Case Name: STATE of Louisiana v. Jason HELOU
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 2003-10-23
Citations: 857 So. 2d 1024
Docket Number: No. 2002-K-2302
Parties: STATE of Louisiana v. Jason HELOU.
Judges: KNOLL and TRAYLOR, JJ., dissent for the reasons assigned by WEIMER, J.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 857
Pages: 1024–1033

Head Matter:
STATE of Louisiana v. Jason HELOU.
No. 2002-K-2302.
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
Oct. 23, 2003.
William R. Campbell, Jr., Kenota P. Johnson, for Applicant.
Richard P. Ieyoub, Attorney General, Michael Harson, District Attorney, James N. Prather, Jr., New Orleans, for Respondent.

Opinion:
1JOHNSON, Justice.
The defendant was charged by bill of information with the offense of second degree battery. After trial, a unanimous six person jury found the defendant guilty as charged, and he was sentenced to serve three years at hard labor with one year suspended. The defendant appealed his conviction and sentence. The Third Circuit Court of Appeal affirmed his conviction but vacated his sentence and remanded the case for resentencing. Upon the defendant's application, we granted certio-rari to consider the correctness of that decision, being particularly interested in the sufficiency of evidence issue.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On September 12, 1997, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Richard were in the parking lot of the Academy Sporting Goods store in Lafayette, Louisiana, when a young man, Jeremy Jones ("Jones") ran past them and yelled, "Help me, Mister. There's some people who want to hurt me." Shortly thereafter, the defendant, Jason Helou, and two other men followed behind Jones while screaming expletives. Offended by the profanity, Mr. Richard ("the victim") asked the three men to watch their language. The | ^.defendant then moved closer to the victim and asked him if he wanted to "make something of it" and spat at him and his wife. In response, the victim swung at the defendant. The defendant then struck the victim's nose with his fist. His friends jumped on the victim and beat him until a bystander yelled that the police were on the way. After the defendant and the other two men fled the scene, an ambulance arrived and transported Mr. Richard to a hospital for medical treatment of his bloody nose.
The State subsequently charged the defendant with second degree battery. A jury found him guilty as charged. On appeal, the Third Circuit affirmed the conviction with one judge dissenting. In deciding the issue of sufficiency of the evidence, an appellate court, when considering the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, must determine whether the trier of fact could have found proof beyond a reasonable doubt as to each of the essential elements of the crime charged. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979). The court of appeal upheld the defendant's conviction based on the "disfigurement" and "impairment of a mental faculty," a pair of components of LSA-R.S. 14:34.1, infra. The court of appeal held that the defendant possessed specific intent to inflict serious bodily injury on the victim. The court of appeal concluded that the State introduced sufficient evidence to prove that Mr. Richard went to the hospital and received some type of treatment, thus, proving serious bodily injury. The court of appeal further held that, as the aggressor, the defendant could not claim self-defense.
In a dissent, Judge Thibodeaux found that the defendant's conduct justified a conviction of simple battery but not second degree battery. Judge Thibodeaux noted that after a careful review of the record, there was no evidence to establish that the victim suffered a "serious body injury," instead he suffered only a bloody nose. He pointed out that although the victim may have been confused when he testified that his Iswife was with him in the ambulance on the trip to the hospital, as the State conceded, there was no evidence of unconsciousness. He also pointed out that there was no evidence to support a "serious bodily injury," i.e., no extreme physical pain; no protracted and obvious disfigurement; no protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member; no impairment of mental faculty; and no substantial risk of death.
Judge Thibodeaux distinguished State v. Hernandez, 96-115 (La.App. 4 Cir. 12/18/96), 686 So.2d 92, where the defendant struck his wife and two daughters repeatedly with an electrical cord. The defendant was convicted on two counts of simple battery and one count of second-degree battery. The court of appeal affirmed the convictions, holding that the evidence showed that the defendant intentionally inflicted serious bodily injury on one of his daughters. The defendant struck her on the back and in the face with the electrical cord, resulting in an elongated laceration on her shoulder, cuts to her face, and a cut to her finger as she used her hand to shield her face. Judge Thibo-deaux pointed out that in Hernandez, the victim's injuries were obvious, while in this case, the facts do not support a finding of "disfigurement."
The dissenter also opined that State v. Stowe, 93-2020 (La.4/11/94), 635 So.2d 168 is distinguishable from the instant case. In that case, the defendant hit a police officer in the head knocking him into a ditch, causing the officer to suffer a contusion and edema to his eye, with the eye swollen nearly completely shut; bruises and contusions all over his face; and abrasions on his head and chin. In Stowe, there was evidence of a severe injury to the eye, as well as cuts and bruises. The victim suffered severe headaches on a daily basis for two weeks following the incident. This Court found that the testimony of the eyewitnesses; the Chief of Police, who transported the victim to the hospital; photographs of the injuries; medical records; and the doctor's Rreport were sufficient evidence to justify the defendant's conviction of second degree battery.
