Court Opinion

ID: 9624917
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 07:21:28.494702+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:05:56.537872
License: Public Domain

BENTON, Judge,
dissenting.
The conviction in this case was the result of an indictment that charged “Roger Lee Jett did unlawfully and feloniously penetrate the labia majora, of a female child under the age of thirteen, with an inanimate object, in violation of [Code § ] 18.2-67.2.” At the conclusion of the Commonwealth’s case-in-chief, the following discussion occurred:
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: ... I make a motion to strike, as to both charges. I didn’t hear any testimony or other evidence of any penetration.
THE COURT: Of what?
[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Penetration of the ... [.] Which is a requirement of these offenses. And also I would move to strike on the ground that the Commonwealth has not ... in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, has not made out a prima facie case for either of these offenses.
THE COURT: All right.
[PROSECUTOR]: Your Honor, with respect to the prima facie case, I think there is more than a prima facie case made, Your Honor. There is direct testimony as to the oral sex that took place—
THE COURT: You don’t have to address the sodomy. I don’t think [defense counsel] will. But on the penetration, I think, maybe that is the one you need to—
[PROSECUTOR]: Your Honor, I think that is
... [.] And I understand where [defense counsel] is coming from, but I think it is a question ... [.] The testimony is that — from the mother as well as the daughter — that the hairbrush was used — and this is testimony from the daughter — that the hairbrush was used to massage the top of her *767vaginal area, for her to have an orgasm. Or have her feel good, I think was what her testimony was.
The purpose of that evidence, and the use of the hairbrush, requires some type of penetration to get to that very part of the vaginal area, to have an orgasm or penetration, or to feel good....
The trial judge denied the motion to strike the evidence. At the conclusion of all the evidence, defense counsel renewed the motion to strike the evidence for the reasons stated in the earlier motion. The trial judge again denied the motion. Thus, I would hold that Jett is not barred from arguing that the Commonwealth failed to prove penetration by an inanimate object, as charged in the indictment.
The evidence failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the child was penetrated by an inanimate object. The evidence concerning the child’s irritated vaginal area is equally explained by Jett’s use of his tongue on the child’s vaginal area. However, he was convicted of sodomy at this trial for that offense. A reasonable inference that the child’s discomfort was caused by either Jett’s tongue or the child’s use of the inanimate object “on the outside” of her vaginal area does not suffice to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the child was penetrated by an inanimate object. See Moore v. Commonwealth, 254 Va. 184, 491 S.E.2d 739 (1997).
Because the evidence was insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt penetration by an inanimate object, I would reverse the conviction.