Opinion ID: 166232
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Hood argues that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support his convictions for kidnapping and aggravated sexual abuse of a child. To evaluate the sufficiency of the evidence to support a criminal conviction, we conduct a de novo review of the entire record on appeal. United States v. Delgado-Uribe, 363 F.3d 1077, 1081-82 (10th Cir. 2004). The relevant question is “whether taking the evidence–both direct and circumstantial, together with the reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom–in the light most favorable to the government, a reasonable jury could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Bush, 405 F.3d 909, 919 (10th Cir. 2005) (quotations omitted). In making this determination, “[w]e do not question the jury’s credibility determinations or its conclusions about the weight of the -7- evidence.” United States v. Allen, 235 F.3d 482, 492 (10th Cir. 2000) (quotations omitted). The essential elements of kidnapping under § 1201 include “(1) transportation in interstate commerce (2) of an unconsenting person who is (3) held for ransom, reward, or otherwise, (4) with such acts being done knowingly and willfully.” United States v. Walker, 137 F.3d 1217, 1220 (10th Cir. 1998). The evidence showed that Hood instructed Doe to meet him on May 9 and subsequently took Doe from Oklahoma to Missouri to Texas. Doe testified about the sexual abuse that occurred during the time she was with Hood. After hearing from Doe and various other witnesses and being instructed to consider a variety of factors, the jury reasonably decided that Doe lacked the capacity to consent, a determination which in this case was essentially one of credibility. Cf. United States v. Beers, 189 F.3d 1297, 1301 (10th Cir. 1999). Doe’s incapacity to consent renders irrelevant Hood’s suggestion that he could not have taken and held her against her will because she was free to leave Hood at any time. In addition to the testimony of Doe, the government introduced various other witnesses, including witnesses whose testimony suggested Hood planned the kidnapping well in advance, and Hood’s own statements that corroborated the alleged kidnapping. All of this evidence, taken together and viewed in the light most favorable to the government, shows: (1) Hood transported Doe from -8- Oklahoma to Missouri to Texas; (2) Doe lacked the capacity to consent; (3) Hood transported Doe to receive a benefit for himself, i.e., the sexual abuse of Doe; and (4) Hood acted knowingly and willfully. With regard to the aggravated sexual abuse convictions, Hood contends that the testimony of Doe was “simply incredulous,” the testimony of the pediatric nurse was false, and the DNA evidence and his own statements to investigators were unreliable. Even ignoring Taft’s testimony, see discussion infra Part III.C, the evidence supporting Hood’s convictions was overwhelming. Doe testified at length regarding the sexual abuse, describing: (1) where and how Hood touched her; (2) that Hood put his penis inside her mouth and when Hood ejaculated it tasted like “salt”; and (3) that Hood put his penis inside of her and sometimes he used a condom and sometimes he did not. In her testimony, Doe also said that Hood had a “mole on his butt” which was subsequently corroborated by a photograph taken by the FBI that was admitted at trial. In addition to the testimony of Doe, the government put on numerous witnesses corroborating the surrounding events, DNA evidence linking Hood to Doe, and Hood’s own damning statements to investigators. Taken together, the evidence was more than sufficient to permit the jury to find Hood guilty of aggravated sexual abuse of a child. -9-