Opinion ID: 1945465
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Sexual Battery Conviction

Text: Troy next argues that the State failed to present evidence inconsistent with the reasonable hypothesis that no attempted sexual battery occurred, and thus that the circumstantial evidence is legally insufficient to prove the charge of attempted sexual battery. In Johnston v. State, 863 So.2d 271 (Fla. 2003), this Court explained the applicable law governing sufficiency of circumstantial evidence in upholding convictions: In reviewing a motion for judgment of acquittal, a de novo standard of review applies. See Pagan v. State, 830 So.2d 792, 803 (Fla.2002), cert. denied, 539 U.S. 919 (2003). Generally, an appellate court will not reverse a conviction that is supported by competent, substantial evidence. See Pagan, 830 So.2d at 803 (citing Donaldson v. State, 722 So.2d 177 (Fla.1998); Terry v. State, 668 So.2d 954, 964 (Fla.1996)). There is sufficient evidence to sustain a conviction if, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, a rational trier of fact could find the existence of the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. See Banks v. State, 732 So.2d 1065 (Fla.1999). A motion for judgment of acquittal should be granted in a circumstantial evidence case if the state fails to present evidence from which the jury can exclude every reasonable hypothesis except that of guilt. Orme v. State, 677 So.2d 258, 262 (Fla.1996). The question of whether the evidence fails to exclude all reasonable hypotheses of innocence is for the jury to determine, and where there is substantial, competent evidence to support the jury verdict, we will not reverse. Darling v. State, 808 So.2d 145, 155 (Fla.) (quoting State v. Law, 559 So.2d 187, 188 (Fla. 1989)), cert. denied, 537 U.S. 848 (2002). In meeting its burden, the State is not required to rebut conclusively, every possible variation of events which could be inferred from the evidence, but must introduce competent evidence which is inconsistent with the defendant's theory of events. Darling, 808 So.2d at 156 (quoting Law, 559 So.2d at 189). Once the State meets this threshold burden, it becomes the jury's duty to determine whether the evidence is sufficient to exclude every reasonable hypothesis of innocence beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. . . . . This Court does not have to determine that every reasonable hypothesis of innocence was excluded in this case. The sole determination we must make is whether there was competent, substantial evidence for the jury to make such a determination. See Darling, 808 So.2d at 156 (citing Law, 559 So.2d at 188-89). Johnston, 863 So.2d at 283-84 (parallel citations omitted). Troy contends that the circumstantial evidence produced by the prosecution just as easily establishes that he attacked Carroll in a frenzied rage, resulting in the torn clothing and the minor bruising on the thigh areas. Thus, he argues, this is a reasonable hypothesis of innocence to the charge of attempted sexual battery that the State has failed to exclude. The State counters that there is both direct evidence establishing Troy's presence at the scene of the attempted sexual battery and an overwhelming wealth of circumstantial evidence establishing that an attempted sexual battery occurred. First, we agree with Troy in his assertion that the trial judge misconstrued the medical examiner's findings when denying the defendant's motion for judgment of acquittal on the sexual battery charge, both as an independent charge and as a basis for felony murder. While the trial court stated that the medical examiner had rendered a definitive opinion on attempted sexual battery, a thorough review of the medical examiner's testimony reveals only his statement that Carroll's injuries were consistent with an attempted sexual battery, but were not conclusive. [7] However, this Court has held that [i]f there is room for a difference of opinion between reasonable people as to the proof or facts from which an ultimate fact is to be established, or where there is room for such differences on the inferences to be drawn from conceded facts, the court should submit the case to the jury. Barwick v. State, 660 So.2d 685, 695 (Fla.1995) (quoting Taylor v. State, 583 So.2d 323, 328 (Fla.1991)). Among the indicia of an attempted sexual battery produced at trial is the evidence that the victim was found completely nude, with her underwear and torn bra next to her body, and that she exhibited bruises in the exterior of her vaginal area. When coupled with the extensive evidence presented of the gruesome nature of the crime scene reflecting a great deal of violence inflicted upon the victim, we conclude that the trial court was correct in submitting this charge to the jury, despite the trial court's mischaracterization of the medical examiner's testimony. Importantly, despite the trial judge's overstatement of the conclusive nature of the medical examiner's testimony, this expert nevertheless found that Ms. Carroll's injuries could support the conclusion that an attempted sexual battery occurred.