Court Opinion

ID: 9611076
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 03:51:49.049578+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:03:09.956036
License: Public Domain

RAPER, Justice.
Appellant was convicted of child abuse as that crime is defined in § 6-4-504, W.S. 1977.1 From the judgment and sentence entered against him he has appealed on two bases. First he argues that there was insufficient evidence presented by the State to support a conviction of child abuse. Second, he challenges the validity of the statute he was convicted of having violated; his contention is that §§ 14-3-101 and -103, W.S.19772, impliedly repealed § 6-4-504, W.S.1977.
We will affirm.
*796On the night of April 13, 1981, appellant, along with his wife, aunt and another individual, traveled from appellant’s home in Saratoga, Wyoming to a hospital in Rawlins in order to get medical treatment for appellant’s twenty-two month old stepson. Once there, the child was admitted and treated for second degree burns which were located on his left buttocks and leg.
According to appellant and his wife, these burns had occurred on the night of April 10, 1981 while the child was home alone with appellant. Appellant testified that the youngster ate his dinner during this period getting food all over himself in the process; so appellant took him into the bathroom for a bath, running water into the tub and testing it before use. Appellant claimed to have left the child alone in the bathtub for a period of time. Appellant went to the kitchen where he cleaned up the mess the child had made while eating- — chili beans and wieners were thrown all over the floor and the highchair. When he heard the child screaming, he returned to the bathroom where he found the hot water faucet on and the child at the back end of the tub. After he turned the water off and pulled the youngster from the bathtub he noticed that the child had been burned. He checked with his aunt, who lived a couple of doors away, for advice. She gave him a tube of burn medicine which he took home and applied.
Appellant’s wife testified that when she arrived home she popped several blisters which had formed with a sterilized needle and applied some additional medication. The next morning she asked a druggist what he recommended for burns. He indicated that if the burns had scabbed over, the battle was pretty much over; however, the burns should be kept moist and the child should be given plenty of liquids. Appellant and his wife testified that, since the burns had scabbed over, they did not believe additional medical treatment was necessary.
It was only on Monday, April 13, when the scabbing stuck to the sheets and was pulled off, that they again became concerned. Appellant’s aunt viewed the burns and insisted that immediate medical treatment be sought. The aunt even called appellant’s mother in Texas. She called back to her son and told him to take the child to the hospital or she might call the sheriff. A friend of the aunt also looked at the burns and agreed that immediate medical attention was needed. After the local doctor refused to see the child, the aunt got her car and drove the child, along with appellant, his wife, and the friend, to the hospital in Rawlins. After their arrival at the hospital, an attending physician called the sheriff’s office believing the child may have been abused. A deputy sheriff went to the hospital and conducted an investigation. Later he arrested appellant on charges of child abuse.
Appellant was officially charged with child abuse under § 6-4-504, supra. Appellant’s trial commenced on May 28,1981. At the close of the State’s case a motion for acquittal was made; however, the trial judge denied the motion. The defense then presented evidence but never renewed the motion for acquittal. At no time during the course of the proceedings in the district court did appellant challenge the validity of § 6-4-504, W.S.1977. On Saturday, May 30,1981, a jury returned a verdict of guilty. Appellant was later sentenced to the Wyoming State Penitentiary for a period of not less than two years nor more than five years; however, the trial judge suspended this sentence in favor of three years of supervised probation and a fine of $1,000.
The first assignment of error in this case questions the sufficiency of the evidence to support a guilty verdict. Specifically appellant contends that it was error for the trial judge to deny his motion for acquittal which had been made at the close of the State’s case. However, since appellant introduced evidence following the motion for acquittal, the motion must be viewed as waived unless later renewed. Neilson v. State, Wyo., 599 P.2d 1326 (1979). Since there was no renewal of the motion, this court may only review the trial court’s failure to acquit to determine whether it was plain error.
*797The doctrine of plain error has been thoroughly discussed by this court on numerous occasions. This court may reverse where “[p]lain errors or defects affecting substantial rights” are found to have occurred. Rule 49, W.R.Cr.P. However, before noticing the error, this court must find that (1) the record clearly shows the alleged error; (2) the error violated a clear and unequivocal rule of law in an obvious way; and (3) material prejudice resulted. Browder v. State, Wyo., 639 P.2d 889 (1982).
The sufficiency of the evidence, where there is a conflict, is tested in accordance with the criteria set out in Harvey v. State, Wyo., 596 P.2d 1386, 1387 (1979):
“The oft-repeated rule by which we test the sufficiency of evidence on appeal of a criminal matter is that we examine and accept as true the evidence of the prosecution, leaving out of consideration entirely the evidence of the defendant in conflict therewith, and we give to the evidence of the prosecution every favorable inference which may reasonably and fairly be drawn therefrom. Stated another way — it is not whether the evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt for us, but rather whether it is sufficient to form the basis for a reasonable inference of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to be drawn by the jury when the evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the State. Evanson v. State, Wyo., 546 P.2d 412 (1976); Brown v. State, Wyo., 581 P.2d 189 (1978); Nisonger v. State, Wyo., 581 P.2d 1094 (1978).”
One of the considerations which we must also keep in mind is what we cannot see or hear, but of which the jury has the benefit — being present and observing at first hand the demeanor and expressions of the witnesses. As said in Madrid v. Norton, Wyo., 596 P.2d 1108, 1117 (1979):
“ * * * We must not forget that when we examine the cold words of the transcript of testimony, we do not have the benefit of how the trial judge [jury] sees and hears the witness — the pitch of the voice, facial changes, the movement in the witness — -all of which may tell a separate story, to be given credence. The conclusion of what preponderates is with the trier of fact. Koch v. Brown, Wyo.1965, 401 P.2d 459. Credibility of witnesses is for the trial court [jury], Hench v. Robinson, 1955, 75 Wyo. 1, 291 P.2d 417; Eblen v. Eblen, 1951, 68 Wyo. 353, 234 P.2d 434. Appellate courts cannot try a case de novo. Marken v. Goodall, 10th Cir. 1973, 478 F.2d 1052.” (Footnote omitted.)
As pointed out by the prosecutor in his closing argument to the jury, child abuse is a very private act; those present are usually only the victim and the perpetrator and many times, as in the case before us, only one can talk. While a youngster of twenty-two months can communicate hunger, thirst, pleasure, pain, fear and other understandable messages by body language, he cannot testify and give his version of the occurrence, so circumstantial evidence must be relied upon. This type of case is usually presented of necessity by circumstantial evidence. Grabill v. State, Wyo., 621 P.2d 802 (1980); See also, United States v. Harris, 661 F.2d 138 (10th Cir. 1981), a child abuse case arising at F. A. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming and prosecuted under § 6-4-504, supra. But, circumstantial evidence has standing and is sometimes more reliable than direct evidence. It is measured upon the same basis as direct evidence. In Blakely v. State, Wyo., 542 P.2d 857, 862 (1975), we said:
