Court Opinion

ID: 9409647
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-07-18 21:04:44.308825+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:52.329145
License: Public Domain

2023 IL App (2d) 220344-U
                                         No. 2-22-0344
                                    Order filed July 18, 2023

      NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23(b) and is not precedent
      except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1).
______________________________________________________________________________

                                             IN THE

                              APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

                              SECOND DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE                ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
OF ILLINOIS,                           ) of Lake County.
                                       )
      Plaintiff-Appellee,              )
                                       )
v.                                     ) No. 20-CF-1514
                                       )
ANDRES LEYVA,                          ) Honorable
                                       ) Patricia S. Fix,
      Defendant-Appellant.             ) Judge, Presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________

       JUSTICE HUTCHINSON delivered the judgment of the court.
       Justices Birkett and Kennedy concurred in the judgment.

                                            ORDER

¶1     Held: The State proved the force element of sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault
             with evidence that the victim was too inebriated to effectively resist the sexual acts.

¶2     Following a bench trial, defendant, Andres Leyva, was convicted of criminal sexual assault

(720 ILCS 5/11-1.20(a)(1) (West 2020)) and aggravated criminal sexual assault (id. § 11-

1.30(a)(2)). He was sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment for criminal sexual assault and a

consecutive 10 years for aggravated criminal sexual assault. In this timely filed appeal, defendant

argues that he was not proved guilty of either offense beyond a reasonable doubt. More
2023 IL App (2d) 220344-U

specifically, he contends that the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed

these offenses using force. We affirm.

¶3                                       I. BACKGROUND

¶4     On September 19, 2020, defendant was charged with one count of criminal sexual assault

and one count of aggravated criminal sexual assault. The criminal-sexual-assault charge alleged

that defendant “by the use of force committed an act of sexual penetration with R.M., [the victim,]

in that the defendant placed his penis in the mouth of R.M.” The aggravated-criminal-sexual-

assault charge alleged that “by the use of force the defendant placed his penis in the sex organ of

R.M. and in doing so caused bodily harm to R.M.”

¶5     The uncontested evidence presented at trial revealed that R.M., age 57, lived in a single-

family home with her father, age 84. R.M. helped care for her father, who had health issues.

Victoria Hill and defendant, Hill’s 29-year-old boyfriend, lived next door to R.M. The neighbors

frequently socialized in each other’s backyards. R.M. was very friendly with Hill and defendant.

Although R.M. would kiss defendant and Hill on the cheeks and hug them, any attraction she felt

toward the couple was platonic.

¶6     On the early evening of September 18, 2020, R.M., Hill, and defendant were drinking while

listening to music and sitting around Hill’s firepit. Late into the evening, R.M. started feeling

unwell. She testified that she felt “gut sick” and that “[her] whole body was sick.” R.M. believed

that the alcohol she consumed caused her to feel unwell. R.M. told Hill and defendant that she

needed to go home. R.M. stood up to leave but could not walk on her own. Hill and defendant

helped R.M. walk to her back deck.

¶7     When they arrived near the unlocked sliding glass door by R.M.’s back deck, Hill left to

take care of some personal matters. Defendant escorted R.M. into her home and to her bedroom.

                                               -2-
2023 IL App (2d) 220344-U

¶8     The evidence was contested on what occurred between defendant and R.M. inside her

home. According to R.M., defendant pulled back her bedspread and sheets. He then sat her down

on the bed and pushed her back. R.M. testified that the room started spinning. Defendant then put

R.M.’s hand on his penis. R.M. “couldn’t do anything” to prevent this because “[she] was out of

it.” R.M. then “found [herself] on the other side of [her] bed, and [defendant] put his [erect] penis

in [her] mouth and told [her] to suck it.” R.M. stated that defendant, who was “rough” with her,

“forced” his penis into her mouth, “holding [her] head and pushing [her head] towards him.” R.M.

elaborated that defendant “had his hands around [her] head” and “kept pushing [her] head,”

“cramming” his penis in her mouth and to the back of her throat. R.M. described this pushing as

“painful” and “hurting.” R.M. did not cry out to her father, who was soundly asleep in the next

room with the television on, because she was scared and “couldn’t fight [herself] off.” R.M.

reiterated that she was “out of it” and “would of [stopped defendant] if [she] could of.” When

defendant failed to orgasm, he pulled R.M. to the end of the bed. R.M., who was “nauseated

terribly,” attempted to fight defendant. She unsuccessfully attempted to push defendant away from

her using both hands. “[Defendant] pulled [R.M.’s] pants down, put [her] legs up in the air, pulled

his pants down, and placed his penis in [her] vagina.” Defendant “kept trying to thrust,” “pushing

