Opinion ID: 1575632
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Defendant contends that the evidence was insufficient to make a submissible case on the crime of sodomy. Section 566.060.3 provides: A person commits the crime of sodomy if he has deviate sexual intercourse with another person to whom he is not married who is less than fourteen years old. Deviate sexual intercourse is defined, for purposes of Chapter 566, by § 566.010(2) as any sexual act involving the genitals of one person and the mouth, tongue, hand or anus of another person. Early in her deposition, T.N. identified portions of her anatomy, such as her nose, eyes, mouth, stomach and, importantly for her testimony in this case, her peedy (her term for her vagina) and her butt (the buttocks area). She used the term peedy with undeviating consistency. Early in her testimony, she was asked: Do you know what it is to be touched in a bad place? And she nodded her head yes. She was asked, What is a bad touch? and she answered, Peedy and butt. She testified to the critical facts of sodomy as follows: Q Can you tell the judge and for the jury whether or not your dad touched any of those places. A Yes, he did. Q Where did he touch you, [T.]? A My butt and my peedy. Q [T.], can you tell us how your dad touched your peedy? A Well, he got his finger ready, then he touched it. Q Do you remember where this happened? A At his house.       Q Did your Daddy Bob [defendant], did he ever kiss you anywhere? A Un-huh. [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Your Honor, I'm going to object to that question. It's been asked and answered once and now the prosecuting attorney is leading the witness. THE COURT: The witness didn't answer that. You may proceed. A He kissed me on my butt and peedy. Q [T.], do you remember where he would do that? A He would do that stuff all to [sic] his home. Dr. Monteleone gave T.N. a physical examination. He found physical injuries in and about T.N.'s vagina that were consistent with sexual abuse. Dorcas Ramsey, a nurse-practitioner in Dr. Lowther's office, also found physical injury consistent with sexual abuse. In passing on the sufficiency of the evidence, we must accept as true all evidence and inferences that tend to support the verdict and disregard all evidence and inferences to the contrary. We must take the evidence in the light most favorable to the state. State v. Brown, 660 S.W.2d 694 (Mo. banc 1983). The small portion of the evidence recited above amply demonstrates that there was sufficient evidence to support the finding of guilt of the offense of sodomy.