State of Louisiana v. William L. Giles

STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

04-359

STATE OF LOUISIANA

VERSUS

WILLIAM GILES

**********
APPEAL FROM THE
TWELFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
PARISH OF AVOYELLES, NO. 02-CR-112029
HONORABLE MARK A. JEANSONNE, PRESIDING

**************
SYLVIA R. COOKS
JUDGE
**************

Court composed of Sylvia R. Cooks, Marc T. Amy and John B. Scofield,* Judges.

AFFIRMED.

Charles A. Riddle, III, District Attorney
Miche’ Moreau, Assistant District Attorney
P.O. Box 1200
Marksville, LA 71351
(318) 253-6587
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE:
State of Louisiana

George L. Higgins, III
P.O. Box 3370
Pineville, Louisiana 71361-3370
(318) 473-4250
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT-APPELLANT:
William Giles

*
John B. Scofield participated in this decision by appointment of the Louisiana Supreme
Court as Judge Pro Tempore.

COOKS, Judge.

The Defendant, Williams Giles, appeals his conviction and seventeen year

sentence on the charge of forcible rape. For the following reasons, we affirm the

conviction and sentence.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Defendant, William Giles, was charged by bills of indictment with one count

of aggravated rape in violation of La.R.S. 14:42(A)(1) and one count of sexual battery

in violation of La.R.S. 14:43.1 for viciously beating the victim about the head and

face with his fists and raping the victim vaginally and anally with a beer bottle and

forcing the victim to perform oral sex upon his person. Defendant was also charged

with one count of theft in violation of La.R.S. 14:67. The grand jury returned a true

bill on each of the three charges. Defendant was arraigned and entered a plea of not

guilty.

After a trial by jury, Defendant was convicted of the lesser included offense of

forcible rape in violation of La.R.S. 14:42.1. Defendant filed a “Motion for Post-

Judgment Verdict of Acquittal Pursuant to LSA-C.C.R.P. art. 821 and Alternatively,

an Application for New Trial Based on LSA C.C.R.P. art 851.” A hearing was held

on the motions. The State also filed a habitual offender bill against the Defendant.

Defendant waived formal reading of the bill, entered a plea of not guilty and filed a

motion to quash the habitual offender bill. The State dismissed the habitual offender

bill and the trial court denied both the motion for post judgment verdict of acquittal

and the motion for new trial and sentenced the Defendant to seventeen years at hard

labor with two years to be served without the benefit of probation, parole or

suspension of sentence.

Defendant appealed his conviction and sentence, alleging six assignments of

error:

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1. The Trial Court erred in not granting Defendant’s First Motion for
Mistrial in that the Trial Court read to the jury an additional criminal
charge which had not been brought by the State.

2. The Trial Court erred in not granting Defendant’s Second Motion for
Mistrial in that the State witness, although he had been instructed on the
Court’s order, under direct question of the State, violated the Court’s
earlier order by alluding to obtaining a photo from a prior booking of the
Defendant, showing past criminal evidence.

3. The Trial Court erred in not granting Defendant’s Third Motion for
Mistrial in that a witness, during testimony, under direct questioning by
the State, informed the jury that the Defendant was presently
incarcerated but not for the current rape charge.

4. The Trial Court erred in not granting Defendant’s Motion for Post-
Judgment of Verdict of Acquittal when the evidence is viewed in the
light most favorable to the State a guilty verdict is not reasonable.

5. The Trial Court erred in not granting Defendant’s Motion for New
Trial in that the Trial Court applied improper legal standards in
determining the motion.

6. The Trial Court erred by excessively sentencing the Defendant with
a seventeen year prison sentence, not considering the circumstances and
evidence in this matter.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 1

In his first assignment of error, Defendant alleges the trial court erred in not

granting his first motion for mistrial. Defendant asserts he moved for mistrial after

the trial court read an additional criminal charge to the jury, which had not been

brought by the State. After thoroughly searching the record, we are unable to find

any mention of a motion for mistrial based upon the trial court incorrectly reading

additional criminal charges to the jury. Defendant acknowledges the record does not

reflect the motion for mistrial, but argues his trial counsel referred to it in arguing his

motions for post verdict judgment of acquittal and new trial.

The State acknowledges that during a bench conference, Defendant moved for

a mistrial, which was denied. However, it argues no additional charges were read to

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the jury.

The record reveals the clerk read the Bill of Information into the record. After

the bill was read, Defendant made a request to approach the bench; at which time a

bench conference was held, but was not transcribed by the court reporter.**

During arguments regarding the Defendant’s motions for post judgment verdict

of acquittal and new trial, Defendant’s trial counsel stated, “We respectfully submit

in light of everything that went on in this case from the very beginning, from the very

beginning reading two charges to them, to the very end.” This statement by trial

counsel is the only basis we have found in the record for the Defendant’s allegation

that a motion for mistrial was made.

The record reflects the following charge was read to the jury by the clerk:

State of Louisiana, Parish of Avoyelles, Jury term 2002 in the
Twelfth Judicial District Court in the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and the
State of Louisiana, the Grand Jurors of the State of Louisiana do elected,
impaneled sworn and charged to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and for the body
of the Parish of Avoyelles in the Twelfth Judicial District and the State
aforesaid, at a district Court begun and held in and aforesaid parish on
the 5th day of June 2002 upon their oath present that William L. Giles,
390 Edward Gremillion Road, Hessmer, Louisiana, on or aboutht he 20th
day of April, A.D. 2002 in the State, Parish, District and State aforesaid
and within the jurisdiction of the Twelfth Judicial District Court did
willfully, maliciously and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) violated provisions of
Louisiana Revised Statute 14:42(A)1 entitled “Aggravated Rape” in that
he did have vaginal and oral sexual intercourse with [the victim] without
her lawful consent because she resisted the act to the upmost, but her
resistance was overcome by force contrary to the form of the Statute of
the State of Louisiana in such case may and provided against the dignity
of the same. Docket number 112,029 State of Louisiana versus William
L. Giles. The defendant entered a not guilty plea.

Our review of the record does not find where two charges were read to the jury.

Thus, we are unable to find any basis in the record for the apparent motion for

mistrial Defendant’s trial counsel made during the untranscribed bench conference.

**
All bench conferences in this record were not transcribed with the exception of one or two
partially transcribed bench conferences.

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Therefore, we find no merit in this assignment of error.

We also note appellate counsel could have argued the failure to transcribe the

bench conference was error pursuant to La.Code Crim.P. art. 843 and resulted in an

incomplete transcript. However, this argument was not made on appeal and

Defendant did not make the requisite showing of prejudice needed to support such a

claim.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERRORS NOS. 2 & 3

In his second and third assignment of errors, Defendant argues the trial court

erred in denying his motions for mistrial based on the improper mention of other

crimes evidence.

