Court Opinion

ID: 2793020
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-04-10 19:08:18.955282+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:29:03.534877
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA

                                January 2015 Term
                                  _____________                   FILED
                                                               April 10, 2015
                                   No. 14-0173                 released at 3:00 p.m.
                                  _____________                RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
                                                             SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                 OF WEST VIRGINIA

                           STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,

                            Plaintiff Below, Respondent

                                        v.

                                KENNETH SEEN,

                            Defendant Below, Petitioner

         _______________________________________________________

                   Appeal from the Circuit Court of Roane County

                    The Honorable Thomas C. Evans, III, Judge

                             Civil Action No. 13-M-02

                AFFIRMED IN PART AND REVERSED IN PART

          ______________________________________________________

                           Submitted: February 10, 2015

                              Filed: April 10, 2015

S. Benjamin Bryant, Esq.                     Patrick Morrisey, Esq.

Carey, Scott, Douglas & Kessler, PLLC        Attorney General

Charleston, West Virginia                    Benjamin F. Yancey, III, Esq.

Attorney for the Petitioner                  Assistant Attorney General

                                             Charleston, West Virginia
                                             Attorneys for the Respondent

CHIEF JUSTICE WORKMAN delivered the Opinion of the Court.
                               SYLLABUS BY THE COURT

              1. “In reviewing challenges to the findings and conclusions of the circuit court,

we apply a two-prong deferential standard of review. We review the final order and the

ultimate disposition under an abuse of discretion standard, and we review the circuit court’s

underlying factual findings under a clearly erroneous standard. Questions of law are subject

to a de novo review.” Syl. Pt. 2, State v. Hinchman, 214 W. Va. 624, 591 S.E.2d 182 (2003).

              2. “A criminal defendant challenging the sufficiency of the evidence to support

a conviction takes on a heavy burden. An appellate court must review all the evidence,

whether direct or circumstantial, in the light most favorable to the prosecution and must

credit all inferences and credibility assessments that the jury might have drawn in favor of

the prosecution. The evidence need not be inconsistent with every conclusion save that of

guilt so long as the jury can find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Credibility determinations

are for a jury and not an appellate court. Finally, a jury verdict should be set aside only when

the record contains no evidence, regardless of how it is weighed, from which the jury could

find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. To the extent that our prior cases are inconsistent, they

are expressly overruled.” Syl. Pt. 3, State v. Guthrie, 194 W.Va. 657, 461 S.E.2d 163 (1995).

              3. “In order for a sentencing judge to make a finding pursuant to W. Va. Code

                                               i
§ 15-12-2(c) (2001) that a defendant who has been convicted of a criminal offense - after a

trial or by means of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere - was ‘sexually motivated’ in the

commission of that offense, the defendant must have been advised prior to trial or the entry

of a plea of the possibility of such a finding.” Syl. Pt. 1, State v. Whalen, 214 W.Va. 299,

588 S.E.2d 677 (2003).

               4. “The evidentiary standard for a finding of ‘sexual motivation’ pursuant to

W. Va. Code § 15-12-2(c) (2001) is proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and a defendant must

be given the opportunity to oppose and contest such a proposed finding with evidence and

argument.” Syl. Pt. 2, State v. Whalen, 214 W.Va. 299, 588 S.E.2d 677 (2003).

               5. “To trigger application of the ‘plain error’ doctrine, there must be (1) an

error; (2) that is plain; (3) that affects substantial rights; and (4) seriously affects the fairness,

integrity, or public reputation of the judicial proceedings.” Syl. Pt. 7, State v. Miller, 194

W.Va. 3, 459 S.E.2d 114 (1995).

               6. “Although it is a well-settled policy that the Supreme Court of Appeals

normally will not rule upon unassigned or imperfectly assigned errors, this Court will take

cognizance of plain error involving a fundamental right of an accused which is protected by

the Constitution.” Syl. Pt. 4, State v. Starr, 158 W.Va. 905, 216 S.E.2d 242 (1975).

