State of Louisiana v. Darrell Kennedy Mallette

STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

15-1131

STATE OF LOUISIANA

VERSUS

DARRELL KENNEDY MALLETTE

**********

APPEAL FROM THE
ELEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
PARISH OF SABINE, NO. 72168
HONORABLE STEPHEN BRUCE BEASLEY, DISTRICT JUDGE

**********

DAVID KENT SAVOIE
JUDGE

**********

Court composed of Sylvia R. Cooks, John E. Conery, and David Kent Savoie,
Judges.

VACATED, RENDERED IN PART, AND REMANDED.

COOKS, J. concurs in the result only.

Honorable Don M. Burkett
District Attorney
P. O. Box 1557
Many, LA 71449
(318) 256-6246
COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE:
State of Louisiana

Anna L. Garcie
Assistant District Attorney
P. O. Box 1557
Many, LA 71449
(318) 256-6246
COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE:
State of Louisiana

Christopher Hatch
The Hatch Law Firm, LLC
624 Stoner Avenue
Shreveport, LA 71101
(318) 425-3965
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT:
Darrell Kennedy Mallette

SAVOIE, Judge.

The Defendant, Darrell Kennedy Mallette, was charged by indictment filed

on May 7, 2013, with aggravated rape, a violation of La.R.S. 14:42. Defendant

entered a plea of not guilty on June 27, 2013. On March 11, 2014, Defendant

waived his right to trial by jury. A written motion followed on July 31, 2014. A

bench trial commenced on July 31, 2014. On August 1, 2014, the trial court found

Defendant guilty of molestation of a juvenile under the age of thirteen, a violation

of La.R.S. 14:81.2.

On August 8, 2014, Defendant filed a motion for post-verdict judgment of

acquittal and a motion for new trial. A hearing on the motions was held on August

21, 2014, and the matters were taken under advisement. On August 29, 2014, the

trial court denied the motion for post-verdict judgment of acquittal but granted the

motion for new trial. The State filed a motion to reconsider the granting of the

motion for new trial on September 4, 2014, which was denied on September 15,

2014.1 On September 24, 2014, Judge Stephen Beasley, who had presided over

Defendant’s trial and had granted the motion for new trial, recused himself from

the matter.

1
In its motion, the State asserted the following:

On the afternoon of Friday, August 1, 2014, the Trial Court contacted the
defendant’s attorney, Richard Woolbert, and the Assistant District Attorney, Anna
L. Garcie, and informed them that he had contacted a State’s witness, Paula
Phaup, telephonically and during their conversation they discussed the trial. The
Trial Court then stated that he called Paula Phaup a second time to elicit
additional information and now had concerns regarding what he believed were
inconsistencies in the case. He thereafter told the defendant’s attorney and the
Assistant District Attorney to do with the information as they saw fit.

The State further noted the trial court reconsidered Defendant’s bail upon its own motion.
Thereafter, defense counsel filed a motion for new trial. At the hearing on the motion, the trial
judge stated he would not consider anything outside the scope of the evidence presented at trial.

The State filed a writ application with this court on October 24, 2014,

seeking review of the trial court’s granting of Defendant’s motion for new trial.

This court granted the State’s writ application, reversed the grant of the motion for

new trial and reinstated the trial court’s judgment of guilty of molestation of a

juvenile under the age of thirteen, citing State v. Guillory, 10-1231 (La. 10/8/10),

45 So.3d 612. 2 See State v. Mallette, 14-1123 (La.App. 3 Cir. 12/4/14)

(unpublished opinion), writ denied, 15-39 (La. 4/2/15), 164 So.3d 814.

On December 9, 2014, Retired Justice Edward Bleich was assigned ad hoc

to hear and dispose of this case. Justice Bleich sentenced Defendant on July 15,

2015, to serve ninety years at hard labor, with at least twenty-five years to be

served without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. The trial

court ordered Defendant to pay costs of court, which included damages incurred by

the victim, and to serve an additional six months in prison in default of payment.

The trial court further ordered Defendant’s truck seized, impounded, and sold at

public sale. Defendant filed a motion to reconsider the sentence on July 28, 2015,

which was denied on August 17, 2015.

A motion and order for appeal and designation of record was filed on

September 14, 2015. The motion was granted on October 5, 2015.

Defendant is now before this court asserting that the evidence is insufficient

to support his conviction and his sentence is excessive. For the following reasons,

we vacate Defendant’s conviction and sentence for molestation of a juvenile under

2
In State v. Guillory, the supreme court stated that when a trial court grants a new trial
but “fails to identify the concerns it had with the trial, we find the decision to grant a new trial
was an error of law because there is nothing to support the exercise of the of the trial court’s
discretion.” Id. at 617.

2

the age of thirteen, enter a judgment of guilty of indecent behavior with a juvenile,

and remand the matter for sentencing.

FACTS

The Defendant was convicted of molestation of a juvenile under the age of

thirteen for acts committed against his step-granddaughter E.H.3

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 that

there are three errors patent that render Defendant’s sentence for molestation of a

juvenile illegal; however, these errors are moot due to our finding that Defendant’s

conviction and sentence be vacated, a conviction of guilty of indecent behavior

with a juvenile entered, and the case remanded for sentencing.4

3
The victim’s initials are used in accordance with La.R.S. 46:1844(W).

4
First, the court imposed “at least” twenty-five years of Defendant’s ninety-year sentence
to be served without the benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. However, in
cases where the trial court imposes “at least” a number of years without benefits, this court has
found the sentence indeterminate, vacated the sentence, and remanded for resentencing. See State
v. Fruge, 09-1131 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/7/10), 34 So.3d 422, writ denied, 10-1054 (La. 11/24/10), 50
So.3d 828, State v. Cedars, 02-861 (La.App. 3 Cir. 12/11/02), 832 So.2d 1191, State v. Burton,
94-486 (La.App. 3 Cir. 11/9/94), 649 So.2d 694, and State v. Frank, 93-1402 (La.App. 3 Cir.
4/6/94), 635 So.2d 634.

In addition, the trial court ordered Defendant to pay the costs of court and indicated that
court costs “shall include such damages incurred by the victim.” While the trial court is not
required to specify the amount of court costs, its failure to set an amount of restitution results in
an indeterminate sentence. See State v. Karam, 02-163 (La.App. 3 Cir. 7/31/02), 834 So.2d 1003
and State v. Joseph, 05-186 (La.App. 3 Cir. 11/2/05), 916 So.2d 378. Moreover, we are not
aware of any authority for imposing damages as a part of court costs. If the trial court was
imposing restitution, it erred in failing to set the amount of restitution. See La.Code Crim.P. arts.
887 and 883.2.

The trial court also erred in imposing default time on a defendant who is presumed
indigent. At sentencing, the court ordered Defendant to pay court costs and in default thereof, to
serve an additional six months in prison. Defendant was represented by appointed counsel at
trial and is represented by appointed counsel on appeal. This court has found this to be
presumptive evidence of a defendant’s indigence requiring deletion of the default time portion of
the sentence. See State v. Holloway, 10-74 (La.App. 3 Cir. 10/6/10), 47 So.3d 56.