He further determined that State v. Galloway, 551 So.2d 701 (La.App. 1 Cir.1989), where the defendant struck an elderly victim, who suffered with diabetes and had recently undergone open heart surgery, was not analogous to the case at bar. In Galloway, the State provided evidence to show that following the attack where the victim was struck in the mouth, and stomped on his chest and groin, that the victim's vision was limited because his eyes were cloudy with blood; that the victim occasionally lost consciousness; and that he suffered a large hematoma on his scalp and lacerations which required several stitches to close. Also, in Galloway, there was testimony from a physician that the victim's injuries would have caused him extreme pain.
Judge Thibodeaux reasoned that in the case sub judice, Lori Miller, a former army medic and an eyewitness to the incident, testified that the only visible sign of an injury was profuse bleeding from the nose and "small minor scrapes on his body." He noted that the injuries were so minor that the victim did not wish to call an ambulance. Judge Thibodeaux concluded that the State failed to present evidence necessary to support the element of "serious bodily injury" as required by LSA-R.S. 14:34.1.
DISCUSSION
The sole issue before this Court is whether the evidence presented to the jury was sufficient to justify a conviction for second degree battery. Stated differently, we must determine whether the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant inflicted "serious bodily injury" as defined in LSA-R.S. 14:34.1.
LSA-R.S. 14:34.1 provides that:
| ^Second degree battery is a battery committed without the consent of the victim when the offender intentionally inflicts serious bodily injury.
For purposes of this article, serious bodily injury means bodily injury which involves unconsciousness, extreme physical pain or protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty, or a substantial risk of death.
Whoever commits the crime of second degree battery shall be fined not more than two thousand dollars or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than five years, or both.
(Emphasis added)
This Court has held that the phrase "extreme physical pain" as used in the statute is not unconstitutionally vague, since it "describes a condition which most people of common intelligence can understand." State v. Thompson, 399 So.2d 1161, 1168 (La.1981).
When considering a claim of insufficient evidence, a reviewing court must determine whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); State v. Smith, 600 So.2d 1319 (La.1992). It is not the function of an appellate court to assess credibility or re-weigh the evidence. State v. Rosiere, 488 So.2d 965 (La.1986).
According to Jackson v. Virginia, supra, the State has the burden of proving each element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. As stated above, the State must prove that: 1) the defendant committed a battery; 2) without the vic tim's consent; and 3) the victim suffered serious bodily injury.
IflThe defendant contends that the State failed to prove he committed second degree battery. Specifically, he argues that the State failed to prove that the victim suffered "serious bodily injury."
In its case in chief, the State relied on the testimony of Lori Miller, the former army medic; Mrs. Caroline Richard, the wife of the victim; and Mr. Floyd Richard, the victim. At trial, Lori Miller testified that she was waiting in the car for her husband when she witnessed three men, one of whom was shouting profanities, chasing another man, later determined to be Jeremy Jones. The Richards were leaving the store, and they simply told the defendant to "watch his language." The defendant then directed his profanity toward Mr. Richard while moving towards him and ultimately blocking Mr. Richard's path to his vehicle. The defendant "insisted" on starting a fight. The defendant struck Mr. Richard in the face and the other two men joined in the fight. According to Miller, as a result of the fight, there were large puddles of blood on the ground, so much so that it was hard to tell exactly from where the blood was coming.
Mr. Floyd and Mrs. Caroline Richard testified to the same facts as Miller, but they testified, in addition, that when Mr. Richard told the defendant about the profanity, he came toward them and spat in their direction. Then, in an effort to defend himself, Mr. Richard hit the defendant with the bag which was in his hand. At that time, the other two men surrounded Mr. Richard and began beating him. Mrs. Richard testified that her husband's nose was bleeding profusely. Mr. Richard testified that he had never seen so much blood in his life. He also testified that his shoes, the front of his jeans, and his shirt were all saturated with blood.
