Court Opinion

ID: 4356806
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-01-08 14:17:38.581144+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:46:32.219882
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

            Present: Chief Judge Decker,* Judge Malveaux and Senior Judge Haley
            Argued at Fredericksburg, Virginia
PUBLISHED

            DONALD MATTHEW KELLEY
                                                                                OPINION BY
            v.     Record No. 1063-17-4                             CHIEF JUDGE MARLA GRAFF DECKER
                                                                              JANUARY 8, 2019
            COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

                                FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LOUDOUN COUNTY
                                           Stephen E. Sincavage, Judge

                            Buta Biberaj (Biberaj Snow & Sinclair, PC, on brief), for appellant.1

                            Craig W. Stallard, Assistant Attorney General (Mark R. Herring,
                            Attorney General; Elizabeth Kiernan Fitzgerald, Assistant Attorney
                            General, on brief), for appellee.

                   Donald Matthew Kelley appeals his conviction for assault and battery in violation of

            Code § 18.2-57. He argues that the trial court erred by finding that a touching occurred, that he

            had the required intent, and that he acted without a legal excuse or justification. We hold that the

            evidence, viewed under the proper standard, supports the court’s determination that the appellant

            committed the offense of assault and battery. Further, the trial court did not err by rejecting the

            appellant’s argument that he had a legal excuse or justification for his actions. Consequently, we

            affirm the conviction.

                   *
                       On January 1, 2019, Judge Decker succeeded Judge Huff as chief judge.
                   1
                    Although the appellant filed a reply brief, it was not timely filed as required by Rule
            5A:19(c)(3).
                                      I. BACKGROUND2

       The appellant’s conviction is based on his behavior on April 3, 2016. At that time, the

appellant and Jasmin Hester, the victim, were coworkers at a veterinary clinic. Hester worked as

a member of the administrative staff, and the appellant was a facilities manager.

       In a bench trial, Hester testified regarding the appellant’s actions that day. The appellant

arrived at work while Hester was sitting on the porch. According to Hester, after she said

“[g]ood evening” to him, the appellant approached her, leaned forward, and grabbed her chin

with his hand. Hester leaned away, telling him “no, no, no.” She explained that she leaned away

and said “no” even before the appellant touched her because she “could sense what was about to

occur.” Nevertheless, using his hand, the appellant turned Hester’s face toward him and

attempted to kiss her. She pulled away until they “broke contact.” The appellant then walked

away and said, “I’m told that it tickles,” referencing his mustache. He also thanked her for

“helping” at the clinic during the previous few weeks.

       Later, the appellant asked Hester if she was “okay.” Although she responded

affirmatively at the time, she testified that her response to him was inaccurate. Hester described

the incident as “scary” and “shocking.” She said that the contact caused her to be offended,

terrified, angry, and upset.

       After the appellant left, Hester called the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. Later that

day, she met with Deputy Taylor Bauer and provided a statement about the incident. The next

day, Hester filed a criminal complaint with a magistrate, who issued a summons against the

appellant for assault and battery.

       2
        On appeal of the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court views the evidence in the light
most favorable to the Commonwealth. Hamilton v. Commonwealth, 279 Va. 94, 97 n.1 (2010).
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       At trial, during cross-examination, Hester admitted that the day before the incident she

had expressed dissatisfaction with her job at the clinic. She also testified that her civil lawyer

had requested $175,000 on her behalf as a result of the appellant’s behavior. Additionally, it

came to light that Hester had messaged two friends, either through text message or social media,

that the appellant “tried to kiss” her and “[t]ried to grab” her face.

       During Deputy Bauer’s initial investigation on the day of the offense, the appellant told

him that although he had approached Hester and “leaned down to give her a kiss on the cheek,”

she stood up. The appellant explained to the deputy that at that time “he extended his hand out

for a handshake, and she walked away.”

       Officer Jennifer Henry, with Loudoun County Animal Services, testified at trial that the

appellant previously had stated under oath in general district court that he “approached [Hester]

with the intention of kissing her.” The appellant also had acknowledged that he thought Hester

was uncomfortable. Henry stated that according to the appellant, he then told Hester that they

would “save the kiss for later.”