3

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 1

In his first assignment of error, Defendant contends the evidence adduced at

trial was insufficient to support his conviction for molestation of a juvenile.

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 (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 credibilities of
the witnesses, and therefore, the appellate court should
not second guess the credibility determinations of the
trier of fact beyond the sufficiency evaluations under the
Jackson standard of review. See Graffagnino, 436 So.2d
at 563, citing State v. Richardson, 425 So.2d 1228
(La.1983). To obtain a conviction, the elements of the
crime must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

State v. Freeman, 01-997, pp. 2-3 (La.App. 3 Cir. 12/12/01), 801
So.2d 578, 580.

Furthermore, the testimony of a single witness is sufficient to
support a conviction “[i]n the absence of internal contradiction or ir-
reconcilable conflicts with physical evidence.” State v. Dixon, 04-
1019, p. 12 (La.App. 5 Cir. 3/15/05), 900 So.2d 929, 936. The trier of
fact may accept or reject the testimony of any witness, and the
determination of the credibility of that witness, in whole or in part, is
left to its sound discretion and “will not be re-weighed on appeal.” Id.
at 936.

State v. F.B.A., 07-1526, pp. 1-2 (La.App. 3 Cir. 5/28/08), 983 So.2d 1006, 1009,

writ denied, 08-1464 (La. 3/27/09), 5 So.3d 138.

Lora Cain, an employee of the Department of Child and Family Services

(DCFS), testified that she received a complaint on February 25, 2013, alleging

neglect due to the mother’s lack of adequate supervision over E.H. and E.H.’s

siblings, and sexual abuse of E.H. by her grandfather, the defendant. A Child

4

Advocacy Center interview was arranged at Project Celebration in Many, a

forensic examination of E.H. was arranged at the Care Center in Shreveport, and

law enforcement was notified. Other members of E.H.’s home were interviewed,

and Ms. Cain determined that, at the time of “the report,” E.H., her mother, a

younger sibling, and an older sibling lived together.

Ms. Cain was asked if E.H.’s mother, Samantha Schoubroek, made an

allegation of improper behavior by the defendant, and Ms. Cain stated:

[Ms. Schoubroek] stated that at one time, uh, that, uh, [E.H.]
had made statements, uh, that, uh, when she was ten or eleven years
old, Ms. Schoubroek said that [E.H.] had made statements to an aunt
who then turned around and told Ms. Samantha Schoubroek. Ms.
Schoubroek stated that she asked [E.H.] what happened and that
[E.H.] had told her the first time it happened was when Mr. Mallette
had taken her [J.] [sic] to the water park. I believe Ms. Schoubroek,
uh, well I know she took [E.H.] to the doctor and they said that
everything was fine. Uh, she said that [E.H.] didn’t [sic] her if it was
fondling or not, that just it was that one time.

Ms. Cain read from the portion of the physical examination report that she

had prepared as follows: “[E.H.] made allegations her step grandfather, Kenny

Mallette, raped her. Said it happened more than once with [the] last incident over a

year ago. Child had no contact with step grandfather [sic].” This information was

gleaned by Ms. Cain from E.H.’s forensic interview. However, E.H. did not use

the word “rape” during the forensic interview.

Dr. Jennifer Olsen Rodriguez was recognized as a pediatrician with expertise

in child abuse and neglect. Dr. Rodriguez was employed at the Care Center on

April 3, 2013. The abuse reported to Dr. Rodriguez was alleged to have occurred

at least two years before her evaluation of E.H.

The examination of E.H. revealed that her hymen and anus were normal.

However, Dr. Rodriguez testified that a normal exam neither proved nor disproved

5

sexual abuse. Prior to conducting an examination, Dr. Rodriguez knew the abuse

was alleged to have occurred from the time E.H. was six until she was twelve years

old. Dr. Rodriguez was further questioned as follows:

Q If a six year old was abused sexually with penetration, would
you expect to see internal injuries from that if an adult male, a full
grown male, did something like that, fully penetrated her?

A Majority of exams are normal. I have seen children who have
tears but most exams in child abuse, sexual abuse, are normal exams
or nonspecific.

Q So again, this is a general question and I’m not trying to be
vulgar. If a full grown adult male has full sexual intercourse with a six
year old, there’s not any permanent damage done?

A There can be. There was a study done with repetitive penile
penetration where they looked at children and had them rank if there
was penetration. It’s the one study where they actually discussed
penile vaginal penetration and in that study only eighty-seven percent
of the children evaluated or eighty-seven percent had normal or
nonspecific exams. Only thirteen percent had evidence of penetrative
trauma.

Q What is considered to be evidence of penetrative trauma?

A That is when-- so you have your labia, you have this space, you
have the hymen, you have the vagina. So there’s penetration. It begins
through the labia then it has to go in that space area, get to the hymen
and then to cause injury it has to go past the hymen so there’s an area
of penetration that you’re not to the hymen yet. Then when you go
past the--

Q I’m sorry to interrupt you. About how lengthwise about how
much is that on a normal child of this age?

A It would be-- it could be around an inch-- centimeters to an
inch.

....

A There is actually a space. So to have an injury you have to go
past the hymen. And when we say definitive evidence, it means either
when a child is seen-- if they’re seen within the first few days, you
have a fresh tear or injury on the hymen or the labia where it’s fresh
and you see it and it’s the few days after because they heal quite
quickly. And then when they’re not seen acutely or right away, weeks

6

or months or years later, what you would see is a missing section of
hymen. We call it a cleft when there is just a small missing section or
larger section. So that’s what we call definitive evidence.

Q Did you see such a cleft in your patient?

A No.

Paula Phaup testified that she taught E.H.’s older brother at Zwolle

Elementary School and had met E.H. there. E.H. was in kindergarten or first grade

at that time. Two years prior to trial, Ms. Phaup joined the same church as E.H.

She began working with the church youth, and, during that time, would pick up

children in the church’s van and bring them to church services. E.H. was one of

those children.

After three or four months of transporting E.H. to church, E.H. told Ms.

Phaup that she had been molested by the Defendant. At the time this conversation

occurred, E.H.’s grandmother was living in the home with E.H. However,

Defendant had moved. Ms. Phaup described E.H.’s demeanor as “[b]roken, very

broken, crying, uh, angry, sad.” When asked why she had not reported the

incidents, E.H. told Ms. Phaup that Defendant was the only source of income in the

home, and “as long as he was raping her, he was leaving the other kids alone.”

When asked if other family members were aware of Defendant’s actions, Ms.

Phaup stated that E.H.’s aunt had figured it out. E.H. was thirteen years old at the

time she told Ms. Phaup what happened to her. The family discovered the issue

about a year before. Ms. Phaup testified that E.H. said her mother asked her if she

wanted to call the police, and E.H. said “no,” because she was scared.

Approximately three months after the report, Ms. Phaup told the school nurse

about E.H.

7

A few days after Ms. Phaup reported the behavior, she received a call from

E.H.’s mother, who was upset because she picked up the children for church.

