State of Louisiana v. Billy Frank Jackson

STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

03-1079

STATE OF LOUISIANA

VERSUS

BILLY FRANK JACKSON

**********

APPEAL FROM THE
FOURTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
PARISH OF CALCASIEU, NO. 20083-01
HONORABLE ARTHUR J. PLANCHARD, DISTRICT JUDGE

**********

MARC T. AMY
JUDGE

**********

Court composed of Ulysses Gene Thibodeaux, Chief Judge, Marc T. Amy, and
Michael G. Sullivan, Judges.

AFFIRMED.

Thibodeaux, C.J., dissents and assigns written reasons.

Robert Richard Bryant, Jr.
District Attorney
Post Office Box 3206
Lake Charles, LA 70602
(337) 437-3400
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE:
State of Louisiana

Edward Kelly Bauman
Louisiana Appellate Project
Post Office Box 1641
Lake Charles, LA 70602-1641
(337) 491-0570
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT:
Billy Frank Jackson

Billy Frank Jackson
Louisiana State Prison
Camp-C Jaguar 2-L-11
Angola, LA 70712

AMY, Judge.

The defendant was convicted of simple burglary, aggravated rape, two counts

of second degree kidnaping, and theft of goods over $500.00. The defendant appeals

the conviction for aggravated rape, alleging the State presented insufficient evidence

to support the charge. For the following reasons, we affirm and remand with

instructions.

Factual and Procedural Background

The offenses alleged in this matter occurred on September 29, 2001 at a house

in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The record reveals that, on that date, R.M.1 and a friend,

Johnette Duhon, arrived at the house where they were finishing a painting job. The

house was for sale, with the owners visiting only occasionally.

According to the testimony of R.M. and Ms. Duhon, they found the door

unlocked upon arriving at the house. After they entered, Ms. Duhon went upstairs to

turn on lights. While upstairs she encountered the defendant, Billy Frank Jackson.

The record indicates that the defendant was homeless and had been staying in the

house. As will be discussed in detail below, the State alleged that the defendant

forced Ms. Duhon downstairs, holding a pair of scissors to her neck, and that the two

joined R.M. Eventually, the State alleges, the defendant forced both women upstairs,

bound Ms. Duhon, and locked her in a closet. After doing so, the State alleges, the

defendant raped R.M. and eventually also locked her in a bathroom. The defendant

subsequently escaped, taking R.M.’s truck. The women escaped, contacting

authorities.

1
Pursuant to La.R.S. 46:1844(W), the victim’s initials are used throughout for confidentiality
purposes.

2

The defendant was subsequently arrested in Houston, Texas. On November 29,

2001, the defendant was charged by indictment of aggravated burglary, a violation of

La.R.S. 14:60, aggravated rape, a violation of La.R.S. 14:42, two counts of second

degree kidnaping, violations of La.R.S. 14:44.1, and theft of an item valued at over

$500,00, a violation of La.R.S. 14:67. The defendant waived formal arraignment and

pled not guilty to the charges. After a trial by jury, the defendant was convicted as

charged for aggravated rape, second degree kidnaping and theft, but on the charge of

aggravated burglary, he was convicted of the responsive offense of simple burglary.

On the aggravated rape conviction, the defendant was sentenced to life

imprisonment without the benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. For

simple burglary, the defendant was sentenced to ten years in the Department of

Corrections. For each count of second degree kidnaping, the defendant was sentenced

to twenty years without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence.

Finally, for theft, the defendant was sentenced to serve ten years. Each of the latter

four sentences were ordered to be served concurrent with the life sentence for

aggravated rape.

The defendant appeals, questioning the sufficiency of the evidence for the

aggravated rape conviction.

Discussion

Patent Error

In accordance with La.Code Crim.P. art. 920, we have reviewed this matter for

errors patent on the face of the record. We find two such errors.

First, we observe an error in the grand jury indictment charging the defendant.

Along with the above-referenced crimes, the defendant was charged with “Aggravated

3

Rape.” Reference was made to La.R.S. 14:42, the statute defining aggravated rape.

