Opinion ID: 1626909
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Sexual Battery Aggravator

Text: Orme asserts that the trial court erred in finding that the murder was committed in the course of a sexual battery aggravator applied. Orme concedes that he had sexual relations with Redd on the night she was murdered, but argues that the evidence failed to establish Redd's lack of consent. In its sentencing order, the trial court concluded that Orme committed sexual battery upon Redd by oral, vaginal, and anal penetration without her consent and in the process used force or violence likely to cause personal injury to Redd. We find that there is competent, substantial evidence to support the trial court's finding of the sexual battery aggravator. Two investigators testified that Redd's clothing was disheveled when she was found in the motel room, that is, her shirt was unsnapped and pulled up just below her breast; her pants were not fully up; her bra was twisted and above the breast; her panties were only on one leg. Also, a significant amount of blood was found in the backside of Redd's panties and on the rectal, vaginal, and oral swabs performed on Redd. One of the medical examiners testified that the blood on Redd's panties came from an injury to the lining of the rectum where there was hemorrhaging and abrasions. He testified that these injuries were consistent with unlubricated anal intercourse. He also emphasized that such a significant amount of blood would not be normal in everyday consensual anal intercourse. The testimony presented also reveals that there was a significant amount of bruising to Redd's body, specifically her legs, arms, abdomen, and upper chest area. Additionally, Orme was convicted of sexual battery by a unanimous jury beyond a reasonable doubt, which we affirmed on direct appeal. Accordingly, we find that the trial court did not err in finding the sexual battery aggravator. See Fitzpatrick v. State, 900 So.2d 495, 509 (Fla.2005) (rejecting the defendant's contention that the sexual intercourse with the victim was consensual based on the evidence that the victim was found naked with her bloody undergarment wrapped around her waist near her breasts, her breasts were deep purple, and there was puffiness around her head, bruising on her arms, scratches covering her legs, and a cigarette burn on her leg).