E.H.’s mother stated E.H. would no longer be attending church. Ms. Phaup called

Detective Jason Rivers, a police officer, to meet her at the home because the

mother was screaming and cursing her. When asked if she observed any

interaction between E.H. and her mother when E.H. was dropped off, Ms. Phaup

stated, “it was more than once I heard her say look at what you’ve caused to

happen, uh, you’re going to end up putting four people in jail.” Ms. Phaup testified

that E.H. never recanted her story.

E.H. once used Ms. Phaup’s phone to call Defendant. E.H. told him she

forgave and loved him. Defendant called back to tell E.H. happy birthday, but

E.H. was not with Ms. Phaup at that time.

Detective Rivers was employed by the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department

on February 26, 2013. On that date, his office received a call from DCFS

regarding E.H. Detective Rivers interviewed Ms. Phaup and then made

arrangements with E.H.’s mother for E.H. to be brought to Project Celebration. He

observed the interview of E.H., and subsequently interviewed E.H.’s mother.

E.H.’s mother, Ms. Schoubroek, was interviewed on February 27, 2013. Ms.

Schoubroek informed Detective Rivers and Ms. Cain that, when E.H. was ten years

old, E.H. told her aunt about Defendant’s behavior. Ms. Schoubroek stated E.H.

never mentioned it to her, as she never left her children alone with Defendant.

E.H. told her of one incident when Defendant took E.H. and her brother to the

park. As a result, Ms. Schoubroek called Defendant. Ms. Schoubroek

subsequently took E.H. to the doctor. Ms. Schoubroek stated that she wanted to

report the matter to police, but her mother and E.H. did not want her to.

8

Ms. Schoubroek stated that Defendant was in town for one Christmas.

However, he did not live in the house at the time. The house was located near a

school, and she, her children, and her mother resided there. On that occasion, E.H.

slept with Ms. Schoubroek.

Ms. Schoubroek testified E.H. said Defendant fondled her, and when asked

when and where, E.H. said she did not know. She further stated that when E.H.

was asked when and where it happened, “she couldn’t give us no answers.” Ms.

Schoubroek told her mother about the matter, and also confronted Defendant, who

denied anything occurred. Ms. Schoubroek’s mother threatened to kill Defendant,

and the two were to be divorced. When Ms. Schoubroek confronted Defendant, she

said the following occurred:

I understand and I respect you and he said that I would never do
nothing to harm you or your children. And if you want me to stay
away from your kids, I will stay away. And that was it. He never said
anything else or done anything. He calls every now and then to make
sure that I have what I need. If I need something, he said that, you
know, he’d do his best to help to get it. He still helps my mother every
now and then and he doesn’t, you know, he doesn’t come around us
but he does call and check.

Ms. Schoubroek also indicated that she knew nothing about Defendant

giving her mother $500.00 a month.

Detective Rivers also interviewed Debbie Thompson, who is E.H.’s aunt, on

February 28, 2013. Ms. Thompson said that, while E.H. was visiting her

residence, she asked E.H. if “somebody had messed with [her].” E.H. then stated

that Defendant had. Ms. Thompson then related the event as follows:

And I said well, what did he do, baby. She said well, he patted me on
my butt and he shouldn’t have touched me there. I said he do
anything else and she said no, he just patted me on my butt. And I
said you’re a kid and y’all were out swimming. He’s going to pat you
on your butt to try to get you to swim.

9

Ms. Thompson called E.H.’s mother. E.H. then said “he didn’t really do it.”

Ms. Thompson said E.H. was “just mad at him because he wouldn’t let her go on

the truck.” When Detective Rivers indicated that E.H. said she had given more

information to Ms. Thompson, Ms. Thompson said E.H. was a habitual liar. Ms.

Thompson later stated that E.H. “tells you one thing and then changes the story to

another thing.”

Ms. Thompson said she knew nothing about Defendant paying his wife

$500.00 a month not to report the matter to police, but knew Defendant gave her

money “every now and then.” Ms. Thompson then stated Defendant helped out

when there was not enough money to pay bills.

Detective Rivers next interviewed Wanda Mallette, E.H.’s grandmother and

Defendant’s wife. Ms. Mallette was married to Defendant and could not afford a

divorce. Ms. Mallette stated that almost three years prior to her interview, E.H.

“told my sister that he’d [Defendant] patted her on the butt.” Thereafter, Ms.

Mallette questioned E.H. about the incident and, according to Ms. Mallette, E.H.

told her that

[W]hen they were swimming pawpaw touched her on her butt where
he wasn’t supposed to. She had a swimming suit on, wasn’t supposed
- - but he picks them up and he throws them out in the water and
goofing off. I don’t believe it but she said that he touched her on her
butt more than one.

Ms. Mallette removed Defendant from her home, although Defendant denied

molesting E.H. when asked by Ms. Mallette. Ms. Mallette then stated, “the more

that I know my granddaughter and her little lies, I don’t believe it.”

Ms. Mallette was with Defendant seventeen or nineteen years, but testified

she no longer had anything to do with him. She indicated she last saw Defendant

at Christmas and that E.H. was at church during that time. Defendant also brought

10

E.H. a birthday cake, but she was at church at that time as well. Ms. Mallette

indicated that if E.H. said she saw Defendant on her birthday, she had lied. She

denied walking in on Defendant molesting E.H. Ms. Mallette also denied

blackmailing Defendant. She stated she called him the “day before yesterday” and

asked for fifty dollars. She had also called Defendant on January 1st for a loan to

pay her rent, and Defendant wired money to her.

Ms. Mallette did not believe Defendant touched E.H. and stated that E.H.

was “messing with” little boys in the neighborhood and that “[s]he’s messed with -

- in church.” Ms. Mallette said that Ms. Paula, a church member, had caught E.H.

kissing a girl.

Detective Rivers interviewed Defendant on March 1, 2013. Defendant

indicated he was legally married to Ms. Mallette, but that Ms. Mallette wanted a

divorce two years ago, and he did not know why. Defendant and Ms. Mallette had

gone before a notary to sign paperwork indicating that they were divorcing.

Defendant stated he gave Ms. Mallette $200.00 a week because he felt sorry for

her as she had no other source of income. Ms. Mallette drew the money from the

bank on a card Defendant gave her. He denied Ms. Mallette was blackmailing

him. He testified Ms. Mallette had only $400.00 a month income. Defendant also

stated he took groceries to the grandkids. Defendant said he gave Ms. Schoubroek

his car, a 1991 GEO Metro, because she had a wreck. He then stated that he and

Ms. Schoubroek were friends. When Defendant and Ms. Mallette separated two

years ago, Ms. Schoubroek was living next door to them. Defendant said that he

also sent $50.00 a week to his son who was attending college in New Mexico.

Defendant admitted swimming with E.H. but denied touching her

inappropriately. He also denied that Ms. Mallette told him he had to leave. When

11

asked if he penetrated E.H. vaginally and anally, the Defendant indicated he had

not.

Defendant said he saw E.H. at Christmas in Ringgold at Shelby’s house. He

also stated that E.H.’s birthday was on December 10, and he brought her a cake for

her birthday and saw her that day.

Defendant stated E.H. would lie but not very often. He further stated that

E.H. told him that her uncle, Johnny Thompson, had “messed with her.”

