Opinion ID: 2134682
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: When a defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, we review the evidence in the light most favorable to the State to determine if, when considered as a whole, a reasonable person could find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Mulder, 313 N.W.2d 885, 888 (Iowa 1981), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 841, 103 S.Ct. 90, 74 L.Ed.2d 83 (1982). We consider all legitimate inferences and presumptions which may fairly and reasonably be deduced from the evidence. State v. Hy, 458 N.W.2d 609, 612 (Iowa App. 1990). In this case, although both Pearson and B.S. were clothed when the contact occurred, there was evidence that Pearson's covered penis touched B.S.'s covered anus. Both B.S. and J.S. described the position of Pearson and B.S. such that the court could fairly conclude that B.S.'s anus was positioned directly over Pearson's penis. Although there was no description of the clothing worn by Pearson and B.S. on this August day, B.S. could feel Pearson's penis beneath him. We believe the trial court could reasonably find that contact occurred between Pearson's penis and B.S.'s anus. There was also abundant evidence of the sexual nature of the contact that took place between Pearson and B.S. Pearson reportedly made the comment to B.S. that he was going to get come all over B.S. B.S. and J.S. testified that Pearson purposefully moved his hips up and down while his penis was pressed against B.S.'s buttocks. We believe the circumstances surrounding the contact provide substantial evidence that the contact between Pearson and B.S. was of a sexual nature and constituted a sex act under section 702.17.