       The trial court found the appellant guilty of misdemeanor assault and battery in violation

of Code § 18.2-57. The court expressly found Hester’s testimony to be “credible,” and it

concluded that a touching occurred. The court recognized the evidence that Hester had

communicated with friends electronically that the appellant had “tried” to grab her face.

However, the court reconciled her assertions, finding that the appellant tried to touch her and

then did so. Noting that “[t]he slightest touching of another if done in a rude, insolent, or angry

manner constitutes a battery,” the court found that the appellant grabbed Hester’s chin “during

and after” she repeatedly said “no” and physically withdrew from him. It concluded that

“touching someone by grabbing their face when attempting a clearly unwanted kiss is an action

that is done in a rude manner.” Subsequent to the finding of guilt, the appellant was fined $100.

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                                           II. ANALYSIS

          The appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction. He

argues that the evidence did not prove that he touched Hester or that, if he did so, he intended to

do so in a rude manner. The appellant alternatively suggests that he should not be criminally

culpable because the evidence established that he had a legal justification or excuse for touching

Hester.

          When considering a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court reviews the

evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, “as the prevailing party in the trial

court.” Hamilton v. Commonwealth, 279 Va. 94, 103 (2010). “In doing so, the Court

‘“discard[s] all evidence of the accused that conflicts with that of the Commonwealth and

regard[s] as true all credible evidence favorable to the Commonwealth and all fair inferences

reasonably deducible”’ from that evidence.” Parham v. Commonwealth, 64 Va. App. 560, 565

(2015) (alterations in original) (quoting Henry v. Commonwealth, 63 Va. App. 30, 37 (2014)).

          The central question on appellate review of a sufficiency challenge “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 beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Maxwell v.

Commonwealth, 275 Va. 437, 442 (2008) (quoting Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319

(1979)). The appellant was tried by the circuit court, sitting without a jury. Consequently, that

court was the fact finder, and its judgment is afforded the same weight as a jury verdict.

Commonwealth v. Perkins, 295 Va. 323, 327 (2018). “[W]e must uphold the conviction unless it

is plainly wrong or without evidence to support it.” Hamilton, 279 Va. at 103. “If there is

evidence to support the conviction[], the reviewing court is not permitted to substitute its own

judgment, even if its opinion might differ from the conclusions reached by the finder of fact at

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the trial.” Synan v. Commonwealth, 67 Va. App. 173, 185 (2017) (quoting Courtney v.

Commonwealth, 281 Va. 363, 366 (2011)).

        We apply these well-established legal principles when considering whether the evidence

was sufficient to support the trial court’s conclusion that the appellant was guilty of assault and

battery. The appellant’s challenge consists of three parts. He argues that the trial court erred “by

finding that ‘a touching’ occurred.” He also suggests that the court erred by concluding that the

Commonwealth proved the element of intent. Finally, the appellant contends that if a touching

occurred, a legal excuse or justification rendered the act lawful.

                                             A. Touching

        The appellant argues that the trial court erred by finding that a touching occurred. He

suggests that the victim’s testimony that he touched her was not credible because she initially

asserted merely that he “tried” to touch her and she had a “pending demand” for remuneration

from the clinic, giving her a motivation to lie about what had occurred.

        “Assault and battery are common law crimes.” Montague v. Commonwealth, 278 Va.
532, 541 (2009); see also Code § 18.2-57. Placing an individual in reasonable apprehension of

bodily harm constitutes an assault. Parish v. Commonwealth, 56 Va. App. 324, 330-31 (2010);

see also Clark v. Commonwealth, 279 Va. 636, 641 (2010) (defining the common law offense of

assault as also including an “overt act intended to inflict bodily harm” when the assailant “has

the present ability to inflict such harm” (quoting Carter v. Commonwealth, 269 Va. 44, 47

(2005))). “To sustain a conviction for battery, the Commonwealth must prove a ‘wil[l]ful or

unlawful touching’ of another.” Parish, 56 Va. App. at 330 (alteration in original) (quoting

Wood v. Commonwealth, 149 Va. 401, 404 (1927)).

