Court Opinion

ID: 6324261
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-03-17 16:03:17.265497+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:21:50.762423
License: Public Domain

FOURTH DIVISION
                               DILLARD, P. J.,
                           MERCIER and MARKLE, JJ.

                    NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be
                    physically received in our clerk’s office within ten
                    days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed.
                               https://www.gaappeals.us/rules

                                                                     March 17, 2022

In the Court of Appeals of Georgia
 A22A0088. CURGIL v. THE STATE.

      MARKLE, Judge.

      Following a jury trial, Tavaris Curgil was convicted of rape (OCGA § 16-6-1

(a)); aggravated sodomy (OCGA §16-6-2 (a) (2)); aggravated child molestation

(OCGA §16-6-4 (c)); two counts of incest (OCGA § 16-6-22 (a)); enticing a child for

indecent purposes (OCGA § 16-6-5 (a)); and two counts of child molestation (OCGA

§16-6-4 (a)). He now appeals from the trial court’s denial of his motion for new trial,

arguing the weight of the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions.

Finding no error, we affirm.

      Viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.

S. 307 (99 SCt 2781, 61 LE2d 560) (1979), the record shows that, in April 2017,
then-twelve-year-old L. S. was living with her mother; her four brothers; and Curgil,

her uncle. Curgil often watched L. S. and her brothers while their mother was out.

      One night, L. S. disclosed to her mother that Curgil had raped her three months

earlier. Her mother immediately called the police. When the police spoke with L. S.,

she told them Curgil sexually abused her on three occasions. Thereafter, L. S.

underwent a forensic medical examination and a forensic interview.

      In her forensic interview, L. S. gave a detailed recollection of three incidents

in which Curgil sexually abused her. The first incident occurred when Curgil was

watching L. S. and her brothers at his girlfriend’s house. Curgil took L. S. to his

girlfriend’s bedroom, pulled down her pants, wiped her vaginal area with a rag, and

put his fingers on her vagina. The following month, when Curgil was watching L. S.

and her brothers at her home, Curgil took L. S. to her mother’s bedroom, pulled down

her pants, put his mouth on her vagina, and placed his penis in her vagina although

she resisted. The third time, Curgil made L. S. take off her clothes, pushed her on to

her bed, and put his mouth on her vagina. After L. S. pushed him away and went

outside, Curgil ordered L. S. back inside the house, took her to her bedroom, and

placed his penis in her vagina. L. S. resisted and told him it hurt. L. S. recalled

experiencing pain each time Curgil did this.

                                          2
      Thereafter, Curgil was arrested and charged with rape; aggravated sodomy;

aggravated child molestation; two counts of incest; enticing a child for indecent

purposes; and two counts of child molestation.

      At trial, L. S.’s recorded forensic interview was played for the jury. The

forensic interviewer testified that she saw no signs L. S. had been coached or had

fabricated the allegations, noting that L. S. described the incidents in detail. L. S.’s

examining physician testified that L. S. showed no signs of physical trauma, but noted

such evidence is uncommon months after sexual abuse.

      In her trial testimony, L. S. recanted her statements from her forensic interview,

and stated she fabricated the allegations against Curgil because she was mad at him.

She further testified that her family, including her mother, did not believe her

accusations against Curgil. L. S.’s mother admitted at trial she called L. S. a liar and

did not believe L. S.’s accusations.1

      The jury convicted Curgil on all counts. Curgil filed a motion for new trial. The

trial court denied the motion, and this appeal followed.

1
 The State sought to admit testimony suggesting Curgil engaged in similar acts with
L. S.’s mother when she was approximately the same age as L. S. At trial, L. S.’s
mother denied any such acts occurred.

                                           3
      In his sole enumeration of error, Curgil argues that the evidence was

insufficient to support his convictions because the victim recanted her statements

from her forensic interview and there is a lack of physical evidence. We are not

persuaded.

      On appellate review of a criminal conviction, we view the evidence in
      the light most favorable to the jury’s verdict, and the defendant no
      longer enjoys the presumption of innocence. We do not weigh the
      evidence or judge the credibility of witnesses, but determine only if the
      evidence was sufficient for a rational trier of fact to find the defendant
      guilty of the offenses charged beyond a reasonable doubt.

(Citation omitted.) Green v. State, 358 Ga. App. 843, 845 (1) (856 SE2d 427) (2021).

      Pursuant to OCGA § 16-6-1 (a) (1), “[a] person commits the offense of rape

when he has carnal knowledge of … [a] female forcibly and against her will[.]”

“Carnal knowledge” is defined as “any penetration of the female sex organ by the

male sex organ.” Id.

      A person commits incest when he engages in sexual intercourse or sodomy

with another person whom he knows he is related to by blood or marriage, such as

uncle and niece. OCGA § 16-6-22 (a) (6).