Detective Rivers testified that Defendant mailed his bank records to Rivers.

The records were marked as State’s Exhibit 7. He confirmed that money received

by Ms. Mallette was drawn from Defendant’s bank account by her.

Detective Rivers obtained medical records from pediatrician Dr. Husan

Sukerek, the person to whom Ms. Schoubroek took E.H. after the initial report of

abuse. There were no records showing the visit described by Ms. Schoubroek, and

Dr. Sukerek informed Detective Rivers that the office did not examine children for

sexual activity. Rivers testified that E.H. was tested for STDs on July 5, 2012, but

was not checked for penetration.

Detective Rivers stated E.H.’s initial allegations were that Defendant had

touched her behind and then changed to include vaginal and anal penetration.

Detective Rivers testified that Ms. Schoubroek, Ms. Thompson, and Ms. Mallette

spoke about Defendant touching E.H. on her behind, but that E.H. did not state

such in her interview. All statements were consistent with something happening to

E.H. two years before the report.

Shelly Cartinez testified that she worked as a nurse practitioner for Dr.

Sukerek, a pediatrician. E.H. was treated for routine illnesses from 2009 to 2010.

E.H. was seen on July 5, 2012, for a well visit. Ms. Schoubroek did not mention

12

sexual abuse at that time. However, it was reported that E.H. was experiencing

vaginal discharge. During the visit, E.H. denied being sexually active. Ms.

Cartinez asked Ms. Schoubroek if an STD screening was needed, and Ms.

Schoubroek stated, “well, you never know, you might as well.” Ms. Cartinez

performed a full STD screening as well as a vaginal examine and obtained a

vaginal culture. The STD screen was negative.

Brandy Goins worked with Project Celebration as a forensic interviewer.

She was recognized as an expert forensic interviewer in child sexual abuse cases.

She interviewed E.H. on February 27, 2013. E.H. indicated that she recently spoke

to Ms. Phaup, her church youth director, about Defendant on their way to E.H.’s

house. E.H. stated that Defendant molested her. E.H. specified the molestation

took place from the time she was six years old until she was twelve. E.H. nodded

negatively when asked, “when is the last time you remember it happened, how do

you know it was twelve years old, do you know?” E.H. indicated she was fourteen

years old at the time of the interview. E.H. thought the last incident occurred in

Defendant’s truck. E.H. stated her mother, grandmother, and close friends knew

about the molestation.

When asked how Defendant got to her, E.H. stated, “I think it was like

during Christmas or something and I had to sleep in the bed with him that night.”

E.H. further stated, “[b]ecause we had family members over.” E.H. was then

questioned as follows:

Ms. Goins: Okay. So how do you know that you were molested?

Juvenile: Because it happened.

Ms. Goins: What happened?

Juvenile: First it was touching and then it led to more.

13

E.H. stated the incidents probably happened twice a month, as Defendant

was a truck driver, and he “came in” twice a month. E.H. was touched in private

places. The molestation began the night E.H. went to bed with Defendant. E.H.

stated she was lying in bed, and he touched her. E.H. pointed out where she was

touched on a drawing provided by Ms. Goins. The vaginal and buttocks areas

were circled on the picture of the female.

E.H. said Defendant used his hand to touch her outside her clothing. E.H.

indicated the Defendant subsequently touched her under her clothes. When asked

how old she was when this occurred, E.H. shrugged. E.H. was further questioned

as follows:

Ms. Goins: Okay, okay. And when it went further, was that shortly
after that or you said you don’t remember how old you were at all?

Juvenile: (nodding negatively)

Ms. Goins: Okay. So when is the first time you remember him going
underneath your clothes?

Juvenile: (nodding negatively)

Ms. Goins: You don’t remember what grade you were in or anything?

Juvenile: (Nodding negatively)

Ms. Goins: How did that happen, do you remember where you were?

Juvenile: (nodding negatively)

Ms. Goins: Were you still living by the school in Zwolle?

Juvenile: I don’t know.

Ms. Goins: Okay. It’s okay. When he went under your clothes did he
say anything to you?

Juvenile: (Nodding negatively)

14

E.H. subsequently indicated the Defendant used “[h]imself” when touching

her under her clothes. She indicated what part of his body he used on a drawing by

circling the genital area of the male body. She indicated this occurred more than

one time. E.H. was further questioned as follows:

Ms. Goins: Okay. How many times do you think it was, more than
five times?

Juvenile: (nodding affirmatively)

Ms. Goins: More than ten?

Juvenile: (nodding affirmatively)

Ms. Goins: Did it happen every time during that two weeks-- I mean
the two times a month?

Juvenile: (nodding affirmatively)

Ms. Goins: So would you say it would be more than twenty times?

Juvenile: (nodding affirmatively)

Ms. Goins: Okay. And what did you do when that was happening?

Juvenile: (no response)

Ms. Goins: Did you ever tell him to stop?

Juvenile: (nodding affirmatively)

Ms. Goins: Okay. And what did he say when you would tell him that?

Juvenile: (shrugging)

Ms. Goins: Did he ever tell you not to tell anyone?

Juvenile: (nodding affirmatively)

E.H. was further questioned about Defendant touching her with his private

part as follows:

Ms. Goins: It went inside you?

Juvenile: (nodding affirmatively)

15

Ms. Goins: And did it go inside you in both the places you circled on
you?

Juvenile: (nodding affirmatively)

Ms. Goins: So it went in the front and the back?

Juvenile: (nodding affirmatively)

Ms. Goins: And how do you know it went inside?

Juvenile: (shrugging)

Ms. Goins: I need you to tell me what that felt like and you can use
any word you need to use. Did it feel-- did it hurt? Did it feel good?
Did it feel uncomfortable?

Juvenile: (no response)

Ms. Goins: Okay. Do you remember how you were laying or were
you sitting or standing up or you don’t remember?

Juvenile: (Nodding negatively)

She did not remember how the Defendant was dressed during the incidents.

E.H. also told Ms. Goins that Defendant tried to bribe her with items such as toys

and candy. E.H. stated she had told Defendant that she would tell someone if the

abuse did not stop. She did not recall when she told him that.

E.H. stated the first person she told about the abuse was her aunt, Ms.

Thompson. She described the events surrounding her disclosure as follows:

Well, one morning I was sleeping and my aunt came over but
my grandma was still sleeping and, uh, so she had woke me up so she
was just talking to me before my grandma got up and she goes
sometimes I think that your grandpa touches you and then I just
started crying so she knew.

E.H. stated that Ms. Thompson told E.H.’s grandmother, Ms. Mallette, who

said nothing. E.H. shrugged when asked if her grandmother saw anything happen

to her.

16

E.H. stated that her mother took her to the doctor, who was a man, when she

found out about the abuse. The doctor looked at her and said everything was okay.

When asked what she thought about Defendant, E.H. said she loved him.