        The touching necessary for a battery, however, need not include a physical injury. Id.

(“It is sufficient if it does injury to the [victim’s] mind or feelings.’” (alteration in original)

                                                  -5-
(quoting Wood, 149 Va. at 405)). See generally Marquardt v. State, 882 A.2d 900, 920 (Md.

2005) (noting that battery includes kissing another person without consent).

        Here, the trial court specifically found the victim’s testimony at trial to be credible. This

is significant for purposes of appellate review. “The fact finder, who has the opportunity to see

and hear the witnesses, has the sole responsibility to determine their credibility” as well as “the

weight to be given their testimony.” Hamilton, 279 Va. at 105 (quoting Commonwealth v.

Taylor, 256 Va. 514, 518 (1998)). Further, the finder of fact, “who determines the credibility of

the witnesses and the weight accorded their testimony, may accept or reject the testimony in

whole or in part.” Perkins v. Commonwealth, 31 Va. App. 326, 331 (2000).

        In light of the trial court’s credibility determination, we “may only . . . disturb[]” its

conclusion “on appeal if this Court finds that [the witness’] testimony was ‘inherently incredible,

or so contrary to human experience as to render it unworthy of belief.’” Johnson v.

Commonwealth, 58 Va. App. 303, 315 (2011) (third alteration in original) (quoting Robertson v.

Commonwealth, 12 Va. App. 854, 858 (1991)). “To be ‘incredible,’ testimony ‘must be either

so manifestly false that reasonable men ought not to believe it, or it must be shown to be false by

objects or things as to the existence and meaning of which reasonable men should not differ.’”

Juniper v. Commonwealth, 271 Va. 362, 415 (2006) (quoting Cardwell v. Commonwealth, 209
Va. 412, 414 (1968)). A legal determination that a witness is inherently incredible is very

different from the mere identification of inconsistencies in a witness’ testimony or statements.

Testimony may be contradictory or contain inconsistencies without rising to the level of being

inherently incredible as a matter of law. See id. Consequently, as Virginia law dictates,

“[p]otential inconsistencies in testimony are resolved by the fact finder,” not the appellate court.

Towler v. Commonwealth, 59 Va. App. 284, 292 (2011). “[T]here can be no relief” in this Court

if a witness testifies to facts “which, if true, are sufficient” to support the conviction “[i]f the trier

                                                  -6-
of the facts” bases its decision “upon that testimony.” Smith v. Commonwealth, 56 Va. App.
711, 718-19 (2010) (quoting Swanson v. Commonwealth, 8 Va. App. 376, 379 (1989)).

       Here, Hester testified that the appellant “grabbed [her] face and turned it towards him as

[she] was saying no, no, no and leaning back away from him [while he] attempted to kiss [her].”

The trial court expressly considered Hester’s representation through social media, which

included that the appellant had “tried to grab” her, and reconciled it with Hester’s testimony at

trial. Viewing all of the evidence in context, the court found that the appellant both tried to and

did in fact touch Hester as he attempted to kiss her. Similarly, the court had the opportunity to

consider any ulterior motive on Hester’s part. See Johnson, 58 Va. App. at 315 (affirming the

finder of fact’s credibility determination despite evidence of the witness’ bias). Based on the

evidence before it, the court concluded that a touching occurred. Hester’s testimony was neither

“inherently incredible” nor “so contrary to human experience as to render it unworthy of belief.”

See id. (quoting Robertson, 12 Va. App. at 858). Consequently, the record provides no basis to

disturb the trier of fact’s assessment and ultimate conclusion, which are neither plainly wrong

nor without evidence to support them.

       The competing evidence was before the trial court, which had the opportunity to listen to

the testimony, observe the witnesses, consider the arguments of counsel, and determine what

happened. See Lockhart v. Commonwealth, 34 Va. App. 329, 343 (2001). In light of the

circumstances, the court was entitled to accept Hester’s testimony and to reject the appellant’s

defense that he did not touch her. See Ervin v. Commonwealth, 57 Va. App. 495, 519-21 (2011)

(holding that a fact finder may properly reject a defendant’s hypothesis of innocence).

