Opinion ID: 2497005
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: whether the evidence was sufficient to support counts i and ii of the indictment.

Text: ¶ 53. Anderson argues that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support the two counts of statutory rape. In analyzing the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court views the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution and asks if any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Bush v. State, 895 So.2d 836, 843 (Miss.2005) (quoting Jackson v. Va., 443 U.S. 307, 315, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979)). Anderson was charged under Mississippi Code Section 97-3-65(1)(b) (Rev.2006), which states that a person is guilty of statutory rape if the person has sexual intercourse with a child who: (i) Is under the age of fourteen (14) years; (ii) Is twenty-four (24) or more months younger than the person; and (iii) Is not the person's spouse.
¶ 54. As previously stated, Count I of the indictment charged Anderson with statutory rape on or about November, 2006. At trial, Allison testified that Anderson had been having sexual intercourse with her since she was seven years old. With regard to November 2006, Allison testified that Anderson had intercourse with her both before and after Thanksgiving, which was on November 23, 2006. She also testified that Anderson had intercourse with her on November 24, 2006, at her aunt's house and on November 25, 2006, at her family's farm. The only evidence presented to contradict Allison's testimony was the testimony of Anderson's brother, Seth Abbot. Abbot testified that he was with Anderson and Allison the entire time they were at the family farm on November 25, 2006, and that he did not see Anderson have intercourse with Allison. No evidence was presented to contradict Allison's testimony of the other November incidents. ¶ 55. This Court has held that [a]n individual may be found guilty of rape on the uncorroborated testimony of the prosecuting witness, where the testimony is not discredited or contradicted by other credible evidence. Parramore v. State, 5 So.3d 1074, 1077-78 (Miss.2009) (citing Withers v. State, 907 So.2d 342, 353 (Miss. 2005)) ([P]ersons accused of statutory rape may be found guilty on the uncorroborated testimony of a single witness.). Other than the testimony of his brother, which contradicts only Allison's testimony regarding the November 25, 2006, rape, Anderson did not present evidence to discredit or contradict Allison's testimony regarding the other rapes that occurred in November. Accordingly, this Court finds that sufficient evidence was presented at trial to convict Anderson of statutory rape on or about November, 2006.
¶ 56. Count II of the indictment charged Anderson with statutory rape on November 25, 2006. As discussed above, Allison testified that Anderson had intercourse with her at the family farm on this date. Anderson's brother contradicted Allison's testimony by stating that he was with Anderson and Allison the entire time they were at the farm and that he did not see Anderson have intercourse with Allison. ¶ 57. When there is conflicting evidence, the trier of fact determines the credibility of the witnesses and the weight of their testimony. Martin v. State, 970 So.2d 723, 727 (Miss.2007). In the present case, the jury heard the testimony of Allison and Seth Abbot and convicted Anderson of statutory rape on November 25, 2006. Because the jury is to determine the weight and credibility of testimony, and because evidence was presented supporting Count II of the indictment, we find that a rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of [statutory rape] beyond a reasonable doubt. Bush, 895 So.2d at 843. ¶ 58. In sum, we find that sufficient evidence supported the charges in Counts I and II of the indictment and, accordingly, find no merit in this assignment of error.