[his penis] in and pushing it in.” R.M. “was just fighting back with some kind of Kegel

movement[,] trying to keep [defendant] out.” R.M., who was postmenopausal and used a

prescription cream thrice weekly to combat vaginal dryness, described the penetration as

“[e]xcruciating.” The doorbell rang. Defendant withdrew his penis. He pulled his pants on and told

R.M. not to tell Hill what had happened. Hill then walked into the house. Hill helped R.M. to her

bedroom, where she began “vomiting profusely.” Defendant and Hill remained with R.M. until

                                                -3-
2023 IL App (2d) 220344-U

she stopped vomiting. Because she was frightened of defendant, R.M. did not tell Hill what

defendant did.

¶9     R.M. testified that she passed out when defendant and Hill left her home. When she woke

up the next day, she “knew [she] had been raped.” She went to the hospital in the same clothes she

had worn the night before and was examined by Chenel Vandenberk, a sexual assault nurse

examiner. R.M. was in too much pain for Vandenberk to use a speculum during the examination.

¶ 10   Defendant gave a contrary account of what occurred between him and R.M. inside her

home. R.M., who was “heavily intoxicated” and “gone,” sat on her bed and thanked defendant for

helping her. She reached up to hug defendant, which was her custom “[a]t every greeting or

departure.” R.M., who had flirted with defendant before, leaned in and kissed defendant on the

cheek and lips. Defendant “kissed her back.” He “didn’t stop it.” The two began French kissing.

R.M. reached her hand into defendant’s pants and began stroking his penis. Defendant then put his

hand in R.M.’s pants and asked her to fellate him. R.M. did so. Defendant denied that he “thrust”

his penis in R.M.’s mouth. He withdrew before he orgasmed and left the bedroom to lock the

sliding glass door, as he did not want Hill to find him with R.M. When defendant returned to the

bedroom, R.M. was taking her clothes off. Defendant took his clothes off. Once the two were

naked, R.M. lay on her back on the bed. Defendant positioned himself between R.M.’s legs. R.M.

grabbed defendant’s penis and rubbed it against her vagina. “[A]fter [defendant] tried to push [his

penis] in [R.M.,]” she “made a move like a little jerk reaction—like a flinch,” and defendant

stopped. When asked whether his “penis enter[ed] all the way into [R.M.’s] vagina,” defendant

said, “It did not.” Defendant took the “flinch” to mean that R.M. “wasn’t ready yet so [he] asked

[R.M.] to perform oral sex.” R.M. did so for a few minutes. Defendant again denied that he “thrust”

his penis in R.M.’s mouth. Defendant heard a knock on the sliding glass door. He got dressed,

                                               -4-
2023 IL App (2d) 220344-U

went to see who was there, and saw no one. He then heard someone at the front door. When he

opened the door, Hill was there. Defendant told Hill that R.M. was “f*** up.” Hill saw R.M.

walking from her bedroom. Hill then left.

¶ 11   According to defendant, before he followed Hill to their home, he approached R.M., who

was walking out of her bedroom and into the living room. R.M. put her hands in defendant’s pants

and stroked his penis. Defendant asked R.M. to fellate him. She refused. Defendant told R.M. not

to say anything to Hill and went home. R.M. followed defendant out of the sliding glass door and

told defendant that she wanted to talk to Hill. Defendant then went home to retrieve Hill. When he

and Hill returned to R.M.’s house, R.M. was on her back deck. Hill and defendant escorted R.M.

back to her bedroom. On the way, R.M. vomited in the bathroom. Hill and defendant remained

with R.M. for about 45 minutes before returning home. Defendant did not tell Hill what had

happened between him and R.M.

¶ 12   Hill testified that R.M. was drinking while she, Hill, and defendant socialized around Hill’s

firepit. Hill noticed that R.M. was “no longer *** sober” when she began slurring her words. Later,

she was unsteady when she stood up to go home. Defendant helped R.M. home while Hill went

inside her home. After a while, Hill went to R.M.’s home and rang the front doorbell. Defendant

answered the door and said that R.M. was “f*** up.” Hill saw R.M. “coming around the corner.”

Both defendant and R.M. were dressed. Hill went home. Later, defendant came home and said that

R.M. was asking for Hill. Hill approached R.M.’s house and saw R.M. standing on her back deck.

R.M. was “disheveled” and “still drunk.” Defendant and Hill helped R.M. inside her house, where

she began vomiting. Hill and defendant remained with R.M. until she stopped vomiting and dry

heaving.