First, Defendant argues the State’s witness, Detective Eldon Sayes, improperly

alluded to other crimes evidence when he stated, “I asked her . . . well, she had told

me . . . give me the name of William Giles, so I contacted disradio . . . I’m sorry,

booking and I asked them if they had a photo. . . .” At this point Defendant began to

object, but was interrupted by the trial court who instructed counsel for both sides to

approach. A bench conference, which was not transcribed, was held. After the bench

conference, the jury was removed from the courtroom and arguments were heard on

Defendant’s motion for mistrial.

The Defendant moved for mistrial based on a motion in limine which was

granted prior to trial.*** During his argument on the motion for mistrial, the

Defendant argued:

At this time we move for a mistrial based on our motion we filed in

***
The minutes of the record suggest that a hearing on the Defendant’s motion in limine to
exclude other crimes evidence was held on September 4, 2003, but after a thorough search of the
record, we are unable to locate any transcript of this hearing. The record shows that a motion in
limine was filed on September 4, 2003, but the order attached to the motion is not signed. While the
exact order of the court is not known, Defendant and the State discussed the motion in sufficient
detail during arguments on the motion for mistrial to obtain the substance of the order. Additionally,
Defendant does not assign any error concerning the motion in limine.

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Limine that this court heard and granted on September the 4th which
was that the court said that as far as photographic lineup that the
prosecute [sic] admission there would be no reference to “either booking
or a photo lineup” and that the prosecutor was specifically instructed to
inform his witnesses to be prohibited and refrain from any reference to
booking (UNINTELLIGIBLE).”

Defendant contended the reference to “booking” would lead the jury to assume that

he had a prior criminal record.

The trial court denied the motion for mistrial stating, “I’m denying the Motion

for a Mistrial because I just don’t see the prejudice there. Although, perhaps, he

should not have said I contacted booking, but that’s already said.” While the trial

court did not specifically state its reasons for not instructing the jury, it can be

inferred from the transcript that the trial court declined to instruct the jury in order to

avoid calling further attention to the reference to booking.

La.Code Crim.P. art. 770 provides, in part:

Upon motion of a defendant, a mistrial shall be ordered when a
remark or comment, made within the hearing of the jury by the judge,
district attorney, or a court official, during the trial or in argument, refers
directly or indirectly to:

....

(2) Another crime committed or alleged to have been committed by the
defendant as to which evidence is not admissible;

....

An admonition to the jury to disregard the remark or comment
shall not be sufficient to prevent a mistrial. If the defendant, however,
requests that only an admonition be given, the court shall admonish the
jury to disregard the remark or comment but shall not declare a mistrial.

In State v. Prudhomme, 02-0511, pp. 11-12 (La.App. 3 Cir. 10/30/02), 829

So.2d 1166, 1174-75, writ denied, 02-3230 (La. 10/10/03), 855 So.2d 324, this court

stated:

Interpreting La.Code Crim.P. art. 770, the Louisiana Supreme Court
stated:

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A mistrial is warranted under La.Code Crim.P. art.
770 when certain remarks are considered so prejudicial and
potentially damaging to a defendant’s rights that even jury
admonition could not provide a cure. State v. Johnson,
94-1379 (La.11/27/95), 664 So.2d 94. Potentially
damaging remarks include reference to race or religion,
when not material or relevant to the case, and direct or
indirect reference to another crime committed or alleged to
be committed by the defendant, unless that evidence is
otherwise admissible. La.Code.Crim.P. art. 770. The
comment must be made within earshot of the jury and must
be made by a judge, district attorney, or other court official.
Id. Comments must be viewed in light of the context in
which they are made. State v. Webb, 419 So.2d 436, 440
(La.1982). Moreover, a comment must not “arguably”
point to a prior crime; to trigger mandatory mistrial
pursuant to Article 770(2), the remark must “unmistakably”
point to evidence of another crime. State v. Babin, 336
So.2d 780 (La.1976)(where reference to a “mug shot” was
not unmistakable reference to a crime committed by
defendant); State v. Harris, 258 La. 720, 247 So.2d 847
(1971)(where no crime was evidenced by a police officer’s
reference to obtaining defendant’s photograph from the
Bureau of Investigation). In addition, the imputation must
“unambiguously” point to defendant. State v. Edwards,
406 So.2d 1331, 1349 (La.1981), cert. denied sub nom.
Edwards v. La., 456 U.S. 945, 102 S.Ct. 2011, 72 L.Ed.2d
467 (1982). The defendant has the burden of proving that
a mistrial is warranted. See State v. May, 362 So.2d 516
(La.1978).

State v. Edwards, 97-1797, p. 19-20 (La.7/2/99); 750 So.2d 893,
906, cert. denied, 528 U.S. 1026, 120 S.Ct. 542, 145 L.Ed.2d 421
(1999).

We cannot say that Detective Sayes merely mentioning “booking”

unmistakably points to a prior crime committed by the Defendant as required by

Article 770(2).

Further, Article 770 requires that the person making the remark be either the

judge, district attorney or a court official. This court has held, “A testifying police

officer is not an ‘official’ within the meaning of La.C.Cr.P. art. 770(2).” State v.

Love, 602 So.2d 1014, 1022 (La.App. 3 Cir. 1992), citing State v. Hayes, 414 So.2d

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717 (La.1982); State v. Foote, 379 So.2d 1058 (La.1980).

In the alternative, Defendant argues the detective’s statements are “clearly

prejudicial” and are grounds for a mistrial under La.Code Crim.P. art. 771, which

states in pertinent part:

In the following cases, upon the request of the defendant or the
state, the court shall promptly admonish the jury to disregard a remark
or comment made during the trial, or in argument within the hearing of
the jury, when the remark is irrelevant or immaterial and of such a nature
that it might create prejudice against the defendant, or the state, in the
mind of the jury:

(1) When the remark or comment is made by the judge, the district
attorney, or a court official, and the remark is not within the scope of
Article 770; or

(2) When the remark or comment is made by a witness or person
other than the judge, district attorney, or a court official, regardless of
whether the remark or comment is within the scope of Article 770.

In such cases, on motion of the defendant, the court may grant a
mistrial if it is satisfied that an admonition is not sufficient to assure the
defendant a fair trial.

In State v. Givens, 99-3518, p. 12 (La. 1/17/01), 776 So.2d 443, 454, the

supreme court stated the following with regard to denials of motions for mistrial, “A

trial court’s ruling denying a mistrial will not be disturbed absent an abuse of

discretion.” Citing State v. Narcisse, 426 So.2d 118, 133 (La.1983), cert. denied, 464

U.S. 865, 104 S.Ct. 202 (1983).