       Accordingly, the trial court, as the finder of fact, was entitled to conclude that the

appellant touched Hester.

                                                -7-
                                              B. Intent

       The appellant argues that the trial “court erred by finding that the touching was done in

an angry, rude, insulting, or vengeful manner.” He further contends that the court “erred by

ruling that ‘touching someone by grabbing their face when attempting a clearly unwanted kiss is

an action that is done in a rude manner.’”3 Lastly, the appellant suggests that the trial court erred

in its interpretation of Adams v. Commonwealth, 33 Va. App. 463 (2000), as it relates to

imputed intent when the touching is done in a rude manner.

       The law is clear that “[t]he slightest touching of another . . . if done in a rude, insolent, or

angry manner, constitutes a battery for which the law affords redress.”4 Adams, 33 Va. App. at

469 (second alteration in original) (quoting Crosswhite v. Barnes, 139 Va. 471, 477 (1924)). In

such circumstances, “[t]he unlawful intent may be imputed.” Parish, 56 Va. App. at 331.

       “Proving intent by direct evidence often is impossible.” Adams, 33 Va. App. at 470.

Therefore, intent, “[l]ike any other element of a crime, . . . may be proved by circumstantial

evidence.” Id. at 471. An offender’s “intent may be inferred from the nature of the overt act and

the surrounding circumstances.” Parish, 56 Va. App. at 331 (quoting Clark, 279 Va. at 642).

Whether an act is done in a “rude, insolent, or angry manner” is a finding of fact that this Court

will not disturb on appeal unless the finding is plainly wrong or no evidence supports it. See id.

at 329, 332.

       3
          In his argument relating to proof of intent, the appellant suggests that the trial court’s
application of “the civil standard of ‘rude, insolent or angry touching’ violates [his]
constitutional right to due process.” However, his assignments of error do not allege that the trial
court violated his due process rights. This Court is limited to reviewing the assignments of error
presented by the litigant. See Rule 5A:12(c)(1)(i); Whitt v. Commonwealth, 61 Va. App. 637,
646-47 (2013) (en banc). Consequently, we do not consider the issue of due process.
       4
         “Rude,” in pertinent part, means “offensive in manner or action,” “marked by a lack of
gentleness or by the use of force,” or “sudden and disconcerting or unpleasant.” Rude,
Webster’s Third New International Dictionary (2002).
                                               -8-
        It is firmly established that “[c]ircumstantial evidence is competent and is entitled to as

much weight as direct evidence provided that the circumstantial evidence is sufficiently

convincing to exclude every reasonable hypothesis except that of guilt.” Pijor v.

Commonwealth, 294 Va. 502, 512 (2017) (quoting Dowden v. Commonwealth, 260 Va. 459,

468 (2000)). The “reasonable hypothesis of innocence” concept is also well defined. The

Commonwealth need exclude only reasonable hypotheses of innocence that “flow from the

evidence itself, and not from the imagination” of the defendant. Id. (quoting Turner v.

Commonwealth, 218 Va. 141, 148 (1977)). Moreover, whether a defendant’s hypothesis is

reasonable is a question of fact. See Edwards v. Commonwealth, 68 Va. App. 284, 303 (2017).

        Here, the trial court expressly found “beyond a reasonable doubt that [the appellant] was

trying to kiss Ms. Hester . . . when he grabbed her face.” The appellant previously admitted that

he realized at the time of the incident that Hester was “uncomfortable.” She signaled her lack of

consent by trying to pull away and saying “no, no, no.” Nonetheless, he advanced and grabbed

her face in an effort to kiss her. After she pulled away, he told the victim “[w]e’ll save the kiss

for later” while indicating that his mustache tickled. Under these facts, it was entirely reasonable

for the court to conclude that the appellant intended to act in a rude manner and did so when he

grabbed the victim’s face and attempted to force a kiss on her. See Parish, 56 Va. App. at

330-31. See generally Ball v. State, 945 N.E.2d 252, 258 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011) (holding that the

evidence that the defendant kissed the victim when she did “not desire his kisses” proved that he

touched her in a rude, insolent, or angry manner); State v. Smiley, 38 S.W.3d 521, 525 (Tenn.