E.H. later stated Defendant was the only way they had money, as he was the only

person that worked. When asked why Defendant gave the family money, E.H.

stated, “‘[c]ause my grandma said that if he doesn’t he’s going to jail.” E.H. heard

this during a phone conversation that her grandmother was having. E.H. indicated

that her mother knew about the money, and that Defendant gave them $500 a

month. E.H. stated that Defendant sent the money to the bank. She stated he did

not live with her. Additionally, she indicated that her grandmother was not

married to Defendant. E.H. said her grandmother had been divorced “[e]ver since

I told her.” E.H. last saw Defendant on her birthday in December, and he brought

her a cake.

Ms. Goins never asked E.H. if anyone other than Defendant had been

abusing her.

E.H. testified at trial. She was fifteen years old at that time. E.H. reported

the abuse to Ms. Phaup. She reported being Defendant’s favorite, as he bought her

toys and spoiled her, and he did not treat the other grandchildren the same.

She indicated that she was “around” six years old the first time something

happened to her. She lived in a house by the school at that time. She indicated

that during that incident, Defendant rubbed her vagina over her clothes with his

hands. Defendant then began rubbing her vagina under her clothing with his hands

and later touched her vagina with his penis. E.H. was further questioned about the

touching as follows:

17

Q Well, let’s talk about that. How would he touch your vag ina
with his penis?

A (no response)

....

Q When your papaw would touch you with his penis, was it erect?

A Not that I remember.

Q Okay. When he touched you with his penis, did it ever hurt?

A No, ma’am.

Q Did you ever bleed?

A No, ma’am.

Q Did it ever feel good?

A Yes, ma’am.

Q When he would touch his penis to your vagina, what would--
would he be doing anything with his body while his penis was
touching your vagina?

A Moving.

E.H. stated there was never a time that Defendant touched her

inappropriately while they were swimming at the lake.

E.H. recounted reporting the abuse to Ms. Thompson, who called Ms.

Schoubroek. E.H. talked to her mother about the abuse, but she did not go into

detail. She and her mother discussed the police, and E.H. did not want to call

them. When asked if Defendant continued to live with her, E.H. stated, “[h]e

didn’t really live there.” After her report, E.H. was never left alone in the room

with Defendant again. E.H. testified that Defendant supported the family, and she

once heard her grandmother tell Defendant she would have to tell the cops because

he could not get her the money. Ms. Schoubroek was in the room when this

18

occurred and “got mad and threw her computer down and said that if my grandma

told then they would get in trouble too and she started packing her stuff.”

E.H. saw Defendant on her birthday and at Christmas. She spoke to him on

Ms. Phaup’s phone after police were involved. She called Defendant to tell him

she forgave him.

E.H. said Defendant “mostly came in on the weekends” and had some

holidays off. When asked if Defendant ever stayed with “y’all” when he came in,

E.H. stated: “Yes, ma’am.”

E.H. testified the abuse occurred in the white house next to the Zwolle

school, the house in the “projects,” and at 29 Granny Lane. When asked if the

abuse occurred anywhere else, E.H. said no.

Defense counsel read a statement prepared by E.H., which was attached to

the amended bill of particulars, as follows:

I’m going to read the document and ask you if this is what you wrote,
okay. How it all started. I was six years old, a kindergartner, lived in
Zwolle and went to Zwolle school. Lived in a big two story house,
four bedrooms and I think two bathrooms. Life was great! My mom,
her boyfriend, my grandma and papaw, me, my brother and my two
sisters all lived here. My mom and her boyfriend shared a room. My
grandma and grandpa shared a room. Both were downstairs. And then
upstairs me and my brother shared a room and my two sisters shared a
room. At the time I was the youngest but not for long. Pretty soon my
mom was going to burst out another baby. Like I said, life was great.
Does that sound like what you wrote?

E.H. agreed that she wrote the statement. The statement was marked as

Defense Exhibit 1 and State’s Exhibit 13.

E.H. testified she had also been abused by her uncle, Johnny.

Gage Miles testified Defendant was his grandfather. He stated he had met

Ms. Schoubroek but had never met E.H. He saw Defendant on weekends when he

was growing up. There were no similar allegations about Defendant involving his

19

family. His seven year old brother looked to Defendant as a father figure.

Defendant bought him gifts at Christmas and his birthday.

Sherry Miles testified she was Defendant’s daughter. Ms. Miles testified

about Defendant’s relationship with her seven year old son. She indicated she had

met Ms. Schoubroek once or twice and had never met E.H. There had been no

similar rumors about inappropriate behavior in her family, and she never witnessed

inappropriate behavior by her father while she was growing up. Her friends

enjoyed spending time with Defendant. She went on several trips with Defendant,

who was a truck driver, as a child. She completely trusted Defendant and believed

he would not hurt a child. Ms. Miles stated that Defendant “was giving all of his

finances basically were going to support that family whoever was living in the

house at that time. And I know my dad was afraid to withdraw that money because

certain threats had been made against him.”

Shelby Coats testified that Ms. Schoubroek was her mother, and Defendant

was her step-grandfather. She had known Defendant since she was two years old.

He had never done anything inappropriate to her. She spent almost the whole

summer between eighth and ninth grade on the road with him. He would give her

money or buy her what she needed. She never witnessed anything inappropriate

between Defendant and E.H., and the way he treated E.H. did not make her

uncomfortable. She did not see Defendant single out E.H. Ms. Coats testified

regarding problems she had with her mother when her son was born. Ms. Coats

stated that Ms. Schoubroek told nurses at the hospital that Ms. Coats did not

deserve her son, and she was going to take him.

20

Ms. Coats moved out of Ms. Schoubroek’s home when she was thirteen for

approximately a year and a half. She returned and moved out again when she was

sixteen. Ms. Coats testified that money was tight.

Jackie Bertucci, an attorney, testified that Defendant is her uncle. She

indicated that she never witnessed him do anything inappropriate with children,

that she never heard rumors about such behavior by Defendant, and that she had

never met E.H., Ms. Schoubroek, or Ms. Thompson.

Tabitha Adams testified that Ms. Schoubroek was her mother and that

Defendant was her grandfather. Ms. Adams lived in the home with E.H. until the

fall of 2010. She never saw Defendant act inappropriately with E.H., and E.H.

never reported any inappropriate behavior to her. Ms. Adams had been on a road

trip with Defendant, and he had never done anything inappropriate to her. It did

not appear to her that E.H. was singled out by Defendant for special attention. Ms.

Adams testified that Defendant was the family’s financial supporter, as her mother

and grandmother would not work.

Defendant testified he was sixty-three years old and was a truck driver. He

was home every two weeks. He denied the allegations made by E.H. He indicated

that one to two years prior to trial he came in from work and his wife was upset.

There were rumors that Johnny, his wife’s brother, had “messed with” E.H.

Defendant did not report the matter to police because his wife asked him not to

inasmuch as she did not want her brother to go back to jail.

Defendant indicated that he was still legally married to his wife, but they did

not see each other. A notary had drawn up paperwork indicating that they were

divorced. However, they still had to take the paper to the courthouse to have it

“legally done.” He had an agreement with his wife to pay her $200.00 a week for

21

two years. After two years, the two were going to get divorced. He paid his wife

weekly because “they said they was [sic] going to accuse me of stuff if I didn’t.”