                                                  ii
              7. “Failure to observe a constitutional right constitutes reversible error unless

it can be shown that the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.” Syl. Pt. 5, State ex

rel. Grob v. Blair, 158 W.Va. 647, 214 S.E.2d 330 (1975).

              8. “In a criminal case, the burden is upon the beneficiary of a constitutional

error to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the error complained of did not contribute to

the verdict obtained.” Syl. Pt. 3, State v. Frazier, 229 W.Va. 724, 735 S.E.2d 727 (2012).

              9. “Errors involving deprivation of constitutional rights will be regarded as

harmless only if there is no reasonable possibility that the violation contributed to the

conviction.” Syl. Pt. 20, State v. Thomas, 157 W.Va. 640, 203 S.E.2d 445 (1974).

              10. “The function of an appellate court when reviewing the sufficiency of the

evidence to support a criminal conviction is to examine the evidence admitted at trial to

determine whether such evidence, if believed, is sufficient to convince a reasonable person

of the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Thus, the relevant inquiry is whether,

after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier

of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime proved beyond a reasonable

doubt.” Syl. Pt. 1, State v. Guthrie, 194 W.Va. 657, 461 S.E.2d 163 (1995).

                                              iii
              11. “When a criminal defendant undertakes a sufficiency challenge, all the

evidence, direct and circumstantial, must be viewed from the prosecutor’s coign of vantage,

and the viewer must accept all reasonable inferences from it that are consistent with the

verdict. This rule requires the trial court judge to resolve all evidentiary conflicts and

credibility questions in the prosecution’s favor; moreover, as among competing inferences

of which two or more are plausible, the judge must choose the inference that best fits the

prosecution’s theory of guilt.” Syl. Pt. 2, State v. LaRock, 196 W.Va. 294, 470 S.E.2d 613

(1996).

                                            iv
Workman, Chief Justice:

              This is an appeal by Kenneth Seen (hereinafter “petitioner”) from a judgment

of the Circuit Court of Roane County in which the lower court found the petitioner guilty of

battery, found that the offense was sexually motivated, and ordered the petitioner to register

as a sex offender. Upon thorough review of the appendix record, the arguments of the

parties, and the applicable precedent, this Court affirms the battery conviction and reverses

the finding that the offense was sexually motivated.

                             I. Factual and Procedural History

              On August 31, 2012, Mr. John S., a patient1 at the long term care component

of Roane General Hospital in Spencer, West Virginia, bit off a portion of the petitioner’s

tongue. The petitioner, a physician employed as a hospitalist at Roane General Hospital from

2003 until October 2012, had begun an examination of Mr. S. at approximately 8:00 p.m. and

had advised a nurse that he did not need assistance in the examination.2

       1
       Mr. S. was seventy-seven years of age at the time of the incident and was suffering
from dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, arthritis, depression, and anxiety. He is now deceased.
This Court continues to follow the practice of using initials to identify individuals in cases
with sensitive facts. See In re Jeffrey R.L., 190 W.Va. 24, 26 n. 1, 435 S.E.2d 162, 164 n.
1 (1993).
       2
        Although another doctor typically handled patient admissions, the petitioner indicated
that he wished to admit Mr. S. on the evening in question due to the fact that the petitioner
had taken care of Mr. S. when he was previously in the long term care unit.

                                              1

              During the examination, Mr. S. bit off a portion of the petitioner’s tongue.

According to the record, the petitioner did not immediately report this incident. He departed

Mr. S.’s room, deposited the chart at the nurse’s station, and went to his office.

Approximately one hour after the incident occurred, the petitioner telephoned a physician on

duty in the hospital’s emergency room, Dr. Jason Fincham, and asked Dr. Fincham to

examine the petitioner in the emergency room. The petitioner did not explain his injury at

that time. Dr. Fincham informed the petitioner that the emergency room was very busy.

