Opinion ID: 2383631
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Appeal of Conviction

Text: We reject Whitten's argument that there was insufficient evidence to permit the jury to conclude that he compelled the victim to engage in sexual intercourse. When examining the sufficiency of the evidence, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the State to determine whether a trier of fact `rationally could find beyond a reasonable doubt every element of the offense charged.' State v. Taylor, 661 A.2d 665, 668 (Me.1995) (quoting State v. Barry, 495 A.2d 825, 826 (Me.1985)). To be guilty of gross sexual assault, Whitten must have compelled the victim to engage in a sexual act. [2] Compulsion is defined as the use of physical force, a threat to use physical force or a combination thereof.... 17-A M.R.S.A. § 251(1)(E) (Supp.1994). [3] Although there was evidence supporting Whitten's contention that the sexual act was consensual, the evidence of compulsion supporting the guilty verdict includes the following: Whitten physically abused the victim during several arguments prior to the sexual act; his abusive behavior towards the victim in the past caused her to fear Whitten when he became angry; Whitten admitted that the victim had reason to fear for her safety when he became angry; she made a statement to the police and sought medical treatment; numerous bruises were observed on her body which Whitten admitted he had caused; she was distraught; her shirt and underwear were ripped; and the victim told her doctor that she was beaten and raped and that it was either give him sex or take a beating. A conviction may be based entirely on circumstantial evidence. See State v. Benner, 654 A.2d 435, 437 (Me.1995) (trooper's testimony of victim's demeanor and her injury supports conviction of assault even though victim denied that she had been assaulted). It was reasonable for the jury to disbelieve Whitten's contention that the sexual act was consensual. [T]he weight of the evidence and the determination of witness credibility are the exclusive province of the jury.' Benner, 654 A.2d at 437 (quoting State v. Glover, 594 A.2d 1086, 1088 (Me. 1991)). In reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State the jury rationally could conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the victim feared serious bodily injury, that such fear was reasonable, and that she engaged in the sexual act as a result of compulsion. See State v. Langill, 567 A.2d 440, 440-41 (Me.1989) (evidence that victim was verbally and physically abused supported finding that the victim acted out of reasonable fear of serious bodily injury, establishing compulsion supporting the conviction for gross sexual misconduct); State v. Ricci, 507 A.2d 587, 588 (Me.1986) (definition of compulsion sets forth subjective-objective test requiring that victim feared death, serious bodily injury, or kidnapping, and that fear was reasonable).