Opinion ID: 2327039
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Mayhem

Text: The elements of mayhem are: (1) that the defendant caused permanent disabling injury to another, (2) that he had the general intent to do the injurious act, and (3) that he did so willfully and maliciously. See Peoples v. United States, 640 A.2d 1047, 1054 (D.C.1994 (quoting Edwards v. United States, 583 A.2d 661, 668 (D.C.1990)). Appellant Bishop argues that the evidence was insufficient to prove that Carrington Harley suffered a permanent, disabling injury. We have stated that [t]he mayhem statute seeks to protect the preservation of the human body in its normal functioning and the integrity of the victim's person from permanent injury or disfigurement. McFadden v. United States, 395 A.2d 14, 18 (D.C.1978) (citation omitted). [4] At trial, Harley testified that he suffered six to eight gunshot wounds in his right hip area, and that one round hit his prostate gland and another shattered his rectum. Harley was forced to use a colostomy bag for a year, and, at the time of the trial, he still required a catheter. In addition, Harley's surgeon, Dr. Golocovsky, testified that Harley had permanent scars to his abdomen and abdominal wall, and that his abdominal muscles were permanently weakened. As a result, Harley faced an elevated risk of future intestinal, urinary, and sexual dysfunction. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, we conclude that the trial court did not err in denying appellant Bishop's motion for judgment of acquittal as to the mayhem charge because the evidence sufficed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Harley suffered permanent injuries, which rendered at least one organ of the bodythe stomachgreatly impaired in its functioning. See Peoples, 640 A.2d at 1054 (quotation marks and citation omitted).