The State submits that we must infer from the amount of bleeding that the victim suffered a "severe bodily injury." This Court finds that the presence of blood alone does not satisfy the "serious bodily injury" element of second degree battery. Our | ^jurisprudence demonstrates many cases where the State proved the "serious bodily injury" element of second degree battery. Some examples are: 1) State v. Abercrumbia, 412 So.2d 1027 (La.1982), where the defendant hit the victim with boards across his head, neck, and arm, causing a "deep cut over his right eye;" 2) State v. Robertson, 98-0883 (La.App. 3d Cir.12/9/98), 723 So.2d 500, writ denied, 99-0658 (La.6/25/99), 745 So.2d 1187, where the defendant knocked the victim to the ground and repeatedly kicked and hit her until she "kind of lost her senses for a minute;" the victim had bruises and contusions over the entire extent of her body, which left significant scars and lacerations on her nose; and 3) State v. Robinson, 549 So.2d 1282, 1285 (La.App. 3d Cir.1989), where the defendant stabbed the victim twice with a large, folding knife.
There are other cases which indicate that less substantial injuries may also constitute "serious bodily injury." See State v. Young, 00-1437, pp. 9-10 (La.11/28/01), 800 So.2d 847, 852-853, where the victim suffered a bloody nose, tenderness in hyoid area below the larynx, and complained of pain at incision in his lower abdominal area. The physician testified that the defendant's act of choking the victim could have resulted in substantial risk of death, and three months after the attack, the victim continued to have throat problems; State v. Diaz, 612 So.2d 1019, 1022-1023 (La.App. 2d Cir.1993), where the defendant broke the victim's jaw during a group fight; State v. Mullins, 537 So.2d 386, 391 (La.App. 4th Cir.1988), where a 6 foot tall defendant punched a 5'5" girlfriend, breaking her nose; State v. Legendre, 522 So.2d 1249, 1251 (La.App. 4th Cir.1988), writ denied, 523 So.2d 1321 (La.1988), where the defendant raised the victim over his head and smashed her to the floor, rendering her momentarily immobile and requiring a brief hospitalization followed by outpatient treatment leading to a loss of employment for several weeks; State v. Accardo, 466 So.2d 549, 552 (La.App. 5th Cir.1985), writ denied, 468 So.2d 1204 (La.1985), where a 17-year-old female victim was struck on the head by the defendant with either his fist or a blackjack, causing the side of her face to swell.
After a careful review of LSA-R.S. 14:34.1 and the related jurisprudence, we find that in the case sub judice, the State failed to offer any evidence of "extreme physical pain" by way of testimony from the fact witnesses. Nor do we have testimony from medical witnesses or medical records, which would prove this factor. Rather, the evidence presented, dealt solely with the amount of blood the victim lost. The record demonstrates that at trial the State's direct examination of its witnesses completely avoided the subject of pain. We cannot infer that the loss of blood is tantamount to "extreme physical pain." We also cannot infer that a punch in the nose, without more evidence, is sufficient to support a conviction of second degree battery.
In summary, there is no testimony that the victim lost consciousness at any time despite the victim's "confusion" as to whether his wife rode with him in the ambulance to the hospital.. There is no evidence of severe injury. In fact, the victim initially declined medical help; he required only a brief visit to the emergency room; thereafter, he sought no further medical attention, and there is no evidence of disfigurement or permanent disability. No medical personnel appeared at trial to provide jurors with a diagnosis or a summary of the victim's treatment. The only evidence in the record is the medical bill for $983.90. There was no explanation of what medical services were provided to the victim. Because the State failed in its burden of proof, any conclusion by the jury as to pain suffered by the victim was simply a guess on the jury's part, since the State failed to offer any evidence on the issue. Simply put, because the jury had to infer the victim's pain, the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the victim, in fact, suffered "extreme physical pain" as required by the statute. | ^Accordingly, we conclude that the evidence is insufficient to sustain the defendant's conviction for second degree battery.
Nevertheless, we find that the evidence is sufficient to support a conviction for simple battery. Simple battery is an authorized responsive verdict to a charge of second degree battery. LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 814 A(15). A battery is defined as "the intentional use of force or violence upon the person of another." LSA-R.S. 14:33. Pursuant to LSA-R.S. 14:35, a simple battery is a battery committed without the consent of the victim.
In this case, it is undisputed that the defendant struck Mr. Richard in the nose with his fist, which constitutes a "force of violence" upon Mr. Richard. It is also clear that Mr. Richard did not consent to being struck. Accordingly, we vacate the defendant's conviction for second degree battery and enter a conviction for simple battery, a statutory responsive verdict pursuant to LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 814 A(15). We remand this matter to the trial court for resentencing for simple battery.
WEIMER, J., dissents and assigns reasons.
KNOLL and TRAYLOR, JJ., dissent for the reasons assigned by WEIMER, J.
. State v. Helou, 02-0077 (La.App. 3d Cir.6/5/02), 822 So.2d 647.
. State v. Helou, 02-2302 (La.3/28/03), 840 So.2d 554.
. LSA-R.S. 14:33 provides that a battery is the intentional use of force of violence upon the person of another.