Opinion ID: 2356190
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Delinquency Adjudication

Text: When this Court reviews the findings of fact by a trial justice in a delinquency adjudication, we apply a deferential standard of review. In re Ryan B., 739 A.2d 232, 235 (R.I.1999). We must review the record to determine whether legally competent evidence exists therein to support the findings made by the Family Court trial justice. Id. (quoting In re Malik D., 730 A.2d 1070, 1072 (R.I.1999)). Indeed, this Court gives substantial deference to the findings of a trial justice sitting without a jury, and will not disturb those findings unless the trial justice has overlooked or misconceived material evidence or was otherwise clearly wrong. In re Jessica C., 690 A.2d 1357, 1362 (R.I.1997). Traditionally, we also have afforded deference to credibility determinations made by a trial justice sitting without a jury, so long as they are reasonable, logical, and flow from established facts. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island v. Najarian, 865 A.2d 1074, 1081 (R.I.2005) (quoting Rhode Island Turnpike Bridge Authority v. Bethlehem Steel Corp., 446 A.2d 752, 755 (R.I.1982)). Accordingly, we have acknowledged that credibility determinations made by a trial justice who has actually observed the human drama that is part and parcel of every trial and who has had an opportunity to appraise witness demeanor and take into account other realities that cannot be grasped from a reading of a cold record should be accorded great respect. In re Dissolution of Anderson, Zangari Bossian, 888 A.2d 973, 975 (R.I.2006). The respondent maintains that the trial justice erred in adjudging him delinquent on the charge of second-degree child molestation sexual assault. Because the decision turned on Jennifer's credibility, respondent alleges that the inconsistencies in her testimony render her not credible. The respondent further contends that Jennifer probably fabricated the instances of sexual contact with respondent so she could provide her mother with an explanation for why she engaged in sexual activity with her female cousin. Indeed, respondent characterizes Jennifer's mother's questioning of Jennifer as suggestive and comparable to coercive police interrogation. After dismissing the delinquency petition for first-degree sexual assault, the only issue remaining before the trial justice was whether respondent engaged in sexual contact with Jennifer. Because of the dearth of physical evidence, this determination turned solely on Jennifer's testimony and, therefore, on her credibility. In assessing Jennifer's testimony, the trial justice found her to be an incredibly candid and forthright witness and quite mature for her young age. Despite the inconsistencies, the trial justice nevertheless determined that the evidence was sufficient to find sexual contact by respondent on at least two occasions. He explained that the State has met its burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt that there was, in fact, a sexual contact by [respondent] with the alleged victim, and that, in fact, through his efforts, he, also, forced her to touch him in a sexual way. We have held that it is not typically the role of this Court to second-guess the credibility determinations of the trial justice. See In re Jessica C., 690 A.2d at 1362. Certainly the trial justice's determination that Jennifer was a credible witness was rationally supported by competent evidence. See Najarian, 865 A.2d at 1081. Jennifer was able to testify about three different events, and she could testify with great specificity about two of those three instances. The trial justice properly concluded that the inconsistencies respondent referred to were insufficient to raise a reasonable doubt with respect to the state's case. Thus, based upon our review of the record, it is clear that the trial justice did not err in finding respondent guilty of second-degree child molestation sexual assault.