However, in the description of the offense, the indictment reads as follows:

COUNT II: BILLY FRANK JACKSON DID ENGAGE IN VAGINAL
SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH [R.M.], A FEMALE, WHO IS NOT
THE SPOUSE OF THE DEFENDANT AND WITHOUT THE
VICTIM’S LAWFUL CONSENT AND UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES
WHEREIN THE VICTIM WAS PREVENTED FROM RESISTING
THE ACT BY FORCE OR THREATS OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE
UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE VICTIM REASONABLE
[sic] BELIEVED THAT SUCH RESISTANCE WOULD NOT HAVE
PREVENTED THE RAPE.

Rather than tracking the language of La.R.S. 14:42, the latter portion of the above

description closely follows the description of forcible rape contained in La.R.S.

14:42.1.2

Louisiana Constitution Article I, § 15 provides that: “Prosecution of a felony

shall be initiated by indictment or information, but no person shall be held to answer

for a capital crime or a crime punishable by life imprisonment except on indictment

by a grand jury.” With regard to the content of an indictment, La.Code Crim.P. art.

464 provides:

The indictment shall be a plain, concise, and definite written
statement of the essential facts constituting the offense charged. It shall
state for each count the official or customary citation of the statute which
the defendant is alleged to have violated. Error in the citation or its
omission shall not be ground for dismissal of the indictment or for
reversal of a conviction if the error or omission did not mislead the
defendant to his prejudice.

2
La.R.S. 14:42.1 provides, in pertinent part:

A. Forcible rape is rape committed when the anal, oral, or vaginal sexual
intercourse is deemed to be without the lawful consent of the victim because it is
committed under any one or more of the following circumstances:

(1) When the victim is prevented from resisting the act by force or threats
of physical violence under circumstances where the victim reasonably believes that
such resistance would not prevent the rape.

4

In the present case, we do not have error in the citation, but rather a discrepancy

between the statute number and the description of the offense provided. Although the

defendant has not complained of the conflict, we address the difference in the

provisions, as it is discoverable by the inspection of the pleadings/proceedings.

La.Code Crim.P. art. 487 provides:

A. An indictment that charges an offense in accordance with
the provisions of this Title shall not be invalid or insufficient because of
any defect or imperfection in, or omission of, any matter of form only,
or because of any miswriting, misspelling, or improper English, or
because of the use of any sign, symbol, figure, or abbreviation, or
because any similar defect, imperfection, omission, or uncertainty exists
therein. The court may at any time cause the indictment to be amended
in respect to any such formal defect, imperfection, omission, or
uncertainty.

Before the trial begins the court may order an indictment amended
with respect to a defect of substance. After the trial begins a mistrial
shall be ordered on the ground of a defect of substance.

B. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to prohibit the
defendant from entering a plea of guilty to a crime nonresponsive to the
original indictment when such a plea is acceptable to the district
attorney, and in such case, the district attorney shall not be required to
file a new indictment to charge the crime to which the plea is offered.

In State v. Birabent, 305 So.2d 448 (La.1974), the Louisiana Supreme Court

reviewed an indictment that described the offense of manslaughter, but on the reverse

side of the indictment form, the endorsement read “Murder.” After the first witness

testified at trial, the defense counsel moved to limit evidence related to manslaughter.

The State sought amendment of the bill or, alternatively, the declaration of a mistrial.

The trial court granted the mistrial. On appeal, the State asserted that the indictment

contained a substantive defect rendering the entry of the mistrial lawful. Therefore,

the State argued, double jeopardy principles did not prevent prosecution of the

defendant. In finding that the mistrial was illegally entered, the supreme court

explained:

5

We acknowledge that a substantial defect in the indictment would
be grounds under La.C.Cr.P. art. 775(3) for the declaration of a mistrial.
Such a defect in the indictment would constitute “a legal defect in the
proceedings which would make any judgment entered upon a verdict
reversible as a matter of law.” See Official Revision Comment (g) to
La.C.Cr.P. art. 775. Therefore the central issue for our determination is
whether the indictment which formed the basis for relator’s prosecution
contained a substantial defect.

