Case Name: STATE of Louisiana v. Fidelis OWUNTA
Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1999-03-31
Citations: 734 So. 2d 57
Docket Number: No. 98-KA-0006
Parties: STATE of Louisiana v. Fidelis OWUNTA.
Judges: Court composed of Judge STEVEN R. PLOTKIN, Judge JAMES F. McKAY III, Judge DENNIS R. BAGNERIS Sr.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 734
Pages: 57–63

Head Matter:
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.

Opinion:
I,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.
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 Rshe 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 rela tionship 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 au-diocassette 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. She could forgive defendant for what he did to her daughter, but she could never trust .him.
Victim's older sister testified that she dated her brother's barber for a few months. She denied she made comments to him that her siblings were trying to extort money from defendant. She knew defendant as a family friend, he taught | fiher mother and sister. She learned of the cassette tape after the conversation had been taped; however, she did not listen to the tape. She was at home at when her siblings confronted defendant. Defendant was in the living room with them, their mother was at work. She was in her bedroom, but she walked into the living room when she heard yelling. Defendant was crying and appeared to be very upset.
Victim's sister further testified that her ex-boyfriend told her that victim had been experimenting with a vibrator. He told her that he received this information from victim. She was surprised because she did not know why victim would confide in him. She did not confront her sister about the matter. She believed there was something going on between victim and defendant. She had spoken to her mother about defendant coming over to the house. Her mother spoke to defendant but he continued to visit.
Her ex-boyfriend called her house numerous times attempting to talk to her. He kept trying to find out information about the victim, but she never told him anything. She did not know if her brother ever spoke to him about defendant.
The barber testified that he was the ex-boyfriend of victim's sister and that he spoke with the victim and her brother about a scheme to extort money from defendant. He stated that his ex-girlfriend asked him to speak to her brother about defendant. He told the brother that he should leave defendant alone. When he did not get a response from the brother, he called defendant and informed defendant about his conversation with victim's brother. He acknowledged two prior convictions for forgery and theft.
7Pefendant testified that he did not have any sexual involvement with victim. He stated that he taught victim's mother at Southern University. He was very willing to assist her when she asked him to tutor victim in mathematics. In June of 1996, he received a phone call from victim asking him to come to her house. She claimed there was an emergency and her mother was not home. When he arrived at her house, victim and her brother attempted to extort money and other items from him. It was never his intent to provide them with money, a car and a house, but he agreed to these conditions because he was scared. He testified that there was a kitchen knife on the kitchen counter during their conversation, which he feared they would use to kill him. He also stated that victim was infatuated with him and had made passes at him. He told victim's mother, but she dismissed it as "puppy love."
The parties stipulated at trial that Dr. Rue, an obstetrician/gynecologist, examined victim on June 21,1996. The medical examination could not confirm or deny pri- or sexual intercourse. The parties also stipulated that defendant's date of birth was November 11,1953.
III. DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION
A review of the record reveals no errors patent.
In his sole assignment of error, defendant alleges that the trial court erred when it excluded impeachment testimony of the barber regarding what the victim and her brother told the barber about an alleged plan to extort money from defendant. The trial court excluded such testimony as hearsay.
|sAt trial, the victim and her brother testified that they did not attempt to extort money and gifts from defendant. They also testified they did not talk to the barber about the scheme. Victim's sister also testified that she was unaware of the scheme. Defense counsel attempted to impeach their testimony by introducing the testimony of the victim's brother's barber that he and the victim's brother, and he and the victim, had a conversation regarding the extortion scheme.
"Hearsay" is defined as "a statement, other than one made by the declar-ant while testifying at the present trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted." La. C.E. art. 801(C). Generally, hearsay is inadmissible. La. C.E. art. 802. However, under limited circumstances certain types of hearsay are admissible to attack the credibility of a witness. La. C.E. art. 607. After laying a proper foundation, art. 607 allows a party to attack the credibility of a witness through the introduction of prior inconsistent statements. However, the witness at hand must have made the prior inconsistent statements, not another witness. See, State v. Mayeux, 639 So.2d 828 (La.App. 5 Cir.1994), State v. Jones, 648 So.2d 472 (La.App. 4 Cir.1994).
In the instant case there is no question that the statements made by victim and her brother to the barber were hearsay. As required by La.C.E. art. 607 such statements were not prior inconsistent statements of the witness at hand, the barber, but of other witnesses. Thus, the trial court judge was correct in not admitting these statements as they are hearsay.
AFFIRMED.
PLOTKIN, J., dissents with reasons.