2001) (noting that an unconsented-to kiss amounted to “extremely offensive or provocative”

physical contact). The trial court, sitting as the fact finder, was entitled to reject the appellant’s

theory that he intended the kiss as a thank you and stopped as soon as he realized that Hester did

not consent to the touching accomplished when he grabbed her face. See Adams, 33 Va. App. at

                                                 -9-
471 (holding that the trial court “was entitled to reject appellant’s testimony that he was ‘just

goofing off’” rather than intending to hit the victim with the laser beam).

        In addition, the appellant argues that the trial court “erred by finding [him] guilty beyond

a reasonable doubt when it interpreted Adams . . . , 33 Va. App. 468[,] to stand for the premise

that ‘the slightest touching of another if done in a rude, insolent, or angry manner constitutes a

battery for which the law affords redress.” The trial court did not err in applying Adams, which

articulates the law as it exists in the Commonwealth. See Gilbert v. Commonwealth, 45
Va. App. 67, 71 (2005) (“[T]he slightest touching of another . . . if done in a rude, insolent or

angry manner, constitutes a battery for which the law affords redress.” (alterations in original)

(quoting Crosswhite, 139 Va. at 477)).

        The appellant speculates that under the current legal standard, “the next prosecution for

battery [might] be based upon the hug or kiss of a stranger on New Year’s Eve, or hugging a

stranger at a viewing, or kissing a baby that is the relative of a distant relative.” Contrary to the

appellant’s suggestions, “we need not, and should not, offer advisory opinions on such

hypotheticals.” See Levick v. MacDougall, 294 Va. 283, 299 (2017). Here, the appellant

grabbed the victim’s face against her will while she was trying to pull away from him as she

repeatedly told him “no.” We address the criminality of only the appellant’s conduct under the

particular facts of this case.

        The trial court did not err in concluding that the appellant’s actions “constitute[d] a

battery for which the law afford[ed] redress.” See Adams, 33 Va. App. at 469 (quoting

Crosswhite, 139 Va. at 477).

                                     C. Justification or Excuse

        The appellant also argues that the trial court erred in finding that he had no legal

justification or excuse for intentionally touching the victim. He suggests that there was “implied

                                                - 10 -
consent” to the touching because the appellant and victim were coworkers. According to the

appellant, his “legal justification” for his action was that he did it “in [an] effort to express his

gratitude.”

        It is true that a touching is not “unlawful” if it “is justified or excused.” Perkins, 31
Va. App. at 330. A “justification” is “‘[a] lawful or sufficient reason for one’s acts or

omissions.’” Clanton v. Commonwealth, 53 Va. App. 561, 568 n.4 (2009) (en banc) (alteration

in original) (quoting Taylor v. Commonwealth, 260 Va. 683, 690 (2000)). Similarly, a touching

is not a battery if the victim “consents” to the touching. Perkins, 31 Va. App. at 330.

        However, despite these principles, the appellant has provided no legal basis upon which

his holding of the victim’s face against her will, while trying to kiss her, was justified or excused.

After considering the evidence, the trial court rejected both of these theories. The court found

that the victim expressly rebuffed the appellant’s action of grabbing her chin by trying to pull

away while saying “no, no, no,” but that he continued to touch her and advance. It specifically

credited the victim’s testimony that she did not consent to the touching and communicated the

lack of permission to the appellant by pulling away from him and saying no before he touched

her. In addition, the court rejected the appellant’s theory that he touched Hester in a congenial

manner in order to convey his gratitude.

        For these reasons, the appellant’s argument that the trial court erred by concluding that he

acted without a legal justification or excuse is without merit.

                                         III. CONCLUSION

        The evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, supports the trial

court’s conclusions that the appellant touched Hester and that he did so with the requisite intent.

The court’s findings were not plainly wrong or without evidence to support them. Additionally,

                                                 - 11 -
the trial court did not err in rejecting the appellant’s theory that he acted with legal justification

or excuse. Therefore, we affirm the conviction for assault and battery.

                                                                                              Affirmed.

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