Opinion ID: 2344419
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Evidence was Sufficient for Statutory Rape and Sodomy Convictions

Text: Mr. Wilson was charged with eight counts of statutory rape, seven of which were submitted to the jury, and three counts of statutory sodomy, all of which were submitted to the jury. Mr. Wilson argues that the evidence that he committed the act of statutory sodomy and the act of statutory rape alleged to have occurred between January 1 and May 16, 2003, was too vague and indefinite to support a jury finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt on these counts. Second-degree statutory sodomy is defined as a person twenty-one years of age or older having deviate sexual intercourse with another person who is less than seventeen years old. Sec. 566.064, RSMo 2000. Deviate sexual intercourse is defined as any act involving the genitals of one person and the hand, mouth, tongue or anus of another person or a sexual act involving the penetration, however slight, of the male or female sex organ or the anus by a finger, instrument or object done for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of any person. Sec. 566.010(1). Statutory rape is defined as when a person twenty-one years of age or older . . . has sexual intercourse with another person who is less than seventeen years of age. Sec. 566.034. At trial, the victim testified that, in January 2003, Mr. Wilson stuck his fingers in me and then had sexual intercourse with me. Mr. Wilson argues that this testimony was insufficient to establish that his fingers penetrated the victim's vagina. Although the victim did not specify precisely where Mr. Wilson stuck his fingers, the context supported a reasonable inference that she meant that he put in fingers in her vagina. See State v. Cooper, 271 S.W. 471, 474 (Mo.1925) (deviate sexual assault case involving digital penetration). This is sufficient to support the challenged statutory sodomy conviction. Similarly, D.B. testified that Mr. Wilson had intercourse with her twice between January 1, 2003, and May 16, 2003; the first time was in January 2003, and the next time was before [her] birthday on May 16, 2003. This evidence is sufficient to support the jury's verdict against Mr. Wilson on both charges of statutory rape alleged to have occurred between January 1, 2003 and May 16, 2003. [4] Mr. Wilson also argues that the evidence at trial was insufficient to support submission of the two counts alleging that he had sex with D.B. in September 2003 and in November 2003. It is uncontested that D.B. was under 17 during these time periods and that she testified unequivocally that Mr. Wilson had sexual intercourse with her eight times between January and November 2003. Mr. Wilson's real complaint is that the evidence was insufficient for the jury to conclude that the statutory rapes occurred during the charged time frames. Again, this Court disagrees. D.B. testified that there was a time in September and a time in November when Mr. Wilson had sexual intercourse with her and explained that she recalled that the events occurred during those time periods because of other events that occurred near those times. While the victim did not give specific dates, Mr. Wilson cites no authority that she was required to do so, and the case law would not support such an argument. The evidence was sufficient to support his convictions.