnedwiththecigarettes
thevictimreq ste a sh u ck he sc n d r. A this p thedefenda opene the screen do pushed the victim ue d nd e nlo ed r ree oo t oint, nt d or,
tothefloor, andsat downonhercouch. Thedefendant begantodrinkabeer andignoredthevictim requeststhat heleaveher 's
home.
A thedefendant finisheddrinkingthebeer, hepushedthevictimdownonthe couchandbegantofondle fter
her breastsandbuttock a rubhis h betw her legs. A ughthevic triedtosto thedefendant, duetothefact that s nd and een ltho tim p
shehadonlypartialuseofherleft hand itwasdifficulttoprotectherself. W lethedefend pinnedthevictimto thecouch, he , hi ant
chokedherandattem toremo herdress. Thevictimthenbit thedefenda handandhebe tocurseather. Thevictim pted ve nt's gan
picked upapictureframeandhit thedefendant. Thedefendant respondedbyhittingthevictiminthemouthandontheright side
of h h d w hisfist. Hecontinuedtotry toremoveherclothingbutwasunsuccessful. Thedefendant wasabletounziphis er ea ith
o npantsandexposehimsef tothevictim. Thedefendant repeatedlytoldthevictim "bitch, if youdon't openyour legsI amgoing w l ,
tokill you." It w atthispoint that thevictimwasabletopull thedefendant'sshirt over hisheadandpushhimoff ofher. She as
thengotup, ranaroundthefloor, andbegantokickhim Afterthedefendant ranout thedoor, thevictimcalledthepolice. .
A trial, Thom Caldwell, aM phispoliceofficer, testifiedthat whenhearrivedonthescene, thevictimhad t as em
aredmarkonthesideofher face, abustedlip, a "tethered" clothes. Thevictimthenidentifiedthedefendant, whow standing nd as
onthecornerof thestreet, as h attack T defendant w arrestedandplacedinapatrol car. AccordingtoOfficer Caldwell, er er. he as
thedefendant beatonthecar windowandtoldthevictim"if I getany tim outof thisI amgoingtoget you." Officer Caldwell further e
testifiedthat thedefendant smelledstronglyof alcohol, hadslurredspeechandbloodshot eyes, andwasunsteady onhisfeet.
Thedefendant nowcontendsthat theevidenceisinsufficient tosupport afindingofguilt beyondareasonable
doubt. Thedefendant basesthis contentiononallegedinconsistenciesinthevictim statem tothepolice, hertestim at 's ent ony
theprelim hearing,