Defendant testified he was the family’s sole means of financial support. Defendant

also stated that the police did not give him a chance to tell them that if he did not

pay the $200.00 that he would be accused of “stuff.” He stated that he and Ms.

Mallette had a verbal agreement that he would pay her. He did not think about

telling police at the time about the threat. He sent Ms. Mallette money even after

the police questioned him and only stopped paying her when he got arrested. He

did not ask for return of the care he loaned Ms. Schoubroek until just a few weeks

before trial.

Defendant indicated he tried to treat all of the kids the same. He stated that

E.H. lied a little bit. As an example, he stated that E.H. lied to her mother about

being at parties.

Defendant admitted there was a time when he, E.H., Ms. Adams, and Ms.

Coats were at Tranquility Bay swimming. However, he did not have E.H. get into

bed with him. Defendant denied doing anything inappropriate with any children.

He did not recall being alone with E.H. because her brother J. was always with

them.5 However, he had been alone with Ms. Coats and Ms. Adams.

The Defendant stated he was telling the truth, and he would have submitted

to a voice stress analysis test, as mentioned in his statement to police. However, he

was not given an opportunity to take the test by police, and his attorney did not set

up such a test. He testified that he guessed E.H. wanted attention, and there was a

lot of drama when he was living with “these people.”

5
The child is referred to as [J.] throughout the trial transcript.

22

After hearing the testimony, the trial court found Defendant guilty of

molestation of a juvenile under the age of thirteen.

The Defendant contends his conviction should be reversed for the following

reasons: 1) E.H.’s testimony was internally inconsistent, vague, and devoid of any

level of specificity; and 2) the State did not present any evidence that he used

force, threats, intimidation, or influence upon E.H. by virtue of having a position of

supervision or control over her in order to facilitate the commission of a lewd or

lascivious act upon her.

Defendant was convicted of molestation of a juvenile, which is defined, in

pertinent part, as follows:

A. (1) Molestation of a juvenile is the commission by anyone
over the age of seventeen of any lewd or lascivious act upon the
person or in the presence of any child under the age of seventeen,
where there is an age difference of greater than two years between the
two persons, with the intention of arousing or gratifying the sexual
desires of either person, by the use of force, violence, duress, menace,
psychological intimidation, threat of great bodily harm, or by the use
of influence by virtue of a position of control or supervision over the
juvenile. Lack of knowledge of the juvenile’s age shall not be a
defense.

La.R.S. 14:81.2.

The essential elements of the crime of molestation of a juvenile,
each of which the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt,
are (1) the accused was over the age of 17; (2) the accused committed
a lewd or lascivious act upon the person or in the presence of a child
under the age of 17; (3) the accused was more than two years older
than the victim; (4) the accused had the specific intent to arouse or
gratify either the child’s sexual desires or his or her own sexual
desires; and (5) the accused committed the lewd or lascivious act by
use of force, violence, duress, menace, psychological intimidation,
threat of great bodily harm or by the use of influence by virtue of a
position of control or supervision over the juvenile.

State v. Terry, 47,425, pp. 25-26 (La.App. 2 Cir. 11/21/12), 108 So.3d 126, 142,

writ denied, 12-2759 (La. 6/28/13), 118 So.3d 1096.

23

Defendant argues that E.H.’s uncorroborated testimony is fraught with

internal conflicts such that no rational trier of fact would reasonably rely on her

testimony to find him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Defendant asserts that in

addition to being vague and uncertain, the details contained in E.H.’s video

interview and trial testimony were internally inconsistent and irreconcilable.

Defendant notes that E.H. testified that he penetrated her vaginally and

anally but, at another point, stated that he only touched her vaginal area. He points

out that E.H. could not provide any concrete details about where or when any

particular act occurred other than the initial incident. Defendant also notes that

E.H. testified he never said anything to her when he committed the acts but also

testified that he attempted to bribe her with toys and candy. Defendant asserts that

E.H. did not remember any incidents happening other than in residences where her

family lived, but later said she thought the last incident occurred in the Defendant’s

truck. Defendant points out that E.H. did not indicate when or where the offense

occurred, how old she was at the time, what she was wearing, or provide other

details of the offense without being prompted. Defendant also notes that E.H. said

that Defendant touched her under her clothes with his hands and later stated

Defendant used his penis after being prompted by the interviewer. Defendant

notes that E.H. did not recall Defendant ever touching her with an erect penis yet

she stated he vaginally and anally penetrated her. He points out that E.H. shrugged

when asked how she knew Defendant’s penis went inside her. Defendant asserts

E.H.’s testimony regarding penetration was rejected by the trial court when it

found him guilty of molestation of a juvenile.

Defendant asserts that the trial court’s granting of the motion for new trial

raises serious doubt about whether the trial court actually believed E.H. was a

24

credible witness and the inconsistencies in E.H.’s testimony, and, as a result, this

court should not completely defer to the trial court’s initial judgment of conviction.

The trial court had the opportunity to observe the demeanor of the parties.

The trial court had the ability to compare E.H.’s advocacy interview with her trial

testimony and Defendant’s police interview with his trial testimony. Defense

counsel cross-examined E.H. concerning the alleged acts and had the opportunity

to point out the differences between E.H.’s accounts of the events.

The details surrounding all of the acts other than the first are not known.

Regardless, during both her interview and testimony, E.H. indicated Defendant

touched her vagina over her clothing and under her clothing with his hand

numerous times. The only difference between the interview and her testimony was

regarding the act of penetration. During the interview, E.H. stated the Defendant

penetrated her vaginally and anally, without describing how she knew penetration

occurred, and, at trial, she testified he touched her vagina with his penis.

In State v. Willis, 05-218 (La.App. 3 Cir. 11/2/05), 915 So.2d 365, writ

denied, 06-186 (La. 6/23/06), 930 So.2d 973, cert. denied, 549 U.S. 1052, 127

S.Ct. 668 (2006), the defendant was charged with, among other things, four counts

of forcible rape, one count for each year from 1992 through 1995. “C.M. [the

victim] testified that the Defendant had sex with her from 1991 to 1995. There

were no details regarding the number of times the Defendant had sexual

intercourse with C.M. or the dates that these offenses occurred, with the exception

of the testimony regarding March 3, 1994.” Id. at 376. After finding the evidence

was not sufficient to support the defendant’s convictions, this court discussed

whether the evidence was sufficient to support convictions for the responsive

verdict of sexual battery. This court stated: “C.M. testified that the Defendant had

25

sexual intercourse with her on a continual basis from 1991 to 1995. Accordingly,

the State proved the Defendant touched C.M.’s genitals with a part of his body.”

Id. at 378. This court further found the defendant committed sexual battery against

C.M. in 1992, 1993, and 1994. This court found that the State failed to prove the

elements necessary to support an offense occurring in 1995.

In accordance with this court’s ruling in Willis, the State need not present the

details of each offensive act to support Defendant’s conviction. Furthermore, this

court has upheld convictions for sexual offenses wherein there were alleged

inconsistencies in the reports and/or testimony of the victims. See State v.

