Opinion ID: 2132673
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Three Separate Acts.

Text: In State v. Hickman, 576 N.W.2d 364, 368 (Iowa 1998), we found substantial evidence to support a conviction for child endangerment, but reversed the conviction under the enhanced punishment provisions of section 726.6A. In determining the evidence was too vague to support a finding of three separate acts of endangerment, we stated that the three or more acts required under section 726.6A should be established with enough precision to enable a jury to be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of a time and place where each of the three acts occurred. Id. Clarence seizes on the time and place language of Hickman and argues a similar failure occurred in this case. He asserts that the State failed to establish the time and place of the four separate incidents of abuse of Frankie beyond a reasonable doubt as required by Hickman. Our time and place requirement in Hickman was prompted by the lack of evidence in the record separating one particular act of abuse from other acts of abuse. A finding of a time and place where each of the three acts occurred was not supported by the evidence. Id. Thus, the rule we established was that the three or more separate acts must be shown with reasonable specificity to enable a jury to be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of a time and place where each act occurred. However, this rule does not mean that evidence of the precise time and place of each incident or act is required, but merely means the three or more acts must be separated by time and place so that each incident is separate and distinct. This approach is consistent with the language of the statute, as well as our general rule that the State is not required to prove the precise time and place of a crime. See State v. Griffin, 386 N.W.2d 529, 532 (Iowa App. 1986); State v. Washington, 356 N.W.2d 192, 196 (Iowa 1984). It is also compatible with the very nature of child abuse, and the inherent difficulty of establishing precise times and places of abuse to children due to the frequent delay in the discovery of the abuse, as well as other factors based on the nature of the crime. See Griffin, 386 N.W.2d at 532; see also People v. Jones, 51 Cal.3d 34, 270 Cal. Rptr. 611, 792 P.2d 643, 659 (Cal.1990); Pace v. United States, 705 A.2d 673, 677 (D.C.1998). We do not think our legislature intended to impose the strict requirement urged by Clarence. In this case, there is substantial evidence of a time and place where each of the [four] acts occurred even if the time the injuries were inflicted cannot be pinpointed to the precise hour, or even the precise day. Hickman, 576 N.W.2d at 368. This is all the Hickman rule requires. Miranda's testimony, corroborated by the testimony of Frank, as well as Linda and Heather Horn, established that Clarence was present when Frankie was abused. Moreover, Linda and Heather Horn actually witnessed one of the abuse incidents, when Clarence forcefully sat Frankie down on the trunk of the car on September 3. Additional testimony by Frankie's medical providers established the timing of the other abuse. Dr. Dennis-Smithhart described the bruises that were caused by Frankie's head being palmed and established a limited range of time  four to seven or eight days before the April 10 examination  in which they were inflicted. Dr. Rubin testified to the nature of the fracture in Frankie's foot, establishing that the injury also occurred within a limited timeframe, likely 3 to 5 or 3 to 6 weeks prior to Dr. Rubin's examination. Finally, both Dr. Gerdes and Dr. Rubin testified that Frankie's injuries in the immediate aftermath of being slammed into the toilet supported a finding that his injuries occurred on September 3. This accumulated testimony  which was far more specific than that presented in Hickman  established with reasonable specificity and precision the separate times and places of Frankie's injuries. Our standard requires these elements to be established beyond a reasonable doubt, and this was done in this case.