              The petitioner thereafter informed staff members that Mr. S. had bitten his

tongue. The nurse with whom the petitioner spoke testified that the petitioner’s mouth was

covered with a paper towel or washcloth and that he motioned to her to read what he had

typed into his laptop computer. The message informed her that he had been performing an

assessment of Mr. S. and had leaned in toward Mr. S. to better hear him. The petitioner

explained that when he bent down, Mr. S. grabbed his tongue and bit it. Nurses then

examined the petitioner and observed that a portion of his tongue was missing.

              Dr. Fincham was contacted again, and he arrived at the acute care floor to

begin treating the petitioner. The petitioner informed Dr. Fincham that he was licking his

lips when Mr. S. bit his tongue. Dr. Fincham administered pain medications and other

                                             2

necessary medications to the petitioner and arranged for the petitioner to be transported by

ambulance to Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston, West Virginia, to consult a

specialist. The petitioner was examined and treated at Charleston Area Medical Center and

was released later that same night.

              After transferring the petitioner to Charleston, Dr. Fincham examined Mr. S.

Dr. Fincham testified that Mr. S. was alert, but confused, disoriented and unable to

communicate. Mr. S. had blood around his lips and in his mouth. He was also chewing

something.3 Due to his arthritic condition, the joints of Mr. S.’s hands were swollen, his

fingers were drawn inward, and his grip strength was poor. Dr. Fincham believed that Mr.

S. lacked the fine motor skills, strength, and grasping ability to hold the petitioner’s tongue.4

              On September 1, 2012, Dr. Timothy Metzger examined Mr. S. Dr. Metzger

indicated that Mr. S. was weak and unable to move his hands well. Mr. S. did not

demonstrate any physical aggression toward any staff member; however, Mr. S. was not

       3
        Later in the evening of August 31, 2012, two certified nursing assistants entered Mr.
S.’s room to perform the routine procedures of bathing, shaving, and brushing teeth. The
assistants noticed fresh blood on the floor and bedspread. During the process of brushing
Mr. S.’s teeth, the assistants recovered a bloody substance from Mr. S.’s mouth, thought to
be a portion of the petitioner’s tongue.
       4
         A nurse who treated Mr. S. also testified that he was elderly, debilitated, and lacked
the strength to sit up. The nurse indicated that Mr. S. did not have strong grasping ability and
that his hands were arthritic and stiffened, with fingers curled inward toward his palms. She
testified that she had never seen Mr. S. extend or open his fingers.

                                               3

compliant when Dr. Metzger attempted to conduct an examination of Mr. S.’s mouth. When

Dr. Metzger asked Mr. S. about the incident with the petitioner, Mr. S. became upset and

indicated to Dr. Metzger that something had happened between him and the petitioner. Mr.

S. refused to talk about it and stated that he did not want to dwell on it.

              Mr. Douglas Bentz, the Chief Executive Officer of Roane General Hospital,

investigated the incident and telephoned the petitioner on September 1, 2012. During this

conversation, the petitioner reported that the incident occurred as he was leaning over to hear

what Mr. S. was saying. The petitioner further reported that Mr. S. had grabbed the back of

the petitioner’s neck and bit his tongue. Mr. Bentz also met with the petitioner on September

7, 2012. During this meeting, the petitioner reported that Mr. S. had grabbed the back of his

neck with one hand and had reached up with his other hand to grab the petitioner’s tongue,

pulling the petitioner toward him.

              On September 18, 2012, Mr. S.’s daughter filed a criminal complaint with the

West Virginia State Police. Trooper Frederick Hammack investigated the matter and visited

Mr. S. on October 1, 2012. Trooper Hammack indicated that Mr. S. was unable to speak and

had very little grip strength. Trooper Hammack further noted that the knuckles of Mr. S.’s

hands were bent, with his fingers pointing inward towards his body. Trooper Hammack

indicated that he found Mr. S. to be “as frail . . . a human being as [he had] ever attempted

                                               4

. . . to speak to about anything.”