Pennywell, 13-1376 (La.App. 3 Cir. 5/7/14), 139 So.3d 587; State v. Duplantis, 13-

424 (La.App. 3 Cir. 11/27/13), 127 So.3d 143, writ denied, 14-283 (La. 9/19/14),

148 So.3d 949; State v. R.K., 10-982 (La.App. 3 Cir. 5/11/11), 64 So.3d 426; State

v. Schexnaider, 03-144 (La.App. 3 Cir. 6/4/03), 852 So.2d 450. Therefore,

Defendant’s arguments regarding inconsistencies in E.H.’s recounting of the events

are immaterial to the sufficiency of the evidence.

Defendant further argues that the State failed to prove the necessary element

of use of force or influence. Defendant asserts:

The “use of influence” element in La. R.S. 14:81.2 is the functional
equivalent of a non-physical use of force. This alternate means of
accomplishing the act of molestation-where, instead of force or
threats, an accused uses a position of supervision or control over a
juvenile in order to influence the juvenile into allowing the lewd or
lascivious act to occur-is what separates the crime of molestation from
other sexual crimes against juveniles that do not involve the
manipulation of a victim by a person with authority over that victim.
In order to constitute molestation, more is required than simply having
a position of supervision or control; the offender must actually use the
influence gained by that position in order to overbear the will of the
victim and accomplish the act complained of.

26

Defendant notes the supreme court clarified the difference between indecent

behavior and molestation in State v. Leblanc, 506 So.2d 1197 (La.1987). Therein,

the supreme court stated:

The definition of the new crime of molestation of a juvenile
was a verbatim repetition of the definition of the crime of indecent
behavior with a juvenile, with the addition of the essential element of
the use of force (or use of some other enumerated behavior of the
accused). It is therefore evident that the 1984 Legislature intended to
create two distinct grades of crimes involving lewd acts with
juveniles, the distinguishing element being the use of force (or use of
some other enumerated behavior).

Id. at 1199 (footnote omitted). The supreme court further stated:

A genuine construction of La.R.S. 14:81.2 as part of the overall
criminal law pertaining to lewd acts with juveniles therefore leads to
the conclusion that the Legislature contemplated a requirement of
something more than the mere exertion of physical effort necessary to
commit the lewd act. Properly construed, the “use of force” element
refers to the forcible means of overcoming the will or the resistance of
the victim, and this additional essential element requires a use of force
in addition to any mere touching or minimum effort exerted in
performing the lewd act. This added element of force must be
substantially greater than or substantially different from the force
which is necessary to commit the less serious offense of indecent
behavior with a juvenile. See People v. Cicero, 157 Cal. App.3d 465,
204 Cal. Rptr. 582 (Ct.App. 1984).

....

In the present case, defendant exerted a minimal amount of
physical effort when he grabbed the boy’s genitals. That lewd act
upon the boy’s person constituted the crime of indecent behavior with
a juvenile. Some additional force designed to overcome the boy’s will
or his resistance to participation in the lewd act was required to
constitute the crime of molestation of a juvenile. Proof of defendant's
holding the boy’s arm, for example, while he grabbed the genitals
might have been sufficient to fulfill the “use of force” requirement of
the greater crime. However, there was no evidence whatsoever of any
additional force designed to overcome the boy’s will or his resistance
to the lewd act. Because the prosecution failed to prove the use of (or
the specific intent to use) any force other than the effort necessary to
commit the lewd act upon the boy’s person, there was insufficient
evidence of an essential element of the greater offense of molestation
(or attempted molestation) of a juvenile.

27

Id. at 1200-01 (footnote omitted).

Defendant notes that he was charged with aggravated rape of a child under

thirteen years of age. Thus, the State was not required to adduce any evidence

regarding the means by which the sexual conduct was accomplished or to present

evidence that the victim was forced to participate in a lewd or lascivious act,

whether physically or by virtue of influence. Defendant argues that, as a result, the

record is devoid of any evidence establishing that E.H. was forced or influenced to

participate in the sexual conduct alleged.

Defendant claims that the fact that a person is a grandfather of a juvenile

does not transform every lewd or lascivious act into a crime of molestation.

Instead, according to Defendant, the person must use the influence gained by virtue

of such a position in a manner that acts as an “an equally culpable substitute for the

other enumerated means by which molestation is accomplished.” Defendant notes

that E.H. did not testify that he was authorized to impose discipline upon her or

that he had a position of authority over her. Defendant also reminds the court that

E.H. did not testify that she was afraid of the consequences of prohibiting him

from committing the alleged acts or that he used any authority over her to

accomplish them. Defendant pinpoints E.H.’s testimony that Defendant would

bribe her with toys and other things but argues that this falls short of proving the

elements of the offense of molestation.

The State asserts the offense was committed by:

[U]se of (a) force, violence, duress, menace, psychological
intimidation, or threat of great bodily harm, or (b) influence by virtue
of position of control or supervision over E.H. as he was the sole
means of financial support for her family. R. 374. The defendant
would stay at the victim’s home when he was not working and abused
her when no one was around. R. 368, 374.

28

According to Leblanc, 506 So.2d 1197, molestation of a juvenile requires a

use of force in addition to the touching or minimum effort exerted in performing

the lewd act against the victim. We find that the evidence presented does not

indicate the use of force, violence, duress, menace, psychological intimidation, or

threat of great bodily harm by Defendant in the commission of the acts against

E.H. Thus, this court must determine whether Defendant used influence by virtue

of a position of control or supervision over E.H. to commit the offense.

Supervision and control was discussed by this court in State v. Roy, 15-515,

pp. 10-13 (La.App. 3 Cir. 11/4/15), 177 So.3d 1103, 1109-11, as follows:

We find there was sufficient evidence that Defendant
committed the molestation of the victims while the victims were under
his supervision and control. The jurisprudence has interpreted the
“supervision and control” element of molestation of a juvenile to be
satisfied by someone who has emotional control over the victim, as
well as by someone who is a live-in boyfriend, non-custodial parent,
babysitter, relative, friend, a pastor, and neighbor. See State v.
Anderson, 10-779 (La.App. 5 Cir. 3/27/12), 91 So.3d 1080; State v.
Davis, 47,599 (La.App. 2 Cir. 1/16/13), 108 So.3d 833, writ denied,
13-381 (La.9/20/13), 123 So.3d 163 (citing State v. Ellis, 38,740
(La.App. 2 Cir. 8/18/04), 880 So.2d 214); State v. Goss, 46,193
(La.App. 2 Cir. 5/18/11), 70 So.3d 6.

In Anderson, the defendant was the victim’s school bus driver
until the victim graduated in the eighth grade. When the victim was
fourteen, she began to have more contact with the defendant, with
whom she shared a mutual interest in music. The defendant would pay
visits to the victim’s classroom and leave notes in her locker. The
victim’s parents allowed the victim to accompany the defendant to a
recording studio so she could play the piano for a song the defendant
wrote. Instead of taking the victim straight home, the defendant
stopped by his home to show the victim his band room and waterbed.
The defendant kissed the victim while at his home. During the drive to
the victim’s house, the defendant told the victim that there were going
to have an “adult relationship” that, if exposed, would cause his six-
year-old daughter to become homeless. The victim’s relationship with
the defendant continued to escalate, and the two began having sex.
The relationship continued until just after the victim turned sixteen. In
response to Anderson’s argument that the State failed to prove he
exercised control or supervision over the victim, the fifth circuit
stated:

29

In this case, L.L.P. testified that she and the
defendant engaged in digital penetration, oral sex, and
penile/vaginal intercourse while they were alone in his
home. The defendant asked for and received permission
from D.P. to drive L.L.P. to the recording studio where
he was recording music. The defendant drove L.L.P. to
his home in Marrero. The defendant subsequently had
L.L.P. cut her window screen for the purpose of picking
her up in the middle of the night. The defendant provided
L.L.P. with alcohol and pornography when he was the
only adult present.