In State v. Ducre, 01-2778, p. 1 (La. 9/13/02), 827 So.2d 1120, the supreme

court held:

When a witness makes an irrelevant remark which might
prejudice the defendant, La.C.Cr.P. art. 771 gives a trial court the option
either to admonish the jury or, if an admonition does not appear
sufficient, to declare a mistrial. Mistrial is a drastic remedy which
should be declared only upon a clear showing of prejudice by the
defendant; a mere possibility of prejudice is not sufficient. State v.
Smith, 430 So.2d 31, 44 (La.1983); State v. Wilkerson, 403 So.2d 652,
659 (La.1981). In addition, a trial judge has broad discretion in
determining whether conduct is so prejudicial as to deprive an accused

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of a fair trial. State v. Sanders, 93-0001, pp. 20-21 (La.11/30/94), 648
So.2d 1272, 1288-89; State v. Wingo, 457 So.2d 1159, 1166 (La.1984).

We find Detective Sayes’ statement was not an unambiguous reference to an

inadmissible other crime. His reference to “booking” was at best an ambiguous

reference to some other unnamed crime. Defendant has failed to make the clear

showing of prejudice required to mandate a mistrial under Article 771. Therefore, the

trial judge did not abuse his discretion in denying the motion for mistrial, and this

argument is without merit.

Second, Defendant argues the trial court erred in denying its motion for mistrial

when a witness, Corey DeSoto improperly implied other crimes evidence when he

stated that the Defendant was in jail, but “not for rape or anything like that.” Again,

under La.Code Crim.P. art. 770(2) and the case law interpreting that article, a

Defendant must prove two things: first, that the person making the statement was the

judge, district attorney or court official and second, that the statement does not

“arguably” point to another crime committed by the Defendant, but must

“unmistakably” point to another crime committed by the Defendant. Prudhomme,

829 So.2d 1166; La.Code Crim.P. art. 770.

Corey DeSoto was a witness called by the defense, but declared a hostile

witness. He does not fit under the list of persons specified in Article 770. The

statement also does not appear from the transcript to have been elicited by the State

so as to be attributable to it as evidenced by the following colloquy:

Q. You had any other conversations with Shawn Gremillion about
William Giles?

A. No, I asked if he had talked about it any to him and he said that
he was in jail for (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and not for rape or anything like
that.

This assignment of error is without merit.

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ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 4

By his fourth assignment of error, Defendant argues the trial court erred in

failing to grant his motion for post verdict judgment of acquittal. Louisiana Code of

Criminal Procedure Article 821(B) states a motion for post judgment verdict of

acquittal “shall be granted only if the court finds that the evidence, viewed in a light

most favorable to the state, does not reasonably permit a finding of guilty.” With

regard to a sufficiency of the evidence claim, this court has set forth the analysis as

follows:

When the issue of sufficiency of evidence is raised on appeal, the
critical inquiry of the reviewing court 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 proven
beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct.
2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560, rehearing denied, 444 U.S. 890, 100 S.Ct. 195,
62 L.Ed.2d 126 (1979); State ex rel. Graffagnino v. King, 436 So.2d 559
(La.1983); State v. Duncan, 420 So.2d 1105 (La.1982); State v. Moody,
393 So.2d 1212 (La.1981). It is the role of the fact finder to weigh the
respective credibility of the witnesses, and therefore, the appellate court
should not second guess the credibility determinations of the triers of
fact beyond the sufficiency evaluations under the Jackson standard of
review. See State ex rel. Graffagnino, 436 So.2d 559 (citing State v.
Richardson, 425 So.2d 1228 (La.1983)). In order for this Court to
affirm a conviction, however, the record must reflect that the state has
satisfied its burden of proving the elements of the crime beyond a
reasonable doubt.

State v. Kennerson, 96-1518, p. 5 (La.App. 3 Cir. 5/7/97), 695 So.2d 1367, 1371.

This court in State v. Hamilton, 03-1385, pp. 13-14 (La.App. 3 Cir. 3/3/04),

867 So.2d 151, 160, further stated:

[W]hen the conviction is based upon circumstantial evidence, La.R.S.
15:438 provides that such evidence must exclude every reasonable
hypothesis of innocence. State v. Camp, 446 So.2d 1207 (La.1984);
State v. Wright, 445 So.2d 1198 (La.1984). However, La.R.S. 15:438
does not establish a stricter standard of review on appeal than the
rational juror’s reasonable doubt standard. The statute serves as a guide
for the jury when considering circumstantial evidence.

Defendant argues he was not the person who attacked the victim. In State v.

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Jones, 02-1176, p. 13 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/5/03), 839 So.2d 439, 446-47, writ denied,

03-886 (La. 11/7/03), 857 So.2d 516, this court quoted the supreme court as follows:

The Louisiana Supreme Court in State v. Neal, 00-0674
(La.6/29/01); 796 So.2d 649, stated:

As a general matter, when the key issue is the
defendant’s identity as the perpetrator, rather than whether
the crime was committed, the state is required to negate
any reasonable probability of misidentification. State v.
Smith, 430 So.2d 31, 45 (La.1983); State v. Brady, 414
So.2d 364, 365 (La.1982); State v. Long, 408 So.2d 1221,
1227 (La.1982). However, positive identification by only
one witness is sufficient to support a conviction. See State
v. Mussall, 523 So.2d 1305, 1311 (La.1988) (generally, one
witness’s positive identification is sufficient to support the
conviction); State v. Ford, 28,724 (La.App.2d
Cir.10/30/96), 682 So.2d 847, 849-50, writ denied,
99-0210 (La.5/14/99), 745 So.2d 12. . . . The trier of fact
makes credibility determinations and may, within the
bounds of rationality, accept or reject the testimony of any
witness; thus, a reviewing court may impinge on the “fact
finder's discretion only to the extent necessary to guarantee
the fundamental due process of law.” Mussall, 523 So.2d
at 1310 (La.1988).

Id. at p. 11, 658.

The victim testified on the morning of April 20, 2002, she was asleep in her

bedroom when she was awoken by a man entering her home and walking up and

down her hallway yelling for someone named “Nell.” The victim said her assailant

stuck his head in her bedroom, at which time she told him to “get the hell out.” She

then put on clothes and went in the living room and found the man sitting on her

couch. She entered the living room, opened the front door and sat in a chair in front

of the door. The victim asked the man what his name was, and he replied, “they call

me Boo Didely [sic].”