There did not exist in this prosecution a legal defect which would
render any judgment entered upon a verdict reversible as a matter of law.
The indictment which formed the basis for the relator’s prosecution was
a perfectly valid indictment for the crime of manslaughter. The word
“MURDER” and the alphabetical and numerical statutory designation
“1950 L.R.S. 14:30” do not constitute any part of the finding of the
grand jury; the endorsement is not a substantive part of the charge. See
State v. Lawrence, 221 La. 861, 60 So.2d 464 (1952); see also State v.
DeHart, 109 La. 570, 33 So. 605 (1903). Nothing which took place
during the proceedings would have vitiated a judgment entered upon a
verdict rendered at the close of trial.

Id. at 451 (footnote omitted).

While Birabent involved a situation where the defendant challenged the

sufficiency of the indictment, and did so prior to conviction, the instant matter

involves a situation where the defendant has never contested the indictment’s

sufficiency. The Louisiana Supreme Court has explained that, given La.Code Crim.P.

art. 841”s requirement of contemporaneous objections, “a defendant may not raise the

sufficiency of an indictment for the first time after conviction . . . especially when the

charging document fairly informed him of the charge against him and the alleged

defect did not prejudice him.” State v. Allen, 01-2494, p.1 (La. 6/21/02), 824 So.2d

344, 344. The supreme court found that, by failing to allege that an indictment

provides inadequate notice of the charge prior to trial, the defendant had waived the

claim. Id. See also State v. Thibodeaux, 98-1673 (La. 9/8/99), 750 So.2d 916; State

v. Miller, 99-950 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/2/00), 757 So.2d 744; State v. Clay, 623 So.2d 211

(La.App. 2 Cir. 1993).

6

In the present case, the defendant has not questioned the sufficiency of the

indictment nor asserted that he was in any way misled by the above-described conflict.

Instead, it appears that this matter proceeded as an aggravated rape charge since

institution of the prosecution. In addition to the two references to the crime of

aggravated rape on the indictment, the defendant’s motion for bill of particulars

specifically seeks information related to the charge of “aggravated rape LSA R.S. title

14:42.” In response to the bill of particulars, the State presented evidence indicating

that the investigation phase of the proceedings was pursued as one for aggravated

rape. Furthermore, in opening statements, both the State and counsel for the

defendant referenced the charge as being one for aggravated rape, a charge on which

the court instructed the jury. Given these factors, we do not find that the defendant

was without notice of the charge. As the defendant did not raise this issue in pre-trial

proceedings, the matter is now waived and does not require correction on appeal.

Also on patent error review, we observe that the defendant was not informed

of the two-year time limit for filing post-conviction relief as required by La.Code

Crim.P. art. 930.8. Accordingly, we remand this matter with instructions to the trial

court to inform the defendant of the provisions of La.Code Crim.P. art. 930.8 within

ten days of the rendition of this opinion. The trial court is further instructed to file

written proof into the record that the defendant received the notice.

Sufficiency of the Evidence

In his sole assignment of error, the defendant contends that the State failed to

introduce evidence sufficient to support the guilty verdict for aggravated rape. He

argues the sexual relations were consensual and focuses on what he alleges are

inconsistencies between R.M.’s trial testimony and her statements to the investigating

detective. The defendant alternatively claims that, if this court finds the sexual

7

relations were not consensual, the degree of force was so minimal that a verdict of

forcible rape should have been returned.

When sufficiency of the evidence is raised on appeal, the reviewing court

considers whether the evidence, viewed in a light most favorable to the State, is

sufficient to have convinced a rational trier of fact that the State has proven all

elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307,

99 S.Ct. 2781 (1979). See also State v. Tate, 01-1658 (La. 5/20/03), 851 So.2d 921.

In pertinent part, La.R.S. 14:42 defines aggravated rape as:

A. Aggravated rape is a rape committed upon a person sixty-
five years of age or older or where the anal, oral, or vaginal sexual
intercourse is deemed to be without lawful consent of the victim because
it is committed under any one or more of the following circumstances:

(1) When the victim resists the act to the utmost, but whose
resistance is overcome by force.

