Opinion ID: 1665551
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Offense of Rape

Text: A person commits rape if he engages in deviate sexual activity with another person who is less than fourteen years of age. Ark.Code Ann. § 5-14-103(a)(3)(A) (Repl.2006 & Supp.2007). Deviate sexual activity is defined as any act of sexual gratification involving the penetration, however slight, of the anus or mouth of a person by the penis of another person. Ark.Code Ann. § 5-14-101(1)(A) (Repl.2006 & Supp.2007). Sexual gratification is not defined by statute, but this court has held that the State is not required to provide direct proof that an act is done for sexual gratification if it can be assumed that the desire for sexual gratification is a plausible reason for the act. Warren v. State, 314 Ark. 192, 862 S.W.2d 222 (1993). We conclude there is ample evidence to support Bell's rape conviction. First, Bell admitted that B.C., a six-year-old, put her mouth on his penis and gave him oral sex. He admitted that his pants were down during that time and that he had an erection. Heil's sister-in-law testified that she heard S.C., who was in the car at the time of the offense, yell, Mama, Mama, Richard made her suck his dick. Furthermore, both Heil and his sister-in-law observed what they believed could only be oral sex between Bell and the victim. Though this evidence was circumstantial, the jury was free to find it persuasive. Finally, a hair found on Bell's underwear was found to be microscopically similar to the sample provided by B.C. Thus, there was substantial evidence, both direct and circumstantial, to support the rape conviction.