                                               -5-
2023 IL App (2d) 220344-U

¶ 13   Vandenberk testified that R.M. was visibly upset when she first met R.M. in the

examination room. Vandenberk immediately observed blood in the crotch area of R.M.’s pants.

The blood was “quite noticeable.” R.M., who admitted being intoxicated the night before, told

Vandenberk what had happened, stating that “a penis was forced into her vagina” and also “thrust”

and “pushed into her mouth.”

¶ 14   Vandenberk examined the inside of R.M.’s mouth and saw an injury concentrated on the

left side of R.M.’s palette and uvula. Given the concentration of the injury to one area, Vandenberk

concluded that the injury was caused “more [from] a [blunt force] trauma than something organic

such as an infection or cold,” which results in a more uniform or bilateral redness. Although

Vandenberk could not say for certain what caused the injury to R.M.’s mouth or whether the injury

resulted from a consensual or nonconsensual act, she concluded that a penis thrust in R.M.’s mouth

could have been the source of the injuries.

¶ 15   Vandenberk also examined R.M.’s vaginal area. When the exam began, R.M. was in a great

deal of discomfort. Given R.M.’s pain level and the fact that she was postmenopausal for seven

years—which affected the cushioning, elasticity, and lubrication of the vagina and vaginal area—

Vandenberk did not use a speculum during the exam. Vandenberk observed a one-centimeter

tear—a “pretty significant tear—”to the posterior fourchette, “which is that opening part right at

the base of the entry point” of the vagina. The tear was “actively bleeding.” Vandenberk also

observed a hematoma, or bruise, on R.M.’s hymen, which is recessed further into the vaginal

cavity. This part of the exam was “so painful” for R.M. Although Vandenberk could not say for

certain what caused the injuries or whether they resulted from consensual or nonconsensual

activity, she concluded that penile penetration could have been the source of the injuries.

                                               -6-
2023 IL App (2d) 220344-U

¶ 16   Using swabs, Vandenberk collected samples from R.M.’s mouth and vagina. Vandenberk

testified that urination, hygienic practices following urination, and vomiting could affect collected

samples. R.M. told Vandenberk that, after the assault, she had vomited, urinated, and wiped her

vaginal area.

¶ 17   Vandenberk identified photographs she took of the inside of R.M.’s mouth, her vaginal

area, and her clothing. The photographs were admitted at trial and were consistent with the injuries

to which Vandenberk testified. The photographs also showed blood stains on R.M.’s pants when

Vandenberk saw her. The blood stain at the crotch was approximately two square inches.

Additionally, on the inside leg of R.M.’s pants was an approximately two-inch line of blood.

¶ 18   Forensic testing on the material collected from R.M. did not disclose the presence of either

semen or male DNA.

¶ 19   Five clips of defendant’s police interrogation were admitted for impeachment purposes. In

these clips, defendant stated that R.M. was “f*** hammered” and “wobbling like crazy.” Although

defendant admitted that he told the police that he “did not have sex” with R.M., he meant that his

penis did not penetrate her vagina, not that his penis did not touch her vagina. Defendant did,

however, tell the police that he and R.M. had consensual oral sex.

¶ 20   The trial court found defendant guilty of criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal

sexual assault. In doing so, the court observed that “everybody’s recollection in all fairness [was]

likely a little impaired like everyone was that night” and that R.M. was very upset when testifying

about the assaults. The court noted that this case was “not necessarily a who-done-it”; rather, the

issue was whether defendant committed the sexual acts with consent or “a knowing use of force.”

The court found that defendant committed the acts with a knowing use of force. In so finding, the

court relied on Vandenberk’s testimony and the physical evidence related to the injuries she

                                                -7-
2023 IL App (2d) 220344-U

observed. Regarding the criminal sexual assault, the court found that the blunt force trauma

Vandenberk observed in R.M.’s mouth was “consistent with [R.M.’s] testimony that [defendant]

held her head, and placed his penis in [her mouth], and thrust in a forceful manner.” Concerning

the aggravated criminal sexual assault, the court determined that the bruise on R.M.’s hymen and

the significant, actively bleeding tear of her posterior fourchette were “inconsistent with how the

[d]efendant claim[ed] [intercourse] occurred” and “belie[d] the testimony of *** [d]efendant that

there was not a physical entry and *** a physical force into the vagina.”

¶ 21   Defendant timely moved for a new trial, arguing that he was not proved guilty of either

offense beyond a reasonable doubt. The trial court denied the motion and sentenced defendant.

¶ 22   This timely appeal followed.