Her assailant then asked the victim if she remembered meeting him in the past.

He informed the victim he had been at her house approximately a year ago to look at

a tract of timber. The victim stated that after he reminded her, she remembered who

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he was.

After spending approximately thirty minutes with her assailant inside her home

waiting for it to get light outside, they then took a tour of her property which lasted

about forty-five minutes. The victim testified during the tour they discussed people

they both knew and her assailant stated he might be interested in purchasing the

timber on her property.

After the tour of the property, the assailant asked the victim if he could borrow

her phone, which she gave to him and then went to sit at a table in her front yard.

While sitting in the front yard, the victim noticed someone else sitting in the

assailant’s truck. The victim approached the truck and asked the occupant if he

would like to go sit at the table while her assailant was on the phone. The occupant

got out of the truck, but before he could go sit down, the assailant motioned the

victim over to him and the occupant got back into the truck.

When the victim approached her assailant, he grabbed her, pinned her down

and began to beat her severely in her face. While beating her, the victim testified the

assailant “still had the phone saying yeah, I’m sure it’s the stupid bitch.” The victim

stated she was beaten so severely she used the bathroom on herself.**** The assailant

made the victim undress outside and go to the bathroom in the house. While in the

bathroom, the victim testified to the following regarding the act of intercourse, which

occurred in the bathroom:

Q: And once you washed yourself off then what happened?

A: Then he took me and slung me up against the wall like I was in a
slouching sitting position and then he started raping me.

Q: How was he raping you, ma’am?

****
The sheriff’s deputy who bagged the clothes as evidence, Detective LaBorde, did not
indicate whether the clothes that he bagged were soiled in any way.

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A: Well, he was trying to use his hand and plus he was using a beer
bottle. Well, he was trying to push his penis in me with his hand.

Q: And was he successful in pushing his penis inside you?

A: Well, some, but and then he couldn’t do nothing, so he started
shoving it in my mouth and he’d use a beer bottle on me.

....

Q: You said he used a bottle, where did he place the bottle?

A: Vaginally and anally.

Q: You mean, anally, in your rectum?

A: Yeah.

Q: At the time that he was attempting to place his penis inside of you,
did he ejaculate at any point?

A: I don’t believe of him doing that.

Q: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

A: No. Maybe when he shoved it in my mouth.

Q: Now, at what point did you get away from this man?

A: When he got through he washed the beer bottle off and he got to
the bathroom door and he said don’t you go anywhere bitch I’m coming
right back. And he walked down the hall and then he came back and he
looked in the door and then I heard him go get in his truck. When he
cranked his truck up, I run found me some jeans and by then he was
going out the driveway and I didn’t even put a shirt on. I just had one
of them throws on the couches and I wrapped that around me and I ran
across the road to call 911.

Although she spent an hour and fifteen minutes with her assailant, the victim testified

she could not recall whether her assailant had any facial hair. At the time of his

arrest, Defendant had a goatee. The victim was never asked what color hair or eyes

her attacker had, or what kind of pants or shirt he was wearing.

In her statements, the victim stated her assailant’s truck was gray and blue. At

trial, the victim testified the truck had a faded paint job and was blue and white with

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a different color tail gate. The Defendant’s truck was black and gray. The victim did

not allege in her statements to Deputy Laborde or Detective Sayes that her truck had

a different color tail gate.

The victim acknowledged she had been out to a bar the night before the

incident. She stated she only had a “few” beers before coming home. She also

admitted to “occasionally” using illegal drugs.

Detective Brian LaBorde, who at the time was a deputy with the Avoyelles

Parish Sheriff’s Office, testified he was the officer who responded to the victim’s 911

telephone call. The Detective testified he arrived on the scene at approximately 8:30

on the morning of April 20, 2002, approximately forty-five minutes after the rape.

He noted upon coming in contact with the victim, she appeared to have been beaten.

Detective LaBorde stated the victim reported she had been asleep on the sofa in the

living room, when the Defendant came in and woke her up to see about some lumber

to be cut. The victim told Detective Laborde the Defendant told her his nickname

was “Boo Didley.” The Detective further stated the victim told him her attacker had

attempted to perform sex with her, “which didn’t happen.” However, the victim

stated when the Defendant could not maintain an erection he used a beer bottle to

penetrate her and “then made her perform oral sex with him until he was finished.”

Detective LaBorde testified the victim described her attacker as a “white male,

big body guy, with a bad scar on his right arm, on the back side of his right arm.”

The victim further reported to Detective LaBorde the attacker was driving an old

Chevy pick-up truck, approximately a 1984-1986 model, “blue over gray” color, with

big tires.

Later in the afternoon of April 20, 2002, the victim contacted the sheriff’s

office and informed Detective LaBorde that she discovered her attacker was a man

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by the name of “Booboo Giles from Hessmer.” The Detective stated he knew that

“Booboo Giles” was the Defendant from the victim’s reference to the Defendant’s

“bad cut” on his arm and from his last name being Giles. Detective Laborde testified

he knew the Defendant had a bad scar on his right arm because he was the first officer

on the scene of the automobile accident in which the Defendant received the scar.

Detective Laborde stated he did not dust for fingerprints at the scene because

he was a deputy, and dusting for fingerprints is generally done by the investigating

detective. Detective LaBorde noted there was no detective on the scene to collect

evidence while he was at the scene. He did bag the victim’s clothing and shoes which

were found in the yard for evidence, but they were returned to the victim at her

request before any testing was performed on the items. Detective LaBorde also

testified he took pictures of tire tracks that were in the victim’s yard. He did not make

a cast of these tire tracks because he did not have the proper equipment. He stated the

detectives were in charge of making casts, but no detective came on the scene to

collect such evidence.

On cross examination, the Detective stated he did not have in his report that the

victim gave any specific information regarding the attacker’s truck, such as the truck

had a bright orange inspection sticker, a yellow tailgate or a red interior. According

to Detective LaBorde, the victim stated she and her attacker were only in the trailer

for five minutes before going outside to look at some timber to be cut.

Detective Eldon Sayes was a crime scene investigator and assistant coroner

with the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office. Detective Sayes first spoke with the

victim on April 22, 2002, two days after the crime occurred. The victim contacted

Detective Sayes at approximately 8:00 a.m. to inform him she knew who had

committed the crime against her.

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Detective Sayes asked the victim to come to the sheriff’s office and give a

written statement. The victim described the perpetrator’s truck as being dark blue or

black with silver or gray trim, battered and with big tires. The victim gave Detective

Sayes the name of Defendant as the person who had raped her. Using this

information, Detective Sayes put together a photographic lineup to show the victim.