              On March 18, 2013, the petitioner was charged by information with violating

the general battery statute, West Virginia Code § 61-2-9 (c) (2013). The information alleged

that the petitioner “did unlawfully and intentionally make physical contact of an insulting or

provoking nature with the person of John [S.] when [the petitioner] did place his tongue

inside the mouth of said John [S.] . . . .” The petitioner moved for a bench trial, waiving his

right to a jury, and the case was tried before the lower court on October 30 and 31, 2013.5

              The State did not provide pretrial notice of its intent to seek a finding that the

alleged battery was sexually motivated. As the State prepared to call its first witness, the

circuit court requested an opening statement, and the State then asked the court to find the

petitioner guilty of the crime of battery for physical conduct of an insulting and provoking

nature. Additionally, the State expressed its intent to request a finding of sexual motivation.

The prosecutor’s comments in that opening statement constituted the first and only notice to

the petitioner that the State was seeking the finding of sexual motivation.6

       5
       The West Virginia Board of Medicine has suspended the petitioner’s license, based
upon the allegations in this case.
       6
         West Virginia Code §§ 15-12-2(b) and (e) identify the circumstances under which
a convicted person must register as a sex offender. First, any person convicted of a
“qualifying offense” must register as a sex offender, and these “qualifying offenses” are
listed in West Virginia Code § 15-12-2(b)(1) - (7). These offenses include explicitly sexual
elements. Additionally, pursuant to West Virginia Code § 15-12-2(c), a convicted person

                                              5

               On October 31, 2013, the trial court found beyond a reasonable doubt that the

petitioner was guilty of battery. The court further found that the battery was sexually

motivated. An order was entered on November 4, 2013, enunciating the court’s findings and

ordering the petitioner to register with the West Virginia State Police as a sex offender,

pursuant to West Virginia Code §§ 15-12-1 to -10 (2014).

               The petitioner filed a motion for a new trial on November 14, 2013,

challenging evidentiary findings and asserting that the sexual motivation finding was

erroneous. On December 16, 2013, the court denied the motion and sentenced the petitioner

to two years probation with the requirement of 300 hours of community service. The court

further ordered the petitioner to register as a sex offender for ten years and pay a $500 fine,

as well as other costs and fees. The final order was entered on December 23, 2013.

               The petitioner now appeals to this Court, contending that (1) the trial court’s

finding of sexual motivation and consequent order that the petitioner register as a sex

offender constitute plain error and must be vacated because neither the State nor the court

gave the petitioner pretrial notice concerning sex offender status and registration; (2) the trial

court’s finding of sexual motivation was based on speculation and must be vacated; and (3)

must register as a sex offender where convicted of another crime, if the sentencing judge
makes a written finding that the offense was “sexually motivated.” W. Va. Code §
15-12-2(c).

                                                6

the trial court’s finding that the petitioner was guilty of battery was not supported by

sufficient evidence. For purposes of evaluation on appeal, this Court will combine the

petitioner’s two issues regarding the finding of sexual motivation.

                                   II. Standard of Review

              The petitioner’s first assignment of error involves a question of law on the

issue of pretrial notice concerning the State’s intention to seek a finding of sexual motivation.

This Court has consistently observed:

                     In reviewing challenges to the findings and conclusions
              of the circuit court, we apply a two-prong deferential standard
              of review. We review the final order and the ultimate
              disposition under an abuse of discretion standard, and we review
              the circuit court’s underlying factual findings under a clearly
              erroneous standard. Questions of law are subject to a de novo
              review.

Syl. Pt. 2, State v. Hinchman, 214 W. Va. 624, 591 S.E.2d 182 (2003).