(2) When the victim is prevented from resisting the act by threats
of great and immediate bodily harm, accompanied by the apparent power
of execution.

(3) When the victim is prevented from resisting the act because the
offender is armed with a dangerous weapon.

The trial court instructed the jury as to Subparagraphs 1, 2, and 3.

The State presented evidence that R.M. and Ms. Duhon arrived at a Lake

Charles house which they had been hired to paint. According to their testimony the

back door was unlocked at the time of their arrival. The women entered the house,

with Ms. Duhon going upstairs to turn on lights. R.M. inquired when she heard a

strange sound coming from upstairs. Ms. Duhon replied, “No,” but, according to

R.M., not in her usual voice. While R.M. was deciding whether to call for help, the

defendant entered the room with his arm over Ms. Duhon’s chest. According to R.M.,

he had a pair of red-handled scissors to her throat.

8

R.M. testified that the defendant asked whether she had called the police. She

told him “No.” She explained that he then told her if she called the police, he would

kill her friend. R.M. explained that he then checked to see what numbers had been

dialed. According to R.M., the defendant still had the scissors on Ms. Duhon during

this time. R.M. testified that she tried to keep a conversation going so that he would

not kill them. She explained that she told the defendant that they were there to paint

and that they were not going to hurt him.

According to R.M., she attempted to “ignore the situation,” opening a can of

paint and inquiring whether the defendant wanted a beer. Ms. Duhon stated that she

wanted a cigarette. The defendant stated that he also wanted a cigarette. As the

cigarettes were in R.M.’s truck, the defendant, still holding Ms. Duhon with the

scissors, went to the truck. R.M. explained that she followed them. When asked at

trial why she did not run, R.M. initially responded that she did not know, but shortly

thereafter, she explained that she was not going to leave Ms. Duhon. R.M. stated that,

after retrieving the cigarettes, the three returned to the house and the defendant started

smoking a cigarette. R.M. stated that the defendant told her that he had “had enough

of this and it was time to go upstairs.” R.M. testified she told him “No . . . We’re not

going anywhere. We’re staying right here in the kitchen. This is where the job needs

to be done, I’m not going.” According to R.M., the defendant said, “Yes, we’re

going.” After putting the scissors in his pocket, he pulled out a knife and put it to Ms.

Duhon’s throat and said: “I said now. We’re going upstairs.”

R.M. denied remembering how the three arrived upstairs. However, she

explained that, once upstairs, the defendant put down his lit cigarette and retrieved

another pair of scissors, ones with black handles. He then used the scissors to cut

various electrical cords. Although he was not holding either woman while doing so,

9

R.M. explained that there was only one way out of the hallway and it was “right over

him.”

R.M. testified that she continued to talk to the defendant and that he told her

“that he had killed a woman in Houston and he would not hesitate killing two more,

for me to shut up.” Although Ms. Duhon denied hearing the defendant verbalize a

threat, R.M. testified that the threat was made after Ms. Duhon was put into a closet.

R.M. explained that the defendant gave her a cord, and told her to tie up Ms.

Duhon. She stated that the defendant then tied it tighter and put either the knife or

scissors to Ms. Duhon’s shoulder and pushed her into a closet. The defendant then

attempted to tie two doorknobs together. R.M. testified she did not leave at that point

because, “he would’ve killed one of us. He’d have got hold to Johnny then if I

would’ve left.” The defendant was unable to tie the doorknobs together, so he

removed the cords and checked to make sure Ms. Duhon was not going anywhere.

R.M. testified that the defendant told her to go into a room. She described the events

that transpired at that point as follows:

A So, I walked in that room, and he had told me, he said, “I’m going
to f - - - you” And I said, “I don’t think you are.” He said, “oh, yeah, I
am.” And I said, “You don’t talk to me like that. You don’t use that
word to me. Nobody f - - - s me.” And –

Q What did he do then?

A And he came up to me, he twisted my shirt around my neck,
placed the knife on my throat; you do it or I do it.

