Court Opinion

ID: 9792506
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 02:30:14.765179+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:43.257602
License: Public Domain

Justice ERICKSON
specially concurring:
I specially concur in the majority opinion.
At the close of the prosecution’s case in chief, the defendant moved for a judgment of acquittal. The trial court denied the motion.
In ruling on a motion for a judgment of acquittal, the trial judge must determine whether the relevant evidence, both direct and circumstantial, when viewed as a whole and in the light most favorable to the prosecution, is substantial and sufficient to support a conclusion by a reasonable mind that the defendant is guilty of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. Kogan v. People, 756 P.2d 945 (Colo.1988); People v. Bennett, 183 Colo. 125, 129, 515 P.2d 466, 469 (1973). The substantial evidence test established in Bennett eliminated the requirement that the prosecution’s evidence when wholly circumstantial must, as the defendant contends, exclude every reasonable hypothesis other than that of guilt. Bennett, 183 Colo. at 129, 515 P.2d at 469.
In this case, trial was to the court. Four sexually explicit photographs of K.B., together with the admission of the defendant to the investigating police officer that he had taken the photographs, but did not know why he took them, constituted the evidence of guilt. The prosecution argued that no legitimate reason could be advanced for the existence of the photographs other than for the defendant’s sexual gratification. Based on the prosecution’s argument, the photographs, and the admissions of the defendant, the trial judge denied the defendant’s motion, and when the defendant offered no defense, found the defendant guilty of sexual exploitation of a child under section 18-6-403(3)(b), 8B C.R.S. (1986).
The prosecution is required to prove every element of the crime charged, including the requisite mens rea, beyond a reasonable doubt. Hendershott v. People, 653 P.2d 385, 390-93 (Colo.1982). The negative finding that there could be no other pur*607pose for the photographs other than the defendant’s sexual gratification is not sufficient to establish the existence of the requisite mens rea beyond a reasonable doubt. The prosecution had the burden of proving that the purpose of the photographs was for real or simulated overt sexual gratification or stimulation. Section 18-6-403(2)(d), 8B C.R.S. (1986).
Here, the same evidence before the trial court is before this court. See People v. Gennings, 196 Colo. 208, 583 P.2d 908 (1978). In my view, the evidence establishes that the purpose of the photographs was for sexual gratification and supports the trial judge’s finding of guilt. The photographs, coupled with the defendant’s admissions, provide sufficient direct and circumstantial evidence to prove the defendant’s purpose and the required statutory elements of the crime. K.B. was positioned by the defendant to achieve maximum exposure of the genital and anal areas. The defendant posed K.B. in positions associated with a female in the act of sexual intercourse. Although the prosecutor’s assertion of no other purpose was inadequate, the evidence was sufficient to establish the statutory element necessary for conviction of the defendant.