              The petitioner’s remaining assignment of error is based upon sufficiency of the

evidence and is consequently governed by a separate standard of review. In syllabus point

three of State v. Guthrie, 194 W.Va. 657, 461 S.E.2d 163 (1995), this Court explained:

                     A criminal defendant challenging the sufficiency of the
              evidence to support a conviction takes on a heavy burden. An
              appellate court must review all the evidence, whether direct or
              circumstantial, in the light most favorable to the prosecution and
              must credit all inferences and credibility assessments that the
              jury might have drawn in favor of the prosecution. The

                                               7

              evidence need not be inconsistent with every conclusion save
              that of guilt so long as the jury can find guilt beyond a
              reasonable doubt. Credibility determinations are for a jury and
              not an appellate court. Finally, a jury verdict should be set aside
              only when the record contains no evidence, regardless of how it
              is weighed, from which the jury could find guilt beyond a
              reasonable doubt. To the extent that our prior cases are
              inconsistent, they are expressly overruled.

With these standards as guidance, we address the contentions of the parties.

                                       III. Discussion

            A. Pretrial Notice of Intent to Seek Finding of Sexual Motivation

              The petitioner first asserts that his due process rights were violated by the

State’s failure to provide pretrial notice of its intent to seek a finding of sexual motivation.

The petitioner further contends that the trial court’s finding of sexual motivation and

consequent order requiring him to register as a sex offender constitute plain error7 requiring

reversal.

              The petitioner agues that a violation of a defendant’s constitutional rights to

due process under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution occurs when

the defendant is not provided with required pretrial notice. See U.S. Const. amend. XIV, §

1 (“No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities

       7
       The petitioner failed to preserve the issue of pretrial notice by objecting in the
proceedings below. Thus, evaluation of this issue on appeal is limited to plain error analysis.

                                               8

of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or

property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal

protection of the laws.”); W. Va. Const. art. III, § 10 (“No person shall be deprived of life,

liberty, or property, without due process of law. . . .); W. Va. Const. art. III, § 14 (providing

that in all criminal trials, “the accused shall be fully and plainly informed of the character and

cause of the accusation. . . .”). As the United States Supreme Court explained in Mathews

v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319 (1976), procedural due process protections impose constraints on

the procedures through which the government can deprive an individual of protected liberty

or property interests. Id. at 349. Notice of potential deprivations and opportunity to be heard

are required. Id.8

               In State v. Whalen, 214 W.Va. 299, 588 S.E.2d 677 (2003), this Court

addressed the issue of procedural protections and specifically required that pretrial notice be

provided to a defendant of the State’s intention to seek a finding of sexual motivation.

Syllabus point one of Whalen explains:

                      In order for a sentencing judge to make a finding
               pursuant to W.Va. Code, 15-12-2(c) [2001] that a defendant
               who has been convicted of a criminal offense that is not
               specifically identified in the Sex Officer Registration Act at
               W.Va. Code, 15-12-2(b) [2001] - after a trial or by means of a
               plea of guilty or nolo contendere - was “sexually motivated” in

       8
       See also Lankford v. Idaho, 500 U.S. 110, 126 (1991) (“Notice of issues to be
resolved by the adversary process is a fundamental characteristic of fair procedure.”).

                                                9

               the commission of that offense, the defendant must have been
               advised prior to trial or the entry of a plea of the possibility of
               such a finding.

214 W.Va. at 300, 588 S.E.2d at 678. The Court also held in syllabus point two of Whalen

that “[t]he evidentiary standard for a finding of ‘sexual motivation’ pursuant to W. Va. Code

§ 15-12-2(c) (20001) is proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and a defendant must be given the

opportunity to oppose and contest such a proposed finding with evidence and argument.” Id.

In Whalen, the defendant had pled guilty to burglary, and the circuit court found that the

burglary was sexually motivated. Id. On appeal, the defendant argued that neither he nor his

counsel knew the circuit court intended to make such a finding.