“ * * * Circumstantial evidence has been unfairly maligned and misunderstood by both some of the judiciary and lay people and has not been given the respect to which it is entitled. Circumstantial evidence has ‘both standing and stature.’ Without it, the guilty would escape. It must not be given inferior status. The careful bonding together of facts passes the test of logic: If this and this and this are true, then that must be true.” (Footnotes omitted.)3
*798The medical doctor, a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians with a background of examining and treating many burn cases, examined the child upon admission to the hospital. He testified that when he examined the child from head to toe, there were second degree burns over the left buttocks, the left posterior thigh, and the left ankle. The burn around the ankle was almost completely around the ankle except for a small part on the inside of the ankle. There was also a burn on the inside of the right thigh. In addition, there were several bruises on the child. They were about the right upper eyelid, the left forehead, on the bridge of the nose, the anterior chest wall, in the small of the back and also a bruise completely around the right lower leg just above the right ankle.
Color photographs show a massive burn on the left buttocks extending down onto the thigh. The photos also show the ugly large burn around the left ankle. Medical testimony was that the burns were consistent with hot liquids, such as water, coffee, grease or oil being poured on the child.
The bathtub was four feet long, twenty-two inches wide and ten inches deep. The faucet handles were sixteen inches above the bottom of the tub and the spout — three inches lower — discharged straight down into the drain. There is no question but that the 170 degree water in the hot water line would cause second degree burns. During the course of the testimony, every possible explanation of how the child could have received the burns in the locations they appeared by his own act of turning on the hot water was explored. None fit the burn pattern.
The theory of the appellant was that when the child turned on the hot water faucet he attempted to escape to the back of the tub and in doing so got his backside burned. The location of the spout might explain an ankle bum but not all the way around the ankle and certainly not the backside burns. It must be kept in mind that, according to appellant’s own version, there was already water of a cooler temperature in the tub.
The various bruises around the child’s head were explained by appellant as having been caused by the manner in which he had to remove the child from the tub. It is his contention that the baby gave him such a struggle that he found it necessary to yank the child out of the tub by getting a hold on his head. It was pointed out in closing argument that the evidence showed the child was an active toddler and could have climbed out of the tub on his own.
Appellant, during his testimony, explained the bruise on the child’s lower chest as having occurred during a potty-training experience. The tot did not make it to the toilet and messed his pants. On that occasion, by appellant’s testimony during trial, he “patted” him with the back of his hand.4 Appellant gave two stories as to a bruise in the vicinity of the eye. One was that the family dobberman pup had nipped him during play and the other was that it happened when he fell off the car seat.
The long delay in getting the child to the hospital, and then only after much persua*799sion by relatives and friends, is a further circumstance worthy of consideration.
Appellant admitted during his direct examination that he had been convicted of a felony, passing of bad checks. Rule 609(a), W.R.E.:
“For the purpose of attacking the credibility of a witness, evidence that he has been convicted of a crime shall be admitted if elicited from him or established by public record during cross-examination but only if the crime (1) was punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of one (1) year under the law under which he was convicted, and the court determines that the probative value of admitting this evidence outweighs its prejudicial effect to the defendant, or (2) involved dishonesty or false statement, regardless of the punishment.”
Trauma, consistent with child abuse, coupled with an opportunity to inflict the injuries as in this case, satisfies us that the jury was justified in accepting the circumstantial evidence against appellant rather than his denial; and there was a basis for the jury to find appellant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
After carefully reviewing the evidence in this case we cannot find any plain error. Submission of this case to the jury did not violate a clear and unequivocal rule of law. The whole basis of our legal system depends upon the submission of questions of fact to juries and allowing them the opportunity to decide what occurred. Here that was done.
The second issue raised by appellant focuses on the validity of the statute he was convicted of violating. Even though no challenge was made to the statute at trial, the plain-error doctrine is inapplicable. That is because the validity of § 6-4-504, supra, is jurisdictional in this case. As this court has previously stated:
“Jurisdiction of the offense charged and of the person of the accused is a fundamental and indispensable prerequisite to a prosecution. In the absence of jurisdiction over both the offense and,the person there is and can be no prosecution. [Citations.]” State v. Clark, Wyo., 392 P.2d 539, 540 (1964).
Accordingly, we must carefully consider appellant’s argument.
Appellant’s position is that the legislature’s passage of §§ 14-3-101 and -103, supra, impliedly repealed § 6-4-504, W.S. 1977. However, this court has previously noted that repeals by implication are not favored. Thomas v. State, Wyo., 562 P.2d 1287 (1977). In fact a fairly strict test has been devised to determine whether the statutes can co-exist together. “[I]f they are repugnant by virtue of relating to the same subject and are directed at a distinct offense with the same object, the earlier cannot stand.” Thomas v. State, supra, 562 P.2d at 1290.
There are several differences between these questioned statutes. Section 6-4-504 speaks to any adult while §§ 14-3-101 and -103 specifically cover only parents, guardians and custodians. Also, § 6-4-504 defines the perpetrator of the crime as one “who intentionally or in reckless disregard of the consequences causes violent physical injury or mental trauma to a child under the age of sixteen,” while §§ 14-3-101 and -103 prohibit the abuse, torture, or cruel punishment of a child by a parent, guardian or custodian. It would appear the latter statute is directed more towards corporal punishment which gets out of hand, while the former covers intentional abuse. This is consistent with the fact that violation of §§ 14-3-101 and -103 is a misdemeanor, but violation of § 6-4r-504 is a felony. We cannot say, in light of these glaring differences, that these statutes are directed at the same offense with the same objective, in fact quite the contrary appears to be true. We must presume that if the legislature wanted § 6-4-504 repealed, it would have done so itself. Accordingly, we hold both statutes valid.
Affirmed.