He showed the victim two separate lineups containing the same pictures in different

orders and the victim picked out the Defendant as her assailant in both lineups.

The victim described her attacker as a white male, approximately 5'9" to 5'10"

with a really big belly and a bad scar on his elbow. Detective Sayes stated at that

time, the victim could not remember whether or not her attacker had any facial hair.

She described the hair on his head as short in front and she was not sure about the

back.

On the morning the victim met with Detective Sayes, she stated a heavy set

white male woke her up when he entered her bedroom looking for a person named

“Nell.” She also informed Detective Sayes she and the perpetrator stayed in the

trailer talking for approximately thirty minutes before going outside.

On cross examination, Detective Sayes testified after meeting with the victim

on April 22, 2002, he typed up an affidavit and a warrant and gave it to the victim to

take to the courthouse and see the judge. After giving the victim the affidavit and

warrant to get signed, the Detective left for the day at approximately 11:00 a.m. At

the time of typing the affidavit and warrant, the only information Detective Sayes had

regarding the incident was Deputy LaBorde’s report from two days prior and the

victim’s identification in the photographic lineups. Detective Sayes did not go to the

crime scene until four or five days after the incident occurred. When he got to the

scene, the victim was not home so he knocked on the door and left without doing any

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further investigation. The Detective testified although the victim stated she and her

assailant smoked several cigarettes behind the trailer, he did not collect any cigarette

butts or other evidence for DNA testing.

Detective Sayes also stated the victim informed him her assailant used her cell

phone to place a call. The phone records were subpoenaed, but the records were

never received. The victim also reported her cell phone and a gun were taken by the

assailant, but Detective Sayes did not execute any search warrant to determine if

either item was in the possession of the Defendant.

Dr. Carol Smothers examined the victim at Avoyelles Hospital on April 20,

2002. She testified a general body examination and a pelvic examination were

performed on the victim. She found small lacerations in the vagina, bruising around

the anus and a little blood. She also noted swelling and bruising on the victim’s face.

She also ordered a urine test, which revealed the presence of marijuana in the victim’s

system. Her report did not indicate the victim was under the influence at the time of

her examination.

Dr. Smothers did not perform a rape kit on the victim because she was not told

there had been any attempt at penetration with a body part. While the nurse’s notes

indicated the victim was forced to perform oral sex, the doctor was not informed of

that fact, and thus, did not perform an oral swab of the victim in an attempt to

preserve DNA evidence.

James Hicks testified that he drove past the victim’s home at approximately

7:00 or 7:30 on the morning of the incident, and noticed the assailant’s truck parked

in front of her home. He noticed there was a man sitting in the truck when he passed

by. Mr. Hicks testified the truck was “an old Chevrolet or GMC truck. An old

bluish, gray looking with a . . . like a rusty tailgate or something.” He identified a

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picture of Defendant’s truck as the one he saw parked in front of the victim’s home.

Later that morning, when Mr. Hicks passed back by the victim’s house he saw an

ambulance and police car in the victim’s yard. Mr. Hick’s son, Willie Hicks, who

was riding with his father at the time, corroborated his father’s testimony.

The victim’s step sister, Debra Dunn, testified that she knew both the

Defendant and the victim. She further testified the Defendant went by the nicknames

Boo Boo and Boo Didley. Later, Ms. Dunn testified she knew the Defendant as Boo

Boo and referred to the Defendant as Boo Boo in her statements.

At trial the Defendant presented six alibi witnesses, who testified he could not

have been the person who attacked the victim on the morning of April 20, 2002.

Janice Giles, Defendant’s wife, testified her husband was home with her the

night before the attack. She stated on the night of April 19, 2002, Caleb and Scott

Guillot came by her home before midnight because Scott was having truck problems

and wanted the Defendant to look at his truck. Ms. Giles testified her husband looked

at the truck, but was unable to fix it. The next morning she stated the Defendant went

to his brother’s house around 7:00 a.m. with Ms. Giles’ son, Caleb and Scott.

Defendant went to get his brother, who is a mechanic, to look at Scott’s truck. Ms.

Giles testified they all returned home before noon. Ms. Giles stated she calls

Defendant “Beau” and his family calls him “Boo Boo,” but has never called him “Boo

Didley.”

Lansing Goudeau, Defendant’s neighbor, testified he walks by the Defendant’s

house at the same time every morning and remembered seeing Defendant’s truck in

his driveway during the time the attack was alleged to have occurred. He stated he

walked past Defendant’s house at 6:00 a.m. on the morning of April 20, 2002. He

also stated on the way back that morning, he stopped to speak with the Defendant

-17-

about working on a chicken pen. He stated that was at about 7:00 a.m. Mr. Goudeau

testified Defendant, his step-son and two other guys were backing out of the

Defendant’s driveway when he walked by and stopped to speak to them.

Scott Guillott testified he and his brother stopped by Defendant’s house on the

night of April 19, 2002 with truck problems. Mr. Guillott testified he and his brother

arrived at the Defendant’s house at about 11:00 p.m. on April 19, 2002 and left with

the Defendant around 7:00 a.m. the next morning. They stayed at Defendant’s house

that night rather than drive home, and the Defendant drove he, his brother and the

Defendant’s step-son to the Defendant’s brother’s home the next morning. They

arrived at Defendant’s brother’s home around 7:45 a.m., and arrived back at

Defendant’s home around 11:30 a.m. He further testified he knows the Defendant as

Beau or Boo Boo, but not Boo Didley.

William Frost, the Defendant’s half brother, and his step-son, Scotty

Thomason, verified Defendant and the three boys were at their home the morning of

the attack on the victim. Mr. Frost testified Defendant drove up to his home as he

was leaving for work at about 7:45 a.m. on the morning of April 20, 2002. Mr. Frost

testified he just briefly spoke to Defendant in his driveway, and Defendant was gone

when he returned from work at noon.

Scotty Thomason testified the Defendant drove up to his house at about 7:45

a.m. on the morning of April 20, 2002. He testified Defendant was in his truck with

his step-son and two other guys. Mr. Thomason testified that the Defendant and his

three passengers stayed at his home until about 10:30 or 10:45 a.m.

Villere Brevelle, Defendant’s father-in-law, works full time with the sheriff’s

office. Mr. Brevelle testified that on the morning of April 20, 2002 at 7:00 a.m. he

was at the Bunkie Police Station supervising juveniles performing community

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service. While there he saw his son-in-law pass in front of the police station

somewhere around 7:30 or 7:45 a.m. He remembered seeing a couple of heads in the

truck besides his son-in-law.

