Opinion ID: 2601657
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: [¶ 16] Jones further contends his conviction cannot stand because the evidence, as a whole, is insufficient to support the jury's determination that he touched RH's intimate parts with the intention of sexual arousal, gratification or abuse. When reviewing a sufficiency of the evidence claim, we must determine whether the evidence and any reasonable inferences drawn from it, when viewed in the light most favorable to the State, are adequate to permit a reasonable trier of fact to find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Granzer v. State, 2008 WY 118, ¶ 23, 193 P.3d 266, 273 (Wyo.2008); Lemus v. State, 2007 WY 111, ¶ 47, 162 P.3d 497, 509 (Wyo.2007); Statezny v. State, 2001 WY 22, ¶ 15, 18 P.3d 641, 645 (Wyo.2001). It is the jury's responsibility to resolve conflicts in the testimony, weigh the evidence and draw reasonable inferences from the facts. Sotolongo-Garcia v. State, 2002 WY 185, ¶ 11, 60 P.3d 687, 689 (Wyo.2002). We will not substitute our judgment for that of the jury but will only determine whether a quorum of reasonable and rational individuals could have found the essential elements of the crime were proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Conine v. State, 2008 WY 146, ¶ 5, 197 P.3d 156, 159 (Wyo.2008); Grissom v. State, 2005 WY 132, ¶ 24, 121 P.3d 127, 136 (Wyo.2005). [¶ 17] The record reveals that the State established at trial how RH referred to his intimate parts through the following examination: [Prosecutor] Are there certain parts of your body that nobody is supposed to touch but you? [RH] Yes. Q Okay. What parts-where are those parts of your body? A Just up on top of my belly. Q Say that again, please. A Just the top of my belly. Q Okay. Is there anyplace else that nobody else is supposed to touch? A Down by the knees, and on the front and the back. Q Okay. Is [sic] there some clothes that you wear that cover up just that part of your body? A Yes. Q What clothes is [sic] that? A My pants. Q Are there any other things you wear inside your pants that just cover up those parts? A Yes. Q What's that? A My underwear. Based upon this testimony, the jury could reasonably conclude RH was referring to his genitals when he discussed the front and where his underwear covers. Once the jury had an understanding of RH's terminology, the jury could reasonably conclude from the following testimony that Jones had touched RH on the genitals: [Prosecutor] Okay. We've talked a little bit about the part of your body where your underwear covers up. Do you remember if there's been any big people, like your mom or [Jones] or maybe doctors, anybody in the last year has touched that part of your body where underwear covers? [RH] Yes. Q Okay. Who has touched that part of your body? A Sometimes the doctors, and sometimes my mom, and sometimes [Jones]. Q Okay. When the doctors did it, was it when you went to the doctors and you weren't feeling good? A Can you say that again, please? Q Well, when you say the doctors looked at that part-touched that part of your body, did you actually go-maybe your mom took you to see the doctor? A Yes. Q Okay. Let's talk about when your mom does that. Did she do that-do you remember if there was some reason that she was doing that? A Yes. Q What was that? A Sometimes I've been-sometimes naughty, and sometimes whenever I'm taking a bath. Q So taking a bath or sometimes when you were naughty. Okay. When you were naughty, would she touch the front part of your body or back part of your body? A The back and front. Q Okay. Now, let's talk about when [Jones] would do that. Were you in trouble when [Jones] did that? A Sometimes, and sometimes not. Q Okay. Let's talk about the times when you weren't in trouble. What part of your body would he touch then? A My front and the back. Q Okay. When he touched those parts, what part of his body would he touch you with? A His hand. Q Do you remember, was his hand moving? A Yes. Q Can you tell me how it was moving? A It wasI really can't remember that. Q Okay. You say he also touched the back part of that area where your underwear covers. Was that when you were in trouble or other times? A Whenever I was in trouble. Q And how would he touch the back side when you were in trouble? A He would justI'm not really sure. I can't remember. Q Was it like a spanking? A Yes. Q Okay. [RH], when [Jones] would touch the front part where your underwear goes, would that be the same-would he touch it the same way that he touched your back side, or would it be different? A It would be different. [¶ 18] Additionally, the jury heard through the testimony of RH and his mother that, on several occasions, Jones would spoon with RHthat is, have the front of his body pressed against the back of RH's body while lying with him in bed. The jury also learned from Detective Elgers' testimony that Jones admitted to having an erection on several occasions when he cuddled with RH in bed. Although there was no direct testimony Jones had touched RH's genitals while lying in bed with him, the fact that Jones frequently would lay with RH knowing he would be aroused could have led the jury to reasonably infer that when Jones did touch RH's genitals on other occasions, he did so with the intent of becoming sexually aroused. We conclude the evidence is sufficient to support the jury's guilty verdict.