               In this Court’s analysis in Whalen, we recognized the distinction between the

offenses listed in West Virginia Code § 15-12-2(b), containing explicitly sexual elements,

and the extensive array of other crimes that do not contain an explicitly sexual element.

Nonetheless, the statute, as quoted above, specifies that other crimes may be deemed sexually

motivated, and a defendant may be required to register as a sex offender. 214 W.Va. at 301,

588 S.E.2d at 679. This Court concluded in Whalen that the defendant would be permitted

to withdraw his guilty plea due to the State’s failure to provide pretrial notice of its intent to

seek a finding of sexual motivation. 214 W.Va. at 304, 588 S.E.2d at 682.

               In the present case, the petitioner contends that the information alleged only

                                               10

that he had committed battery by placing his tongue inside Mr. S.’s mouth. The petitioner

was not provided with pretrial notice of the potential for a finding that the battery was

sexually motivated, and battery is not listed as a “qualifying offense” in West Virginia Code

§ 15-12-2(b). He was therefore not advised, prior to trial, of the potential to be classified a

sex offender with the concomitant registration requirements.

              The petitioner admits that his counsel did not object during the State’s opening

statement when the prosecuting attorney first announced that the State would request a sexual

motivation finding from the trial court. Likewise, the petitioner did not assert the lack of pre­

trial notice as error in his motions for judgment of acquittal and new trial. Nevertheless, on

appeal, the petitioner contends that the absence of notice constitutes plain error and warrants

the consideration of this Court.

              This Court has consistently held: “[t]o trigger application of the ‘plain error’

doctrine, there must be (1) an error; (2) that is plain; (3) that affects substantial rights; and

(4) seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of the judicial proceedings.”

Syl. Pt. 7, State v. Miller, 194 W.Va. 3, 459 S.E.2d 114 (1995); see also Syl. Pt. 2, State v.

White, 231 W.Va. 270, 744 S.E.2d 668 (2013). Moreover, this Court has held that “[a]lleged

errors of a constitutional magnitude will generally trigger a review by this Court under the

plain error doctrine.” State v. Salmons, 203 W.Va. 561, 571 n.13, 509 S.E.2d 842, 852 n.13

                                               11

(1998). Similarly, in syllabus point four of State v. Starr, 158 W.Va. 905, 216 S.E.2d 242

(1975), this Court explained: “Although it is a well-settled policy that the Supreme Court of

Appeals normally will not rule upon unassigned or imperfectly assigned errors, this Court

will take cognizance of plain error involving a fundamental right of an accused which is

protected by the Constitution.”

              We have also stated: “Failure to observe a constitutional right constitutes

reversible error unless it can be shown that the error was harmless beyond a reasonable

doubt.” Syl. Pt. 5, State ex rel. Grob v. Blair, 158 W.Va. 647, 214 S.E.2d 330 (1975).

Indeed, an error involving a deprivation of a constitutional right may be regarded as harmless

only “if there is no reasonable possibility that the violation contributed to the conviction.”

Syl. Pt. 20, State v. Thomas, 157 W.Va. 640, 203 S.E.2d 445 (1974). Moreover, in syllabus

point three of State v. Frazier, 229 W.Va. 724, 735 S.E.2d 727 (2012), this Court explained:

“In a criminal case, the burden is upon the beneficiary of a constitutional error to prove

beyond a reasonable doubt that the error complained of did not contribute to the verdict

obtained.”

              Likewise, in deciding the issue of whether a constitutional violation is

harmless, the United States Supreme Court held in Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18

(1967), that the burden is on “the beneficiary of a constitutional error to prove beyond a

                                             12

reasonable doubt that the error complained of did not contribute to the verdict obtained.” Id.

at 24; see Bessey v. State, 239 S.W.3d 809, 814 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007) (finding omitted

admonition regarding sex offender registration harmless where defendant not eligible for

parole for 100 years and therefore would never be released and required to register as sex

offender).