The Defendant also presented evidence that Corey DeSoto committed the

crimes. Mr. DeSoto testified that at the time of the incident, he lived across the street

from the victim with his grandfather, Alton, his grandmother, “Nell,” and his sister,

Naomi. According to Mr. DeSoto, he and the victim were friends. Mr. DeSoto

testified on the morning of April 20, 2002 his grandparents left about 5:00 a.m., and

he was home alone. When he was leaving to go to work, between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m.,

Mr. DeSoto passed by the victim’s house and the police were there. Deputy Laborde,

who was first on the scene, testified he did not arrive at the scene until approximately

8:30. Mr. DeSoto accompanied the victim to the hospital and stayed with her

afterwards.

Mr. DeSoto was convicted of second degree aggravated battery upon his

grandfather, and also admitted he threw a ceramic vase at his grandmother and hit her

in the arm. Mr. DeSoto testified he was in jail at the same time as the Defendant.

While in jail, he shared a cell with Shawn Gremillion for about a month or a month

and a half. Mr. DeSoto testified he did not tell Mr. Gremillion he had beaten the

victim, nor did he tell him the Defendant was doing time for something he did. After

being released from prison, Mr. DeSoto lived at the victim’s trailer for about three

weeks because he was ordered not to have any contact with his grandparents. Mr.

DeSoto testified the victim was never his girlfriend and he slept on the couch when

he spent the night the day of the incident. At the time of the incident, Mr. DeSoto had

short hair and no facial hair.

Mr. DeSoto’s grandmother, Nell Wiggins, testified in April of 2002, Mr.

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DeSoto lived with her across the street from the victim. Ms. Wiggins testified she

and her husband left about 5:00 a.m. on the morning of April 20, 2002 to go to north

Louisiana and did not return until Sunday night. Ms. Wiggins testified when they

returned, Mr. DeSoto’s hands were injured and his knuckles were skinned. On

rebuttal, the State recalled Ms. Wiggins who recanted her earlier testimony about her

grandson’s hands being injured when they returned on Sunday night.

Shawn Gremillion testified he knew Corey DeSoto and had met him in jail.

Mr. Gremillion testified he voluntarily went to see Detective Eldon Sayes and had a

conversation regarding Mr. DeSoto. He told Detective Sayes he and Mr. DeSoto

were walking together to the prison commissary when they saw the Defendant. As

they passed the Defendant, Mr. DeSoto began laughing, and Mr. Gremillion asked

him what was so funny. Mr. DeSoto then told him the Defendant was serving time

for something Mr. DeSoto had done. He went on to state his girlfriend came home

from the club one night late and was drunk; they got into an argument during which

he lost his temper and beat her up. Mr. Gremillion did not know how Mr. Giles had

come to be blamed for it.

Shirley Wiggins Moore testified she knew Defendant because he used to come

over to her home and visit her sons. Ms. Moore testified she knew the Defendant by

the name of Boo Boo, but had heard him tell other people to call him Beau Didley,

but she had never called him that.

Veronica Giles, the Defendant’s ex-wife, testified Defendant worked as a

mechanic and “did some timber stuff in the woods.” She also testified she had never

heard him called Beau Didley.

Margaret Gireaux testified she and her husband owned a timber business. Ms.

Gireaux testified the Defendant worked for their timber business operating a “loader”

-20-

for one week sometime in 2000.

Cheryl LaBorde testified she is an “In-Take Administrator at the Avoyelles

District Attorney’s office for child support,” and had access to work records for

anyone who was paying child support through the State of Louisiana. According to

her records some of the employers the Defendant had worked for were: Avoyelles

Timber, Cloud Brother’s Logging and Shackleford Logging.

With regard to witness or victim testimony, this court in State v. Darbonne, 01-

39, pp. 3-4 (La.App. 3 Cir. 6/6/01), 787 So.2d 576, 579, writ denied, 02-533 (La.

1/31/03), 836 So.2d 64, held, “[a]bsent internal contradiction or irreconcilable

conflict with physical evidence, one witness’ testimony is sufficient to support a

defendant’s conviction of a sex offense, even where the State does not introduce

medical, scientific, or physical evidence to prove the commission of the offense.” We

also note apart from the victim’s testimony, the audio tape of the victim’s 911 call

was played to the jury and two eyewitnesses testified as to the presence of the

Defendant’s truck in the victim’s yard on the morning of the rape. We find the

victim’s identification of the Defendant as her assailant and the other witnesses’

testimony confirming the presence of a vehicle at the victim’s home at the time of the

offense matching the description of the one identified as belonging to Defendant is

sufficient to support his conviction.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 5

By this assignment of error, Defendant alleges the trial court applied an

improper legal standard in denying his motion for new trial. Defendant argues the

trial court could have granted him a new trial under either Article 851(1) or Article

851(5). We will review both claims.

La.Code Crim.P. art. 851 states, in pertinent part:

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The court, on motion of the defendant, shall grant a new trial whenever:

(1) The verdict is contrary to the law and the evidence;

....

(5) The court is of the opinion that the ends of justice would be
served by the granting of a new trial, although the defendant may not be
entitled to a new trial as a matter of strict legal right.

La.Code Crim.P. art. 858 states:

Neither the appellate nor supervisory jurisdiction of the supreme court
may be invoked to review the granting or the refusal to grant a new trial,
except for error of law.

This court has held when a trial court reviews a motion for new trial, the

appropriate standard for re-weighing the evidence is the “thirteenth juror” standard.

State v. King, 96-1303, pp. 5-6 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/2/97), 692 So.2d 1296, 1299, citing

State v. Long 590 So.2d 694 (La.App. 3 Cir. 1991).

In denying the Defendant’s motion for new trial, the trial court stated:

The Motion for New Trial is . . . concerns and inquires so much
of deeper review and the Court has considered the weight of the
evidence (UNITELLIGIBLE) jurors and I don’t believe I’m reviewing
any standard reguarding [sic] new evidence . . . of the new evidence type
of review, but I do sit as a thirteenth juror and I consider the weight of
the evidence and I have thought back and pondered about this case
probably more than the attorneys have, believe it or not, about every
witness that sat on that witness stand and this was how can I say a tough
case. And many times someone is convicted . . . those cases of
circumstantial evidence where you don’t have the smoking gun and in
this case there were (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and judgment calls made by
the defense, but probably appropriate ones, but the weight of the
evidence is what this court has considered and the court will deny the
motion for a new trial because the court believes that we start with the
audio tape which was played into evidence and the victim making her
statements immediately after an event, harmful event. And the two
witnesses who then say they saw the truck, description of the truck . . .
I think there is . . . it’s the court’s opinion that justice was served. There
was a full trial and full opportunity to cross examine and present the
contradictory view or version of events and I sat through everything and
absorbed everything. And I paid close attention to these motions and
studied them hard, the applicable law. It has been filed into evidence the
theory from the defense that it was a setup, a setup job. It just . . .
ultimately though the logic just doesn’t show that as being or as creating

-22-

a reasonable doubt. Not when you go back from day one of the trial and
review all of the evidence submitted. So, you know, the court will deny
the Motion for a New Trial and it was expressed in various elements, but
the court will deny that motion.

