Opinion ID: 1841912
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Whether the evidence supported Price's conviction.

Text: ¶ 20. In addition to his speedy trial violation, Price complains that the evidence offered by the State does not support a conviction of statutory rape. At the close of the State's case, Price moved for a directed verdict on the ground that the State failed to establish a prima facie case. The trial court denied the defendant's motion. Price renewed his motion at the conclusion of all the evidence on the grounds of insufficient evidence. Following the jury's verdict, Price moved for a Judgment of Acquittal Notwithstanding the Verdict or, in the Alternative, a New Trial, to wit, the trial court denied. To this end, Price asserts that the evidence offered by the State was insufficient to support a finding of guilt, and the jury's verdict is against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. ¶ 21. On this issue, our concern is whether the evidence in the record is sufficient to sustain a finding adverse to the defendant on each element of the criminal offense. Wetz v. State, 503 So.2d 803, 808 (Miss.1987). In the present context, this Court must, with respect to each element of the offense, consider all of the evidence  not just the evidence which supports the case for the prosecution  in the light most favorable to the verdict. Wetz, 503 So.2d at 808. The credible evidence which is consistent with guilt must be accepted as true. Id. The prosecution must be given the benefit of all favorable inferences that may reasonably be drawn from the evidence. Id. Matters regarding the weight and credibility to be accorded the evidence are to be resolved by the jury. Id. If the evidence is found to be legally insufficient, then discharge of the defendant is the proper remedy. May v. State, 460 So.2d 778, 781 (Miss.1985). ¶ 22. Price contends that when this Court considers all the evidence in a light most favorable to the State and the jury's verdict, we will find that the evidence offered was insufficient to sustain a judgment adverse to him. The specific statute listed in the indictment defines statutory rape as occurring whenever a person of any age has sexual intercourse with a child who: (i) is under the age of fourteen (14) years; (ii) is twenty-four (24) months younger than the person; and (iii) is not the person's spouse. Miss.Code. Ann. § 97-3-65(1)(b) (Rev.2000). Sexual intercourse is defined as a joining of the sexual organs of a male and female human being in which the penis of the male is inserted into the vagina of the female. Miss.Code Ann. § 97-3-65(5) (Rev.2000). During trial the victim established that during these alleged incidents, she was less than fourteen years old. Further, she testified that on three different occasions (while she was under the age of fourteen), Price inserted his penis inside her vagina. Outside of this testimony, the State offered no corroborating physical or medical evidence to buttress its case. ¶ 23. Price argues that he was convicted on the uncorroborated testimony of the alleged victim, and this alone is insufficient to support the conviction. However, the unsubstantiated and uncorroborated testimony of a victim is sufficient to support a guilty verdict if that testimony is not discredited or contradicted by other credible evidence, especially if the conduct of the victim is consistent with conduct of one who has been victimized by a sex crime. Collier v. State, 711 So.2d 458, 462 (Miss.1998); McKinney v. State, 521 So.2d 898, 899 (Miss.1988); Christian v. State, 456 So.2d 729, 734 (Miss.1984); Otis v. State, 418 So.2d 65, 66 (Miss.1982); Taylor v. State, 836 So.2d 774, 777 (Miss.Ct.App.2002). Price contends that the victim contradicted her trial testimony when she admittedly lied to D.H.S. representatives in 1992 and 1997 concerning these alleged incidents. When confronted with these contradictions between her trial testimony and her statements made to D.H.S., the victim testified that in 1992 she lied because she was afraid that she would be taken to a foster home if she told the truth. Also, the victim testified that in 1997, she lied to D.H.S., because her mother told her that if she told the truth, it would destroy her marriage to Price. Price concedes that the victim's testimony is uncorroborated and on its own would be sufficient to support a guilty verdict. However, Price argues that her testimony is severely discredited and contradicted by her own statements made during the 1992 and 1997 interviews with D.H.S. Price concedes that he and the victim had a tumultuous relationship as stepfather and stepdaughter, but such a relationship does not give rise to statutory rape. In its brief, the State offers the victim's statements in 1992 and 1997 are consistent with the actions of a child who is being abused in a home or family setting. The State also offered the testimony of the victim's maternal grandmother to establish that the victim brought to her attention the incidents involving Price and that she reported same to D.H.S. ¶ 24. Further, Price argues that his own testimony contradicted and discounted the victim's testimony. During his direct testimony, Price denied having sexual intercourse with the victim at any time. Also, Price contends that the victim's unsupported word should be discounted since the State offered no evidence to establish that her post-rape conduct was consistent with of one who has been victimized. ¶ 25. Essentially, Price makes this argument out to be one of credibility. We have routinely held that the jury is the judge of the credibility of a witness. Schuck v. State, 865 So.2d 1111, 1119-20 (Miss.2003) (citing Harris v. State, 527 So.2d 647, 649 (Miss.1988)). This Court will not set aside a guilty verdict, absent other error, unless it is clearly a result of prejudice, bias or fraud, or is manifestly against the weight of credible evidence. Drake v. State, 800 So.2d 508, 517 (Miss.2001)(citing Maiben v. State, 405 So.2d 87, 88 (Miss.1981)). Matters regarding the weight and credibility to be accorded the evidence are to be resolved by the jury. Schuck, 865 So.2d at 1123; Drake, 800 So.2d at 516. This Court may reverse and render a guilty verdict only where, with respect to one or more of the elements of the offense charged, the evidence so considered is such that reasonable and fairminded jurors could only find the accused not guilty. Id. The State established the ages of the victim and the defendant as required by § 97-3-65(1)(b) through the testimony of the victim and defendant. The State established through the victim's testimony that Price inserted his penis into her vagina as required by § 97-3-65(5). We have consistently held that the unsubstantiated and uncorroborated testimony of a victim is sufficient to support a guilty verdict if that testimony is not discredited or contradicted by other credible evidence, especially if the conduct of the victim is consistent with conduct of one who has been victimized by a sex crime. Collier, 711 So.2d at 462. This issue clearly boils down to credibility. The jury, having the benefit of observing the demeanor and expressions of the witnesses, found that the victim's testimony was more credible than Price's. Thus, in reviewing this record and briefs in this case, we hold that the jury's verdict was supported by legally sufficient evidence.
¶ 26. Price argues that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence presented in this case. The standard of review for the determination of whether a jury verdict is against the overwhelming weight of the evidence is that this Court must accept as true the evidence which supports the verdict and will reverse only when convinced that the circuit court has abused its discretion in failing to grant a new trial. Collier v. State, 711 So.2d 458, 461 (Miss.1998)(citing Herring v. State, 691 So.2d 948, 957 (Miss.1997)). A new trial will not be ordered unless the verdict is so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence that to allow it to stand would sanction unconscionable injustice. Groseclose v. State, 440 So.2d 297, 300 (Miss.1983). As such, if the verdict is against the overwhelming weight of the evidence, then a new trial is proper. May, 460 So.2d at 781-82. ¶ 27. We adopt the above rationale for this assignment of err as well. In reviewing the entire record, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Price's Motion for a Judgment of Acquittal Notwithstanding the Verdict or, in the Alternative, a New Trial because the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. May, 460 So.2d at 781-82. A new trial will not be ordered unless the verdict is so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence that to allow it to stand would sanction unconscionable injustice. Groseclose v. State, 440 So.2d at 300. We hold that the verdict reached by the jury is consistent with the weight of the evidence presented by the State in the instant action.