Opinion ID: 2011194
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Circumstantial Evidence of Age

Text: Weisbrode next argues that the State failed to establish his age at the time of the abuse. A charge of unlawful sexual contact requires that the State prove that the defendant had attained the age of fourteen years and was at least three years older than the victim. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 255(1)(C) (Supp. 1993). Weisbrode raised this issue for the record after the court had instructed the jury. The State presented no direct evidence of Weisbrode's age. Circumstantial evidence, however, is no less conclusive than direct evidence in supporting a conviction. State v. Kenney, 534 A.2d 681, 682 (Me.1987). A jury is entitled to rely on circumstantial evidence and its own observations in comparing a victim's and the defendant's physical characteristics and demeanor to determine the age differential of the defendant and victim. State v. Bickford, 497 A.2d 138, 141 (Me. 1985). The evidence showed that the victim was 12 years old when the abuse occurred. The jury also heard testimony that Weisbrode was a recent college graduate at the time of the abuse. In addition, the jury had sufficient opportunity to observe Weisbrode's physical appearance and demeanor. The jury was entitled to rely on the circumstantial evidence and its own observations to conclude that at the time of the abuse Weisbrode was at least three years older than the victim. See id.