¶ 23                                     II. ANALYSIS

¶ 24   At issue on appeal is whether defendant was proved guilty of criminal sexual assault and

aggravated criminal sexual assault beyond a reasonable doubt. When a defendant challenges the

sufficiency of the evidence, the relevant question on review is whether, after considering the

evidence in the light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found the

essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt. People v. Collins, 106 Ill. 2d

237, 261 (1985). We will not overturn a conviction unless the evidence is so improbable,

unsatisfactory, or inconclusive that it creates a reasonable doubt of the defendant’s guilt. People

v. Beauchamp, 241 Ill. 2d 1, 8 (2011).

¶ 25   In considering whether a defendant was proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, it is not

our function to retry the defendant. People v. Tenney, 205 Ill. 2d 411, 428 (2002). Rather, we must

defer to the trial court, which is responsible for determining the credibility of the witnesses,

                                               -8-
2023 IL App (2d) 220344-U

weighing their testimony, drawing reasonable inferences from the evidence, and resolving any

conflicts in the evidence. People v. Jackson, 358 Ill. App. 3d 927, 941 (2005).

¶ 26   To prove the offenses as charged here, the State had to establish beyond a reasonable doubt

that defendant committed a sexual act by using force or the threat of force. See People v. Denbo,

372 Ill. App. 3d 994, 1005-06 (2007); People v. Carlson, 278 Ill. App. 3d 515, 520 (1996); 720

ILCS 5/11-1.20(a)(1) (West 2020). In addressing whether force was used, we note that defendant

raised the defense of consent below. “By proving force, the State necessarily proves nonconsent

***.” Denbo, 372 Ill. App. 3d at 1005. On appeal, defendant concedes that the sexual acts occurred.

However, he contends that he did not use force in committing the acts. He argues that the State

failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the element of force.

¶ 27   Force requires something more than the force inherent in the act itself. Id. at 1007. Section

11-0.1 of the Criminal Code of 2012 (Code) (720 ILCS 5/11-0.1 (West 2020)) provides:

               “ ‘Force or threat of force’ means the use of force or violence or the threat of force

       or violence, including, but not limited to, the following situations:

                       (1) when the accused threatens to use force or violence on the victim or on

               any other person, and the victim under the circumstances reasonably believes that

               the accused has the ability to execute that threat; or

                       (2) when the accused overcomes the victim by use of superior strength or

               size, physical restraint, or physical confinement.” (Emphasis added.)

¶ 28   In deciding whether force was proved beyond a reasonable doubt, “each case must be

considered on its own facts.” People v. Vasquez, 233 Ill. App. 3d 517, 527 (1992). Thus, force

neither depends on “actual physical damage to bodily tissue” nor requires that “the victim

physically resist before it may be said that a [sexual assault] has occurred.” People v. Nelson, 148

                                                -9-
2023 IL App (2d) 220344-U

Ill. App. 3d 811, 820-21 (1986). Where “resistance [would] be futile or life endangering or if the

victim is overcome by superior strength or fear, useless or foolhardy acts of resistance are not

required.” People v. Bolton, 207 Ill. App. 3d 681, 686 (1990).

¶ 29   Courts addressing force in sex offense cases consider not only the size and strength of the

defendant and the victim but also the location and conditions under which the assault occurred.

See, e.g., People v. Gonzalez, 2019 IL App (1st) 152760, ¶ 38. Courts have held that, if the victim

had the use of his or her mental faculties and physical powers, the evidence must show resistance

sufficient to demonstrate that the act was against his or her will. See, e.g., People v. Walker, 154

Ill. App. 3d 616, 625 (1987). Accordingly, the amount and intensity of resistance a victim must

use diminishes with the victim’s ability to exercise full mental and physical powers to resist the

attacker. See id.

¶ 30   Here, construing the evidence in a light most favorable to the State, which we must do (see

Collins, 106 Ill. 2d at 261), we conclude that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that

defendant used force to assault R.M. First, concerning the criminal-sexual-assault charge,

defendant, knowing that R.M. was highly intoxicated, held both sides of R.M.’s head while he

thrust his erect penis into her mouth and ordered her to “suck it.” Given R.M.’s highly intoxicated

state, she could not stop defendant. R.M. sustained injuries to the inside of her mouth that were

consistent with defendant forcing R.M. to fellate him.

¶ 31   In arguing that the State did not prove that defendant used force in committing criminal

sexual assault, defendant relies on Vasquez. That case is distinguishable. The court in Vasquez

found no use of force where the 13-year-old victim testified that the defendant placed his hand on

the back of the victim’s head and “ ‘forced’ ” him to fellate the defendant. Vasquez, 233 Ill. App.