              In the case sub judice, the State explained in its brief that it “agrees with

Petitioner that error was committed and that such error was plain.” The petitioner contends

that the failure to provide notice profoundly prejudiced him and affected his substantial rights

by limiting his notice of the nature of the case being prosecuted against him, the elements the

prosecution had to prove, and precisely what he needed to defend at trial. He argues that he

knew only that this was a battery case involving an alleged insulting or provocative physical

contact and that he did not know he would be required to defend against an allegation that

the crime was sexually motivated. Had the State provided pretrial notice as required by

Whalen, the petitioner contends that he could have presented evidence to rebut the issue of

sexual motivation and would have considered utilizing expert evidence to prove he was not

attracted to men and that he would not receive sexual gratification from kissing a man.

              In this Court’s decision in Whalen, we unequivocally declared the requirement

for pretrial notice in circumstances like those encountered in the present case. Pretrial notice

                                              13

in this criminal setting is a requirement of constitutional magnitude and involves procedural

due process rights to which a defendant is entitled prior to trial. The Court finds that the

error affected the petitioner’s substantial rights and prejudiced him by severely limiting his

ability to prepare a defense at trial. We further find that this error seriously affected the

fairness of the judicial proceedings instituted against the petitioner.

              In this situation, it is incumbent upon the State to prove that the error was

harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. The State has not succeeded in proving harmless error

in this case. As the petitioner contends, his trial strategy would have been altered drastically

if he had known he had to defend against the contention that the act was sexually motivated.

              Based upon the foregoing, this Court vacates the portion of the underlying

decision finding that the petitioner’s battery of Mr. S. was sexually motivated and that the

petitioner must register as a sex offender.

                              B. Sufficiency of the Evidence

              The petitioner also contends that the battery conviction was not supported by

sufficient evidence. As explained above in syllabus point three of Guthrie, a defendant

carries a heavy burden in challenging the sufficiency of the evidence supporting a conviction.

194 W. Va. at 663, 461 S.E.2d at 169; see also Syl. Pt. 3, State v. White, 231 W.Va. 270, 744

                                              14

S.E.2d 668 (2013). In syllabus point one of Guthrie, this Court also held:

                      The function of an appellate court when reviewing the
              sufficiency of the evidence to support a criminal conviction is to
              examine the evidence admitted at trial to determine whether
              such evidence, if believed, is sufficient to convince a reasonable
              person of the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
              Thus, the relevant inquiry is whether, after viewing the evidence
              in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier
              of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime
              proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

194 W. Va. at 663, 461 S.E.2d at 169.

              The petitioner contends that the trial court incorrectly assessed the evidence

regarding Mr. S.’s capacity to grab the petitioner and bite his tongue. The petitioner

contends that although Mr. S. was somewhat physically impaired, he had picked up a pair of

support hose earlier on the day of this incident and had placed them in his mouth. He had

also previously become aggressive, had requested a gun, had made sexual comments, and had

touched a hospital staff member’s breast. The petitioner also places emphasis on the

evidence that Mr. S.’s lack of oral hygiene was particularly egregious.

              The petitioner further contends that he did not make any truly inconsistent

statements regarding the incident, having informed various hospital personnel that Mr. S.

either grabbed his tongue or pulled him down and that the petitioner had a habit of sticking

out his tongue. The petitioner argues that these inconsistencies relate only to the exact

                                             15

mechanism by which Mr. S. bit the petitioner’s tongue and do not constitute any attempt to

obfuscate the issues or conceal the truth regarding the incident. Similarly, the petitioner

contends that his actions subsequent to the incident may be attributable to his own

humiliation, rather than efforts to disguise the truth.

              In response to the petitioner’s contentions, the State asserts that the evidence

was sufficient to sustain the verdict of guilt on the battery charge. The State emphasizes that

the petitioner did not immediately report this incident or seek medical attention. Rather, the

evidence indicated that the petitioner exited the area and went to his office. Approximately

one hour later, he telephoned an emergency room physician but did not inform him of the any

details regarding the incident.