      Under OCGA §16-6-2 (a) (2), “[a] person commits the offense of aggravated

sodomy when he … commits sodomy with force and against the will of the other

                                          4
person.” Sodomy is defined as “any sexual act involving the sex organs of one person

and the mouth or anus of another.” OCGA § 16-6-2 (a) (1).

      Pursuant to OCGA §16-6-4 (a) (1), “[a] person commits the offense of child

molestation when such person …[d]oes any immoral or indecent act to … any child

under the age of 16 years with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of

either the child or the person[.]” OCGA §16-6-4 (c) provides that “[a] person commits

the offense of aggravated child molestation when such person commits an offense of

child molestation which act physically injures the child or involves an act of

sodomy.”

      Finally, OCGA § 16-6-5 (a) provides that a person commits the offense of

enticing a child for indecent purposes when he “takes any child under the age of 16

years to any place whatsoever for the purpose of child molestation or indecent acts.”

      Here, L. S. is Curgil’s niece and was 12 years old when the incidents in

question occurred. She stated in her forensic interview that Curgil twice placed his

mouth on her vagina and twice placed his penis inside her vagina without her consent.

She further stated Curgil wiped her vaginal area with a rag and put his fingers on her

vagina. By itself, this evidence is sufficient to establish the elements of rape, incest,

aggravated sodomy, child molestation, and aggravated child molestation. Brown v.

                                           5
State, 287 Ga. App. 857, 858 (1) (652 SE2d 807) (2007) (“[T]he victim’s testimony

alone is enough to establish the elements of the crime alleged.”); OCGA § 24-14-8

(“The testimony of a single witness is generally sufficient to establish a fact.”); see

also OCGA §§ 16-6-1 (a) (1); 16-6-22 (a) (6); 16-6-2 (a) (2); 16-6-4 (a) (1); 16-6-4

(c). Therefore, the evidence is sufficient to sustain Curgil’s convictions for these

counts.

      L. S. also stated in her forensic interview that Curgil took her to a bedroom to

commit the abuse in question. Our Supreme Court has held that OCGA § 16-6-5 (a)

includes the element of asportation, which is satisfied “whether the taking involves

physical force, enticement, or persuasion.” Cimildoro v. State, 259 Ga. 788, 789 (1)

(387 SE2d 335) (1990); Allison v. State, 356 Ga. App. 256, 263 (2) (b) (846 SE2d

222) (2020). By itself, this evidence is sufficient to establish the elements of enticing

a child for indecent purposes and to sustain his conviction. Whorton v. State, 318 Ga.

App. 885, 887 (1) (a) (735 S.E.2d 7) (2012) (asportation element satisfied when

defendant called victim into another room of the house); OCGA § 16-6-5 (a).

      Even though L. S. later recanted her statements during the forensic interview,

it is for the jury to resolve any conflicts in the evidence. McCurdy v. State, 359 Ga.

App. 885, 887-888 (1) (d) (860 SE2d 172) (2021). The jury was entitled to discredit

                                           6
L. S.’s trial testimony and rely on her forensic interview as substantive evidence of

Curgil’s guilt. Id.; see also King v. State, 268 Ga. App. 707, 709 (603 SE2d 54)

(2004) (jury authorized to believe accusations in victim’s forensic interview instead

of victim’s recantation at trial). Furthermore, although the State need not corroborate

L. S.’s forensic interview, L. S.’s accusations in her forensic interview were

consistent with her initial statement to the police.2 Allison, 356 Ga. App. at 262 (2)

(a), n. 6

       As with L. S.’s recantation, the lack of physical evidence goes to the weight of

the evidence and raises questions of credibility the jury alone must resolve. Wofford

v. State, 329 Ga. App. 195, 201 (1) (764 SE2d 437) (2014). That the jury apparently

decided such questions adversely to Curgil does not render the evidence supporting

his convictions insufficient.3 Jones v. State, 304 Ga. 320, 323 (2) (818 SE2d 449)

(2018); Green, 358 Ga. App. at 846 (1).

2
  Notably, the State elicited testimony at trial tending to show L. S.’s family, including
her mother, did not believe her accusations against Curgil. We have repeatedly held
such evidence allows the jury to conclude the victim felt pressured to recant earlier
allegations of abuse. See, e.g., Harvey v. State, 295 Ga. App. 458, 460-461 (671 SE2d
924) (2009).
3
   To the extent Curgil argues the evidence supporting his convictions is
circumstantial, he is mistaken. L. S.’s forensic interview is direct evidence of Curgil’s
guilt. Jackson v. State, 259 Ga. App. 108, 109 (576 SE2d 85) (2003) (witness
testimony is direct evidence).

                                            7
      For these reasons, the trial court properly denied Curgil’s motion for new trial,

and we affirm.

      Judgment Affirmed. Dillard, P. J., and Mercier, J., concur.

                                          8