3d at 519, 527-29. In so finding, the court noted that “not only would an act or acts of resistance

                                               - 10 -
2023 IL App (2d) 220344-U

not have been foolish or useless, such resistance would probably have been successful” because,

among other things, the evidence showed that the victim had full use of his mental and physical

faculties. Id. at 528. Here, unlike the victim in Vasquez, R.M.’s intoxication prevented her from

resisting. That is, the evidence, including defendant’s own testimony, revealed that R.M.’s

intoxication prevented her from having full use of her physical faculties to resist defendant.

¶ 32    Second, regarding the aggravated criminal sexual assault, R.M. tried to push defendant

away from her. But, again, given her highly intoxicated state, she was unable to stop defendant.

When defendant penetrated her, R.M. again tried to prevent the assault by performing Kegel

exercises, which entailed the tightening of her pelvic floor muscles. This resistance did not stop

defendant. He continued to penetrate R.M.’s vagina, causing bruising and a significant tear, which

was actively bleeding when Vandenberk examined R.M. The tear also caused a sizable amount of

blood to flow onto R.M.’s pants.

¶ 33    Defendant asks us to reweigh the evidence, arguing, for example, that the injuries to R.M.’s

vaginal area were attributable to her postmenopausal condition. As noted, we, as a court of review,

cannot reweigh the evidence. Tenney, 205 Ill. 2d at 428.

¶ 34    Defendant argues that absent in this case, but necessary for a finding that he used force to

commit the assaults, is an “allegation of a threat” or evidence that “R.M. was confined by

[defendant] or ‘pinned’ within a confined space, tackled, or physically prevented from leaving.”

In making his argument, defendant relies on People v. Warren, 113 Ill. App. 3d 1 (1983), to support

the proposition that R.M.’s lack of effective resistance belies the trial court’s finding that defendant

used force in committing the offenses. We disagree. The court in Warren expressly stated that “if

[the] complainant had the use of her faculties and physical powers, the evidence must show such

resistance as will demonstrate that the act was against her will.” (Emphasis added.) Id. at 6. Thus,

                                                 - 11 -
2023 IL App (2d) 220344-U

the amount of required resistance by the victim will depend on the victim’s ability to use his or her

mental and physical faculties. See id. Here, R.M. was extremely intoxicated, “gone,” and “f***

up.” In her inebriated state, the amount of resistance required was drastically diminished, as she

certainly did not have effective “use of her faculties and physical powers.” Id. R.M. confirmed as

much when she testified that her meager attempts at resisting defendant were futile and that she

would have stopped defendant if she could, i.e., if she had use of her full mental and physical

powers to do so.

¶ 35   Defendant suggests that R.M.’s “voluntary intoxication” cannot support her lack of

resistance. Reiterating his argument on force, he claims that “an allegation that [R.M.] was

confined by [defendant] or overcome by his superior size” was required even though R.M. was

intoxicated. In making this argument, defendant loses sight of two important factors. First,

defendant, a 29-year-old man, did physically overcome R.M., a highly intoxicated 57-year-old

woman, and severely injure her by using his superior strength to (1) hold her head and force her to

fellate him and (2) put her legs in the air, position himself over her, and repeatedly penetrate her.

Second, even if the “physically overcome” prong of the definition of force in section 11-0.1 of the

Code were not satisfied, that section specifically provides that “force *** include[es], but [is] not

limited to” the two delineated types of force. (Emphasis added.) 720 ILCS 5/11-0.1 (West 2020).

Even if neither type of force specified in the statute were satisfied here—a conclusion we do not

reach—we nevertheless believe that defendant’s actions met the definition of force given, among

other things, R.M.’s testimony and the severity of her injuries.

¶ 36   In reaching our conclusion that defendant was proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of

using force in committing both offenses, we recognize that defendant’s account of the events

contradicted R.M.’s. He suggested that R.M. initiated the sexual conduct by kissing him; that she

                                               - 12 -
2023 IL App (2d) 220344-U

consented to oral sex; that he did not thrust his penis in R.M.’s mouth; and that, by removing all

her clothes, grabbing his penis, and rubbing his penis in her vaginal area, she initiated sexual

intercourse. Defendant’s account is not dispositive. Not only was the trial court, as the judge of

the witnesses’ credibility, not required to accept defendant’s narrative (see People v. Kent, 2016

IL App (2d) 140340, ¶ 18), but his account was far less probable than R.M.’s, especially given the

physical evidence showing the severity of R.M.’s injuries.

¶ 37                                   III. CONCLUSION

¶ 38   For the reasons stated, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Lake County.

¶ 39   Affirmed.

                                              - 13 -