Q And what did you do?

A I told him that I was afraid of the knife and I didn’t want it
anywhere around me, that he was giving me no choice, that I had no
choice. He said, “This is how it has to be. I said, “I don’t want to see the
knife. I don’t want it on me.” So, he told me to get down on that bed;
I told him, “No.” I said, “I don’t want to be in this room, I want to go in
the room that has the waterbed.”

10

Q Why was that?

A Because they had some weapons in there that could’ve been used.

Q Was it weapons?

A There were drum stands, there were stainless steel drum stands
that were folded on the floor.

Q Okay.

A So - -

....

Q Okay. You’re in the room with the drum stands.

A So, I was sitting on the bed, and he went back into the hallway to
tie Johnny’s door up more.

....

Q And then what did he want?

A He told me, he says, you stay in there; I said, “I’m not staying in
there by myself,” because I needed to know wherever he was, and I
needed Johnny to be okay.

Q Okay.

A Because as long as, you know, all three of us were there, you
know - - so, he finished tying the doorknob and that, we went into the
room, and he pushed me on the floor. I told him to leave the light on
because, I said, “I want to see your face.”

Q Why did you say that?

A I didn’t know who he was.

Q And then what?

A He got on top of me and he had intercourse with me.

Q Now, where were you laying when this happened?

A On the floor.

....

11

Q Why not on the bed?

A Because I needed to get close to the stands, and another thing I
was thinking, if he’d get in there and he’d push me in that waterbed, I
wouldn’t have enough time to get out before he killed me.

Q Okay. You said he had intercourse with you.

A Uh-huh. (yes)

Q So, does that mean he penetrated you vaginally?

A Yes.

Q With his penis?

A Yes.

Q Now, while he was doing this, were you talking to him?

A Yes.

Q What were you saying?

A [Pause] [crying] Um, I was just telling him how wonderful he was
and what a man he was.

Q Why were you doing that?

A Because I didn’t want to die.

Q Did you think that would keep him from killing you?

A I don’t know, but I wasn’t going to fight him.

Q And then at some point, he was having problems, correct?

A Uh-huh. (yes)

Q What was that?

A He was having to hold himself because he couldn’t control
himself, because he couldn’t handle me talking to him.

Q And what did he do?

12

A He was getting worried, so he pushed me away, and when he did
that, the only thing - - he was headed back to the hallway and that’s
where the knife was.

Q What did you do whenever he pulled away from you?

A I grabbed his arm and I told him, I said, “You’re not finished yet,
you’re not going anywhere.”

Q Why did you do that?

A Why?

Q Yes.

A One thing, he would never expect is for someone to say something
like that, and I didn’t want him to go get that knife.

Q Why would he go get the knife?

A Because he already got what he wanted.

Q When you did that, you pulled him back, what happened?

A I told him, I said, you know, I said, “I wish we would’ve met
under different circumstances because,” I said, “you’re such a man.”

Q Did you mean that?

A No.

Q Well, what happened when you told him that?

A He told me he was going to have to tie me up, and I said, “no.”

The defendant then pushed R.M. into a bathroom. She stated that she could

hear the defendant trying to tie something to the door. A short time later, the

defendant opened the door, asked for her shoes, and then continued his attempts to tie

the door. R.M. explained that, about five to ten minutes later, she heard her truck

start. She kicked the door of the bathroom, and after getting out, she went to a window

where she watched the defendant drive off in her truck. R.M. then told Johnette to

stay where she was and not to make a sound. R.M. then went for help.

13

R.M. was questioned at trial about her behavior toward the defendant. She

explained that she was “being passive to someone that was being aggressive[.]” When

R.M. was asked if she tried to “get inside his head in some way,” she stated that she

was doing what she had been taught in a course. She explained that it was not that she

was being friendly to him, she just attempted to remain calm and talked continuously.

R.M. maintained that she did not want to have sex with the defendant and that she did

so because she thought he was going to kill them if he did not get what he wanted.