. Section 6-4 — 504, W.S.1977, provides:
“Any adult who intentionally or in reckless disregard of the consequences causes violent physical injury or mental trauma to a child under the age of sixteen (16) or commits any assault or assault and battery upon the child to a degree as to require medical, psychological or psychiatric treatment to heal or overcome the injuries or damages sustained by the child, or who sexually molests a child under the age of sixteen (16) is guilty of child abuse and upon conviction shall be sentenced to the state penitentiary for a term of not more than five (5) years.”

. Section 14-3-101, W.S.1977:
“(a) No parent, guardian or custodian of any child shall:
“(i) Abandon the child without just cause;
“(ii) Abuse, torture, expose or cruelly punish the child; or
“(iii) Knowingly or negligently cause, permit or contribute to the endangering of the child’s life, health or welfare.”
Section 14-3-103, W.S.1977:
“(a) Any person violating any provision within W.S. 14-3-101 and 14-3-102 is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) plus court costs or imprisoned in the county jail nor more than one (1) year, or both.
“(b) Upon the second and each subsequent conviction of subsection (a) of this section, a person shall be imprisoned in the state penitentiary not more than five (5) years.”

. The trial judge so instructed the jury in approved form (2.101, Wyoming Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal):
“There are two types of evidence from which you may find the truth as to the facts of a case — direct and circumstantial evidence. *798Direct evidence is the testimony of one who asserts actual knowledge of a fact, such as an eyewitness; circumstantial evidence is proof of a chain of facts and circumstances indicating the guilt or innocence of a defendant. The law makes no distinction between the weight to be given to either direct or circumstantial evidence. Nor is a greater degree of certainty required of circumstantial evidence than of direct evidence. You should weigh all the evidence in the case and if you are not convinced of the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt, you must find him not guilty. If on the other hand, you are convinced of the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt, you must find him guilty.”

. The deputy sheriff testified in that regard during trial:
“A. When I asked about the bruises that I knew of on the chest area, he told me that he had struck him, the baby, meaning John, in the chest with the back of his hand; and then he hesitated and he looked at the floor for approximately a minute. He looked back up and he said, ‘But I just pushed him. We were playing.’ ”