              The State further contends that the evidence regarding Mr. S.’s physical

condition clearly supports the trial court’s ultimate findings. The testimony of multiple

individuals, including two doctors, three registered nurses, two certified nursing assistants,

and the police officer in charge of investigating the case, indicated that Mr. S. lacked the

ability to grab the petitioner’s tongue and bite it. The State argues that although Mr. S. had

grabbed support hose hours before this incident, the evidence further indicated the limitations

of his strength, as demonstrated by the fact that nurses were readily able to remove the

stockings from Mr. S.

                                              16

              The State also addresses the evidence regarding Mr. S.’s prior verbal threats,

sexual hallucinations, a request for a gun, and touching a staff member’s breast. The State

contends that all evidence was properly submitted to the trial court for evaluation and that

the determination by the court was premised upon issues of credibility and weight appropriate

for evaluation by the court. For instance, the trial court analyzed the evidence presented and

reasoned as follows:

              Now, there was evidence while he [Mr. S.] was on the extended
              care unit of agitated behavior, somewhat aggressive behavior, of
              sexual comments. If you - there was put into evident [sic] these
              behavior flow charts for a 12-month period. If you look at those
              carefully, you could see that for the last several months leading
              up to the date that this incident occurred, that there was little, if
              any of this sort of aggressive conduct noted in these charts.

The court also addressed the method by which the petitioner’s tongue may have been bitten,

as follows:

              I listened to Dr. Seen’s lengthy testimony, and I read the reports
              here. I noted the inconsistencies in statements made by Dr. Seen
              to various officials about what had happened, and I come back
              to application of what I think is just common sense. I mean, I
              think it is highly unusual, highly bizarre that a physician in these
              circumstances could get the tip of their tongue bitten off. . . .
              [T]he attending physician at Roane General said one-half to
              three-quarters of an inch of the man’s tongue was bitten off but
              he didn’t see him [the attending physician] for an hour. He
              didn’t see him for at least an hour after the event[.]

The court continued: “I am of the opinion that when Dr. Seen left Mr. S.’s room that night,

. . . his actions there afterwards were simply designed to cover-up what had happened. That

is the consistent explanation from the uncontradicted evidence in this case.”

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              This Court’s review clearly indicates that the trial court engaged in a thorough

and exhaustive analysis of the evidence presented. The trial court adhered to the mandates

expressed in syllabus point two of State v. LaRock, 196 W.Va. 294, 470 S.E.2d 613 (1996),

which provided as follows:

                     When a criminal defendant undertakes a sufficiency
              challenge, all the evidence, direct and circumstantial, must be
              viewed from the prosecutor’s coign of vantage, and the viewer
              must accept all reasonable inferences from it that are consistent
              with the verdict. This rule requires the trial court judge to
              resolve all evidentiary conflicts and credibility questions in the
              prosecution’s favor; moreover, as among competing inferences
              of which two or more are plausible, the judge must choose the
              inference that best fits the prosecution’s theory of guilt.

Viewed in a light most favorable to the prosecution, the evidence in this case demonstrated

that Mr. S. was very weak and unlikely to be physically capable of grabbing the petitioner’s

tongue or pulling the petitioner close to him. The trial court analyzed the evidence of the

petitioner’s response to the incident and his delay in revealing the injury and explaining the

circumstances of its occurrence. We find no merit in the petitioner’s assertion that the

evidence was insufficient to support the conclusion that the petitioner committed battery.

                                      IV. Conclusion

              Based upon the foregoing, this Court concludes that the petitioner was denied

due process by the State’s failure to provide pretrial notice as required by this Court in

Whalen. Consequently, the sexual motivation finding and order to register as a sex offender

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are vacated. This Court further finds that the battery conviction is supported by sufficient

evidence, and that conviction is therefore affirmed.

                                                   Affirmed, in part, and reversed, in part.

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