In State v. Snyder, 98-1078, p. 37 (La. 4/14/99), 750 So.2d 832, 859, n. 21

(alteration in original), the supreme court stated:

In the instant case, the constitutional issue of sufficiency is treated in
assignment of error number 1 because the denial of a motion for new
trial based upon La.C.Cr.P. art. 851(1) is not subject to review on
appeal. State v. Skelton, 340 So.2d 256, 259 (La.1976) (“[W]e have
uniformly held that a bill of exceptions reserved to the refusal of the trial
judge to grant a motion for a new trial based on Article 851(1), relative
to sufficiency of the evidence presents nothing for our review.”)
(citations omitted); State v. Bartley, 329 So.2d 431, 433 (La.1976) (“It
is well established in Louisiana that an assignment of error reserved to
the denial of a motion for a new trial alleging that the verdict is contrary
to the law and the evidence presents nothing for appellate review.”)
(citations omitted).

As the trial court used the correct standard of reviewing the motion for new trial, this

assignment of error is not reviewable pursuant to La.Code Crim.P. art. 858 and State

v. Snyder.

Defendant argues in the alternative, the trial court should have granted his

motion for new trial under La.Code Crim.P. art. 851(5). La.Code Crim.P. art. 851(5)

states, in pertinent part, “The court is of the opinion that the ends of justice would be

served by the granting of a new trial, although the defendant may not be entitled to

a new trial as a matter of strict legal right.”

This court has routinely held that denial of a motion for new trial to serve the

ends of justice is not subject to review upon appeal. State v. Jason, 01-1428, p. 9

(La.App. 3 Cir. 7/10/02), 820 So.2d 1286, 1292, citing State v. Prudhomme, 532

So.2d 234 (La.App. 3 Cir. 1988), writ denied, 541 So.2d 871 (1989).

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 6

-23-

In his sixth assignment of error, Defendant contends the trial court’s sentence

of seventeen years is constitutionally excessive. The record does not indicate that the

Defendant filed a motion to reconsider sentence, nor does the record indicate that the

Defendant orally objected to the sentence at the sentencing hearing. According to

La.Code Crim.P. art. 881.1, a defendant has thirty days following the imposition of

sentence to make or file a motion to reconsider sentence. It further states that failure

to make or file a motion to reconsider sentence precludes a defendant from raising on

appeal any objection to the sentence. When the record does not indicate that any

objection was made regarding sentencing, the defendant is precluded from appealing

his sentence. State v. Joubert, 97-1093 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/4/98), 705 So.2d 1295, writ

denied, 98-1525 (La. 10/30/98), 723 So.2d 973, citing State v. Smith, 95-1215

(La.App. 3 Cir. 4/3/96), 672 So.2d 211; State v. Myles, 616 So.2d 754 (La.App. 1

Cir.), writ denied, 629 So.2d 369 (La.1993). Thus, Defendant’s excessive sentence

claim is barred pursuant to Article 881.1. However, we will review the sentence

under a bare excessiveness review.

This court has set forth the following standard to be used in reviewing

excessive sentence claims:

La.Const. art. I, § 20 guarantees that, "[n]o law shall subject any
person to cruel or unusual punishment." To constitute an excessive
sentence, the reviewing court must find the penalty so grossly
disproportionate to the severity of the crime as to shock our sense of
justice or that the sentence makes no measurable contribution to
acceptable penal goals and is, therefore, nothing more than a needless
imposition of pain and suffering. State v. Campbell, 404 So.2d 1205
(La.1981). The trial court has wide discretion in the imposition of
sentence within the statutory limits and such sentence shall not be set
aside as excessive absent a manifest abuse of discretion. State v.
Etienne, 99-192 [p.5] (La.App. 3 Cir. 10/13/99); 746 So.2d 124, writ
denied, 00-0165 (La.6/30/00); 765 So.2d 1067. The relevant question
is whether the trial court abused its broad sentencing discretion, not
whether another sentence might have been more appropriate. State v.
Cook, 95-2784 [p. 3] (La.5/31/96); 674 So.2d 957, cert. denied, 519
U.S. 1043, 117 S.Ct. 615, 136 L.Ed.2d 539 (1996).

-24-

State v. Barling, 00-1241, 01-1591, p. 12 (La.App. 3 Cir. 1/31/01), 779 So.2d 1035,

1042-43, writ denied, 01-838 (La. 2/1/02), 808 So.2d 331.

In order to decide whether a sentence shocks the sense of justice or makes no

meaningful contribution to acceptable penal goals, this court has held:

[A]n appellate court may consider several factors including the nature
of the offense, the circumstances of the offender, the legislative purpose
behind the punishment and a comparison of the sentences imposed for
similar crimes. State v. Smith, 99-0606 (La.7/6/00); 766 So.2d 501.
While a comparison of sentences imposed for similar crimes may
provide some insight, "it is well settled that sentences must be
individualized to the particular offender and to the particular offense
committed." State v. Batiste, 594 So.2d 1 (La.App. 1 Cir.1991).
Additionally, it is within the purview of the trial court to particularize
the sentence because the trial judge "remains in the best position to
assess the aggravating and mitigating circumstances presented by each
case." State v. Cook, 95-2784 (La.5/31/96); 674 So.2d 957, 958.

State v. Smith, 02-719, p. 4 (La.App. 3 Cir.), 846 So.2d 786, 789, writ denied, 03-562

(La. 5/30/03), 845 So.2d 1061.

Defendant was convicted of forcible rape. La.R.S. 14:42.1 states, in pertinent

part, “Whoever commits the crime of forcible rape shall be imprisoned at hard labor

for not less than five nor more than forty years. At least two years of the sentence

imposed shall be without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence.”

The Defendant received a sentence of seventeen years with two years to be without

benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

At sentencing the trial court stated:

I have again sat through the trial of this matter. I have read the
pre-sentencing investigation report and all of the correspondence and
letters submitted and I’ve read them carefully and they have had an
impact.

I will review Code of Criminal Procedure Article 894.1 just to
ponder and note for the record whether or not they are aggravating or
mitigating circumstances.

....