She testified that the defendant told her he was not going to hurt her after she was put

in the bathroom. R.M. was asked if she heard the defendant say downstairs that he

was not going to hurt her. She explained that the statement in question was directed

to Ms. Duhon, not her.

At trial, the investigating police officer, Detective David Rupf of the Lake

Charles City Police Department, testified that R.M. told him that when the defendant

tried to get off of her, she grabbed him and told her it had been a long time since she

had been with a man and that he was going to finish. In R.M.’s testimony, she denied

telling the police this. She said this may have been their “form of it,” but she denied

making that particular statement. R.M. testified that she asked the defendant where

he was going and told him he was not finished yet “because he was headed . . . to the

hallway, and he wasn’t going to kill me.” Detective Rupf testified that he did not

recall R.M. telling her that the defendant twisted her shirt around her neck while

holding a knife to her.

As for the location of the weapons during the rape, R.M. testified the defendant

did not have the knife, but he still had the scissors. It is not clear from the victim’s

testimony if the scissors were in his hand or lying on the floor. R.M.’s testimony

regarding the location of the weapons during the rape was as follows:

14

Q Now, once you’re in the hallway walking from room to room, isn’t
it true that you told him that you were scared of the knife and would not
have sex with him unless he put the knife down?

A I told him I was afraid of the knife and I wouldn’t have anything
to do with him unless he put the knife down. But he still had the
scissors.

....

Q Did you tell him - - tell the police that you made him keep his
hands on your body so you knew where his hands were at all times?

A He had one hand on his penis and the other hand was on my
shoulder, holding me down; and the scissors were next to my head.

In State v. Pontiff, 604 So.2d 71 (La.App. 3 Cir. 1992), a panel of this court

reviewed a conviction for forcible rape that involved very disputed facts. In its

application of the Jackson standard of review, the court stated:

This case clearly presents a classic divergence of testimony. The
victim characterized defendant’s actions as an act of rape, and the
defendant maintained that the victim consented to sexual intercourse.
Thus, the determination of the sufficiency of the evidence hinges upon
witness credibility. It is well established in our jurisprudence that the
fact finder may accept or reject, in whole or part, the testimony of any
witness. State v. Nolan, 503 So.2d 1186 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1987), writ
denied, 507 So.2d 226 (La.1987).

The jury, sitting as the trier of fact, had the distinct opportunity to
view each individual witness’s demeanor, listen to their respective
testimony, and assess credibility. Their firsthand knowledge of the
witnesses’s testimony is an immeasurable advantage when compared to
our limited review within the four corners of the cold record. In the case
sub judice, the jury chose to believe the testimony of the victim along
with the testimony of Dr. Bouillion over defendant’s denials. Since the
record fully supports the jury findings, this court will not engage in
reevaluating the credibility of witnesses and reweighing the other
evidence adduced at trial.

Id. at 76.

In the present case, the occurrence of sexual intercourse is undisputed; the

contested issue is whether the sex was consensual. R.M. testified the defendant had

a knife to her throat when he ordered her to undress. Although the defendant put the
15

knife down prior to the rape, R.M. testified the defendant had one hand on her

shoulder and the scissors were near her head. Although it is not clear whether the

scissors were actually in the defendant’s hand during the perpetration of the rape, the

jury was reasonable in determining that they were easily accessible to him. The victim

testified that she had sex with the defendant because she thought he was going to kill

them if he did not get what he wanted. Furthermore, the jury heard R.M.’s testimony

and the defendant’s videotaped statement to police and was made aware of

inconsistencies in R.M.’s testimony pointed to by the defense. After hearing these

versions of events, the jury found credibility in that of R.M. After instruction on both

forcible and aggravated rape, the jury returned a verdict of guilty of aggravated rape.

In light of the credibility determination inherent in the verdict and the testimony

contained in the record, we conclude that a rational trier of fact could have found the

essential elements of aggravated rape proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Accordingly, under the dictates of the Jackson standard, the conviction for aggravated

rape is affirmed.

This assignment lacks merit.

