Opinion ID: 2004985
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Forcible Compulsion

Text: Appellant argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a directed verdict on the rape charge. Specifically, he claims that there was insufficient evidence of forcible compulsion as required by Ark.Code Ann. § 5-14-103(a)(1)(A) (Supp.2001). This court has repeatedly held that motions for a directed verdict are treated as challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence. Hall v. State, 361 Ark. 379, 206 S.W.3d 830 (2005); Martin v. State, 354 Ark. 289, 119 S.W.3d 504 (2003); Sublett v. State, 337 Ark. 374, 989 S.W.2d 910 (1999). The test for determining the sufficiency of the evidence is whether substantial evidence, direct or circumstantial, supports the verdict. Id. Substantial evidence is evidence of sufficient certainty and precision to compel a conclusion one way or another and pass beyond mere suspicion or conjecture. Id. Circumstantial evidence can be used to provide the basis to support a conviction, but it must be consistent with the defendant's guilt and inconsistent with any other reasonable conclusion. Engram v. State, 341 Ark. 196, 15 S.W.3d 678 (2000), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 1081, 121 S.Ct. 783, 148 L.Ed.2d 679 (2001). On appeal, this court reviews the evidence in the light most favorable to the appellee and considers only the evidence that supports the verdict. Id. As noted above, Appellant was convicted of rape by forcible compulsion. Section 5-14-103(a)(1)(A) states: A person commits rape if he or she engages in sexual intercourse or deviate sexual activity with another person: . . . By forcible compulsion. `Forcible compulsion' means physical force or a threat, express or implied, of death or physical injury to or kidnapping of any person. Ark.Code Ann. § 5-14-101(2) (Supp.2001). This court has defined physical force as `any bodily impact, restraint or confinement, or the threat thereof.' Sublett, 337 Ark. at 377, 989 S.W.2d at 912 (quoting Freeman v. State, 331 Ark. 130, 132, 959 S.W.2d 400, 401 (1998)). The test this court uses to determine if there was physical force is `whether the act was against the will of the party upon whom the act was committed.' Sublett, 337 Ark. at 377, 989 S.W.2d at 912 (quoting Freeman, 331 Ark. at 133, 959 S.W.2d at 401). Furthermore, this court has continually held that a rape victim's testimony alone is sufficient and is substantial evidence to support a rape conviction. See Martin, 354 Ark. 289, 119 S.W.3d 504; Sublett, 337 Ark. 374, 989 S.W.2d 910. With this standard in mind, we now look to the present case. In this case, S.A. testified that she was raped by a black male who came to her apartment door asking to use the telephone. She explained that he grabbed her around the throat, took her into the bedroom, and pushed her onto the floor. When she screamed for one of her neighbors, he told her to shut up and that he would kill her if she did not. It was at this time that the attacker forced her to have sex and oral sex with him. After the attack was over, he told her that if she called the police, he or one of his friends would come back and get her. Moreover, she stated that she was afraid he would kill her if she did not do as he said. The events described by S.A. are more than sufficient to maintain the element of forcible compulsion. As this court has repeatedly held, the uncorroborated testimony of a rape victim alone is substantial evidence of guilt. In this case, S.A.'s testimony indicates that the acts occurred against her will. Consequently, Appellant's argument that there is insufficient evidence to support a finding of forcible compulsion necessary to sustain a rape conviction is without merit.