-25-

The sentencing guidelines (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

The . . . I know that treats [sic] and violence were a part of this
crime for which the defendant has been convicted and I don’t see
anything else worth reading out of the Code, but certainly a mitigating
circumstance would be the defendant’s lack of a violent history.
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) circumstances would include the . . . and I’m not
going to go through everything in detail, but the victim was beaten and
forced into sexual activity and I’ll just note for the record that the Court
has considered aggravating and mitigating circumstances.

This is a crime of violence I must note that to Mr. Giles and as his
attorney has indicated the eighty-five percent rule and I’m sure his
attorney has explained that to him. This is a crime of violence as
defined by our code, Revised Statutes entitled [sic] 40. Mr. Giles, will
received credit for time served. I carefully consider this case. Again, I
ponder the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) made in this case by all sides. I don’t
know if it’ll be fair. What has stuck in the Court’s mind and
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) is the audio tape with the allegations therein
which would almost . . . which are very compelling in the Court’s
opinion.

The Court has pondered the sentence greatly, but this is an
extremely serious offense for which the defendant is convicted and this
Court will sentence Mr. Giles to serve in the Custody of the Louisiana
Department of Corrections a sentence a total sentence of seventeen
years. You will receive credit for time served. He has a right to appeal
pursuant to the Code of Criminal Procedure Article 914 and he has two
years in which to apply for post conviction relief (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
All right. Thank you ladies and gentlemen. That’s the sentence of the
Court.

....

Finally, at least two years of the sentence imposed shall be
without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

Two years of the sentence shall be without the benefit of
probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

The trial court adequately discussed the aggravating and mitigating circumstances.

Defendant was sentenced to less than half of the possible forty year maximum given

by the statute and was only sentenced to the minimum amount of two years without

benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. Thus, we cannot say the trial

court abused its vast discretion in sentencing the Defendant.

-26-

ERRORS PATENT

In accordance with La.Code Crim.P. art. 920, all appeals are reviewed for

errors patent on the face of the record. After reviewing the record, we find one error

patent.

The trial court sentenced Defendant on the same day it denied his motion for

post-verdict judgment of acquittal and motion for new trial. Louisiana Code of

Criminal Procedure article 873 requires a delay of twenty-four hours after the denial

of a motion for new trial. That article provides in pertinent part:

If a motion for new trial, or in arrest of judgment, is filed, sentence shall
not be imposed until at least twenty-four hours after the motion is
overruled. If the defendant expressly waives a delay provided for in this
article or pleads guilty, sentence may be imposed immediately.

This court has found an express waiver occurs when defense counsel responds

affirmatively when the trial court asks if he is ready for sentencing. State v. Williams,

01-998 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/6/02), 815 So.2d 908, writ denied, 02-578 (La. 1/31/03),

836 So.2d 59. See also State v. Marcotte, 01-1586 (La.App. 3 Cir. 5/15/02), 817

So.2d 1245, writ denied, 02-1687 (La. 2/7/03), 836 So.2d 96. After the trial court

denied the motion for post verdict judgment of acquittal and motion for new trial in

the present case, it asked the question, “Are you ready for sentencing?” The record

reflects a response by the prosecutor but no response by defense counsel. Therefore,

it cannot be said Defendant expressly waived the delay in sentencing.

However, even in the absence of an express waiver, this court has found

implied waivers in certain circumstances. Thus, we must determine if the record

establishes an implied waiver by Defendant in the present case.

Defense counsel voiced no objection when sentencing was taken up

immediately after the denial of the motion for post verdict judgment of acquittal and

the motion for new trial. After arguments were presented by the State, defense

-27-

counsel argued in support of a lenient sentence, filing letters submitted on

Defendant’s behalf and citing to the contents of one letter in particular. Defense

counsel also referred to the sentencing range and the period of time already spent in

jail by the Defendant. Although the entire sentence could be imposed without benefit

of parole, probation or suspension of sentence, defense counsel argued that only the

minimum (two years) should be imposed without these benefits.

When giving its reasons for the sentence imposed, the trial court noted that it

had sat through the trial in the matter, had read the pre-sentence investigation report

and had read the letters and correspondence submitted. After citing both aggravating

and mitigating factors, the trial court sentenced Defendant to a lower range sentence

of seventeen years at hard labor, with the first two years to be served without benefits.

In State v. Taves, 02-709 (La.App. 3 Cir. 1/15/03), 846 So.2d 1, affirmed in

part, reversed in part on other grounds, 03-0518 (La. 12/3/03), 861 So.2d 144, this

court found a waiver of the twenty-four-hour delay, noting that defense counsel failed

to voice an objection even though he was clearly aware that the sentencing was

scheduled to be taken up the same day the motion for new trial would be heard.

Additionally, we noted that after the trial court denied the motion for new trial and

told the defendant to come up for sentencing, defense counsel declared his intent to

present evidence at the hearing. In addition to presenting evidence, defense counsel

argued for a suspended sentence and stated he had reviewed the PSI and discussed

it with the defendant. Finally, this court noted that defense counsel did not raise as

error the trial court’s failure to delay sentencing and did not allege prejudice.

Although this court found an implied waiver of the article 873 delay, we found the

sentences imposed were excessive and remanded for resentencing. In response to the

State’s application for review, the supreme court reversed this court’s finding of

-28-

excessiveness and reinstated the sentences without any mention of the trial court’s

failure to abide by the delay required by La.Code Crim.P. art. 873. (See also State

v. Schmidt, 99-1412 (La.App. 3 Cir. 7/26/00), 771 So.2d 131, writ denied, 00-2950

(La. 9/28/01), 798 So.2d 105, cert. denied, 535 U.S. 905, 122 S.Ct. 1205 (2002), for

a thorough discussion of the jurisprudence regarding express and implied waivers of

the twenty-four-hour delay period required by La.Code Crim.P. art. 873.)

The present case is similar to Taves in that the record contains no colloquy

between the trial court and the Defense regarding its readiness for sentencing.

However, as in Taves, defense counsel presented arguments to the trial court in

support of a lenient sentence and the trial court supported the sentence imposed with

ample reasons. Unlike the defense counsel in Taves, the defense counsel in the

present case did not present evidence at the sentencing hearing. Additionally, the

record in the present case is not as clear as the record in Taves as to defense counsel’s

knowledge that sentence would be imposed immediately after the disposition of his

motion for new trial and motion for post-verdict judgment of acquittal. However,

Defendant here makes no claim of prejudice because of the failure to abide by the

delay. Considering these facts, we find Taves analogous and find an implied waiver

occurred in the present case.

DECREE

For the foregoing reasons, the Defendant’s conviction and sentence are

affirmed.

AFFIRMED.

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