Opinion ID: 1676233
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: For her second assignment of error, Dougan asserts that the State's evidence was insufficient to establish that she physically mistreat[ed] the corpse of her stillborn child within the purview of Ark.Code Ann. § 5-60-101(a)(2) (Repl.1993). At the close of the State's case in chief, Dougan moved for a directed verdict on the basis that the State failed to produce evidence of any physical harm to the child. She further argued that she was not charged with improper disposal of a body or improper burial. The State responded that the placing of a corpse in the dumpster constituted physical mistreatment of that corpse. The trial court denied the motion. Prior to the enactment of the Arkansas Criminal Code in 1975, the Commentary to Ark.Stat.Ann. § 41-2920 (Repl.1977), provided as follows: This section is designed to cover not only sexual assaults on dead human bodies but also lesser forms of mishandling, abuse, or even neglect. Its former statutory counterpart was found in old Ark.Stat. Ann § 41-3701 (removal of body from grave), 41-3702 (purchasing body), 41-3703 (Repl.1964) (opening grave). The primary purpose of the section is to protect the feelings of family of the deceased person. (Emphasis added.) In light of this Commentary, we believe that the legislature intended that § 5-60-101 cover Dougan's placement of her baby's corpse in a dumpster, as such an act constitutes a form of mishandling, abuse, or neglect. In light of the evidence presented, we cannot agree that there was insufficient proof from which the jury could have concluded that Dougan's conduct amounted to physical mistreatment of a corpse in a manner offensive to a person of reasonable sensibilities. Affirmed.