16

DECREE

For the foregoing reasons, the defendants convictions are affirmed. This matter

is remanded and the trial court instructed to inform the defendant of the time delays

of La.Code Crim.P. art. 930.8. The trial court is further instructed to file written proof

into the record that the defendant received the notice.

AFFIRMED.

17

STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

03-1079

STATE OF LOUISIANA

VERSUS

BILLY FRANK JACKSON

THIBODEAUX, J., dissenting.

The majority concludes that the Defendant’s failure to object to the

sufficiency of the indictment waives any argument regarding that indictment. Further,

the facts support a finding that the Defendant was not without notice of the charge of

aggravated rape. I disagree.

It was unnecessary for the Defendant to question the sufficiency of the

indictment. The indictment was sufficient to charge a valid crime—the crime of

forcible rape. The indictment does not violate La.Code Crim.P. art. 487. It does not

contain “any defect or imperfection in, or omission of, any matter of form only,” nor

is it insufficient “because of any miswriting, misspelling, or improper English, or

because of the use of any sign, symbol, figure, or abbreviation, or because any similar

defect, imperfection, omission, or uncertainty exists therein.” La.Code Crim.P. art.

487(A). The indictment conforms with La.Code Crim.P. art. 464 in that it is “a plain,

concise, and definite written statement of the essential facts constituting the offense

charged.” La.Code Crim.P. art. 464. While there is a discrepancy between the statute

number and the description of the crime charged, “[e]rror in the citation or its

omission shall not be ground for dismissal of the indictment or for reversal of a

conviction if the error or omission did not mislead the defendant to his prejudice.”

La.Code Crim.P. art. 464.

The charging document, the indictment, fairly informed him of the charge

of forcible rape. While the majority finds that the Defendant was not without notice

of the charge of aggravated rape, a bill of particulars is not a “charging document” nor

is an opening statement a “charging document.”

In State v. Birabent, 305 So.2d 448 (La.1974), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 825,

96 S.Ct. 39 (1975), the grand jury charged the defendant with having unlawfully killed

the victim, which conformed to the short-form indictment for manslaughter as set out

in La.Code Crim.P. art. 465. However, the back of the indictment contained the

endorsement “murder.” After the first witness testified, the error was called to the

court’s attention by defense counsel, who moved that the court restrict the reception

of evidence to that pertaining to manslaughter. The court agreed and at that point, the

state requested it be allowed to amend the bill or that the court grant a mistrial. The

judge granted a mistrial and the following month, the state filed a motion seeking to

correct the indictment to charge murder. At the hearing on the motion, the grand jury

foreman testified that the grand jury had voted to indict the defendant for murder.

Thus, the court allowed the correction of the bill and an arraignment date was set. The

defendant then filed a motion to quash the bill on the grounds of double jeopardy.

Specifically, the defendant contended that the court erred in granting the mistrial

because the charging instrument was a valid indictment for manslaughter; thus, to

allow prosecution on a corrected bill would constitute double jeopardy. The trial court

denied the motion to quash. On appeal, in addressing whether the reprosecution of the

defendant would constitute double jeopardy, the supreme court was called upon to

determine whether the mistrial was legally ordered under the provisions of La.Code

Crim.P. art. 775. The ground for a mistrial which was at issue was whether “[t]here

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[was] a legal defect in the proceedings which would make any judgment entered upon

a verdict reversible as a matter of law.” The court stated:

We acknowledge that a substantial defect in the
indictment would be grounds under La.C.Cr.P. art. 775(3)
for the declaration of a mistrial. Such a defect in the
indictment would constitute “a legal defect in the
proceedings which would make any judgment entered upon
a verdict reversible as a matter of law.” See Official
Revision Comment (g) to La.C.Cr.P. art. 775. Therefore
the central issue for our determination is whether the
indictment which formed the basis for relator’s prosecution
contained a substantial defect.

