Opinion ID: 3163494
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Sufficiency of the Evidence for Felony Assault

Text: Appellants allege that the evidence at trial was insufficient to support their convictions of felony assault. In reviewing a claim of sufficiency of the evidence, this court must determine, “whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, drawing all reasonable inferences in the government‟s 25 favor, and giving deference to the jury‟s right to determine credibility and weight, there was sufficient evidence from which a reasonable mind might fairly infer guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” Blakeney v. United States, 653 A.2d 365, 369 n.3 (D.C. 1995). The evidence need not “compel a finding of guilt” or negate “every possible inference of innocence.” Timberlake v. United States, 758 A.2d 978, 980 (D.C. 2000). The government need only present some probative evidence on each essential element of the crime. Jennings v. United States, 431 A.2d 552, 555 (D.C. 1981). Among the elements necessary to prove felony assault, the government must establish that the defendant caused “significant bodily injury” to another person, defined as “an injury that requires hospitalization or immediate medical attention.” In re R.S., 6 A.3d 854, 857 (D.C. 2010) (quoting D.C. Code § 22-404 (a)(2)). The threshold for such injury is “markedly less severe than that required for aggravated assault,” and the focus “must be on the nature of the injury itself and the practical need in the ordinary course of events for prompt medical attention.” Id. at 859. “Treatment of a higher order, requiring true medical expertise is required.” Quintanilla v. United States, 62 A.3d 1261, 1265 (D.C. 2013)(internal quotations omitted). 26 Appellants claim that Patterson‟s injuries were not severe enough to constitute significant bodily injury. However, this court found in In re R.S., that under similar circumstances, the victim suffered a significant bodily injury when she was attacked and her resulting injuries required four to six stitches in her ear. See In re R.S., 6 A.3d at 859. In R.S., the victim was attacked by the defendant and other juveniles, who punched and kicked the face and head of the victim and caused her to hit her head on a metal gate that cut her ear. The victim testified that the assault resulted in a “laceration to her ear, a bruise on her forearm, and a scratch on the back of her right shoulder.” Id. at 857. This court concluded that “where the injury to the ear required four to six stitches and left a scar and where treatment was sought and administered with reasonable promptness, we have no difficulty in sustaining the trial court‟s conclusion that the injury met the requirement of the felony assault statute.” Id. at 859. In the present case, Patterson was injured in a violent group attack, in which Rollerson and Burns participated. After Patterson was “jumped,” she was pushed to the ground, kicked and “stomp[ed] on,” punched multiple times in the face, and hit in the head with a log. As a result, in addition to bruises and abrasions, she suffered “gashes to her face” going down to the “white meat,” and was a bleeding “mess.” She was taken to the hospital where she received care, including nine 27 stitches. The government placed into evidence photographs of her injuries from the hospital as well as medical records documenting her treatment. In light of the evidence of Patterson‟s injuries, we are satisfied that she suffered “significant bodily injury” for the purposes of felony assault and therefore affirm Burns‟s and Rollerson‟s felony assault convictions.