There did not exist in this prosecution a legal defect
which would render any judgment entered upon a verdict
reversible as a matter of law. The indictment which formed
the basis for the relator’s prosecution was a perfectly valid
indictment for the crime of manslaughter. The word
“MURDER” and the alphabetical and numerical statutory
designation “1950 L.R.S. 14:30” do not constitute any part
of the finding of the grand jury; the endorsement is not a
substantive part of the charge. [FN 2]1 See State v.
Lawrence, 221 La. 861, 60 So.2d 464 (1952); see also State
v. DeHart, 109 La. 570, 33 So. 605 (1903). Nothing which
took place during the proceedings would have vitiated a
judgment entered upon a verdict rendered at the close of
trial.

Id. at 451.

The supreme court concluded the trial court had improperly granted the

mistrial and thus erred in denying the motion to quash.

In State v. Brown, 506 So.2d 1261 (La.App. 2 Cir. 1987), one of the

charges in the original bill filed against the defendant was titled, “Poss. Sch. II

w/Intent.” The body of the bill stated that the defendant committed the offense of

“Poss. Sch. II w/Intent” in that he “did knowingly and intentionally possess and have

1
2 Even if the face of the indictment and the back could be read together to charge murder
(see State v. Cooper, 249 La. 654, 190 So.2d 96 (1966)), the indictment would still support a verdict.
The defendant would have been in jeopardy for murder. Errors in court rulings are not attributable
to defendant. A court order of a mistrial under the indictment (if read as a murder indictment)
without a motion by defendant constitutes double jeopardy.

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under his control, a Schedule II, controlled dangerous substance, to-wit. Preludin

(Phenmetrazine),” Id. at 1262. Thus, both the title of the bill and the body charged

the defendant in count two with possession of a Schedule II substance with intent to

distribute; however, as written, the defendant was charged with simple possession.

Prior to trial, the judge noticed the discrepancy and noted to counsel that the charges

were improperly joined as the modes of trial were different. After the error was

pointed out, the state moved to sever the counts, stating it would file a new bill as to

the second count. Trial commenced with a six person jury. Thereafter, the state

formally filed the new bill of information which charged the defendant with simple

possession. Defense counsel objected to the filing of the new bill and, on appeal,

argued the trial court should have granted a mistrial as the amendment to the bill was

one of substance which should not have been allowed after trial had begun. In

addressing the claim, the second circuit stated:

The Code of Criminal Procedure clearly indicates
that the nature of the charge against a defendant is
determined by the “indictment.” An indictment is defined
as the written accusation of the crime. LSA - - C.Cr.P. Art.
383. More specifically, it is defined as “a plain, concise
and definitive [sic] written statement of the essential facts
constituting the offense charged.” LSA - C.Cr.P. Art. 464.
Thus, it is not the title of the offense which is determinative
of the nature of the offense or “indictment,” but it is rather
the substance thereof. See also, State v. Birabent, 305
So.2d 448 (La.1974). Indeed, as Art. 464 points out, error
in the citation of the offense, or even its omission, is not
grounds for dismissal or reversal absent a showing of
prejudice, although the article requires that the customary
statutory citation be provided for each offense charged.

Thus, it is clear that the amendment of the bill to
change the title of the offense charged is not one of
substance and is therefore an amendment which may occur
after trial has commenced.

Id. at 1264.

4

As mentioned previously, the caption of the indictment states the

Defendant was charged with aggravated rape. The body of the indictment also refers

to aggravated rape and a violation of La.R.S. 14:42; however, the body of the charge

tracks the forcible rape statute. Under the above cited case law, the written charge

would be considered, in which case the Defendant was charged with forcible rape, not

aggravated rape.

Following Birabent, the indictment was a valid indictment for forcible

rape. To avoid the danger of a double jeopardy violation, we should examine the

evidence and determine whether the elements of forcible rape, the offense validly

charged in the indictment, were proven at trial. The elements of forcible rape were

clearly proven given the fact the Defendant was armed with a dangerous weapon and

the victim testified she feared he would kill them if he did not get what he wanted.

Additionally, we note the jury was instructed as to the elements of forcible rape,

which is a valid responsive verdict to the crime returned by the jury. See La.Code

Crim.P. art. 814. Thus, this court should enter a verdict of forcible rape and remand

the case for resentencing.

For the foregoing reasons, I respectfully dissent.

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