In addition, the defendant exercised a significant
level of emotional control over L.L.P. The defendant was
in a position of trust and authority relative to L.L.P. The
defendant told L.L.P. that if she revealed the nature of
their relationship to anyone, he would have to go to jail
and his daughter would be homeless. Accordingly, we
find that the State demonstrated that the defendant had
“control or supervision” over L.L.P.

Id. at 1086 (citation omitted).

In Davis, the second circuit upheld Davis’ convictions of three
counts of molestation of a juvenile. The court found the element of
supervision or control was satisfied as to one of the victims when
Davis was the victim’s uncle, lived with the victim, and was alone
with the victim during one of the incidents. As to the other two
victims, the element of supervision or control was satisfied by the fact
that Davis was their mom’s live-in boyfriend and was the father of
their youngest sibling. See also State v. Kennon, 34,445, 34,456
(La.App. 2 Cir. 2/28/01), 781 So.2d 734, where the court found that
Kennon, the live-in boyfriend of the victim’s mother, had control and
supervision of the thirteen-year old victim while the victim’s mother
was away at work.

In this case, Defendant was the live-in boyfriend of the victims’
mother and was significantly older than the victims. At trial, A.B.
testified that she believed she was in the seventh grade (age thirteen)
when Defendant came to live with them. A.B. also testified that she
and Defendant talked about the fact that when she turned eighteen he
would be forty. C.A. testified that she was fifteen when Defendant
began living with them, and Defendant was thirty-five.

In addition, the sexual incidents occurred at the home while
Defendant was living there. Even though A.B. was staying with her
cousin when the first sexual incident occurred, A.B. was at her mom’s
house “being a regular kid digging in [her] mom's jewelry box” while

30

her mom was at work. Defendant was the only adult in the house
during the first sexual incident between Defendant and A.B.
According to C.A., her mother was sleeping when the sexual
molestation to her occurred. Defendant acted as a father-figure in the
house. Both A.B. and C.A. testified that before the first sexual
incident occurred, they looked to Defendant as a father figure. A.B.
testified that at times, Defendant spoke to them as a step-father,
telling them that they should treat their mom better. A.B. also testified
that although Defendant would buy her extra things, he would buy for
all of her brothers and sisters when her mom was around, giving the
appearance that Defendant assumed a “father-like” role to all of the
siblings. Finally, Defendant exerted emotional control over A.B. by
leading her to believe that they would start a life together when she
turned eighteen.

Although there was no testimony that Defendant babysat or
took care of the victims, there was evidence that Defendant lived in
the home with the victims, acted as a father figure towards the
victims, and exercised emotional control over the victims. Therefore,
we find the evidence was sufficient to support the jury’s finding that
Defendant sexually molested the victims by the use of influence by
virtue of a position of supervision or control over them in violation of
the provisions of La.R.S. 14:81.2.

The victim in State v. Davis, 47,599, p. 3 (La.App. 2 Cir. 1/16/13), 108

So.3d 833, 837, writ denied, 13-381 (La. 9/20/13), 123 So.3d 163, was home alone

with the defendant because her mother had “gone to the country.”

Defendant cites the following cases in support of his claim that the evidence

is insufficient: State v. Ragas, 607 So.2d 967 (La.App. 4 Cir. 1992), writ denied,

612 So.2d 97 (La.1993); State v. Strother, 43,363 (La.App. 2 Cir. 8/20/08), 990

So.2d 130, writ denied, 08-2289 (La. 5/15/09), 8 So.3d 580; State v. Onstead, 03-

1413 (La.App. 5 Cir. 5/26/04), 875 So.2d 908; and State v. Rideaux, 05-446

(La.App. 3 Cir. 11/2/05), 916 So.2d 488.

In Ragas, 607 So.2d 967, the defendant was charged with attempted

molestation of a juvenile for acts committed against his wife’s thirteen-year-old

niece. The victim went to the defendant’s home to visit the defendant’s daughter

and waited for the girl in her room. The defendant subsequently entered his

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daughter’s bedroom. He then pulled the victim on top of him while lying in bed,

hugged and kissed her, and touched her breasts and buttocks. The court concluded

the victim went to defendant’s house without his prior knowledge or consent and

was able to leave the house at will. The only evidence suggesting any control or

supervision by defendant was the victim’s positive response to the State asking if

the defendant looked after her and Rolanda when they were playing sometimes.

The victim’s mother testified that there were no arrangements made with defendant

or his wife about keeping the victim that day. The court concluded the evidence

showed that the victim was under no constraints to remain with her uncle nor be

subject to his supervision.

In Strother, 990 So.2d 130, the court found evidence that defendant was the

only adult present at a party at which he furnished alcohol to the juvenile victim

and that he refused to let her leave the house in the absence of a designated driver

was sufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant used his

influence by virtue of position of control or supervision over the juvenile.

In Onstead, 875 So.2d at 913-14, the court stated:

[T]he record contains evidence, which if believed by the trier of fact,
appears to support a finding that Onstead molested J.M. by the use of
influence by virtue of his position of control or supervision over J.M.
Onstead testified that he asked J.M.’s mother for permission to have
her children at his home. His testimony indicates that he had rules for
the children to follow at his home, in that he did not allow the children
upstairs. Further, the record reflects that Onstead performed
caretaking functions for J.M. while she was at his home. When she
soiled herself at his house, he cleaned her underpants and told her to
wash her hands. With Mrs. M.’s permission, he took J.M. on errands,
picked her up from school, and brought her to gymnastics. He bought
her toys, clothes and other gifts. Further, J.M.’s testimony indicates
he compelled her silence by telling her that she would not be allowed
to come to his house anymore if she revealed that he had made her
touch him.

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In Rideaux, 916 So.2d 88, the court found the evidence was insufficient to

support the defendant’s conviction for molestation. On the first of the occasions,

the victim’s mother was home when the incident occurred and any baby-sitting

function had ceased. In the second incident, the victim was permitted by her

mother to be home alone, sick from school, and the defendant was asked to bring

her lunch, not to baby-sit or supervise her. On the third occasion, the victim was at

the defendant’s home with his wife for the purpose of helping her with their infant

son while she performed housework. There was no testimony that the wife left the

home for any reason and left the victim under his supervision or control during that

visit.

The evidence in the instant matter establishes that Defendant was E.H.’s

step-grandfather. Thus, he was in a position of trust. During her advocacy

interview, E.H. nodded negatively when asked if Defendant said anything when he

went under her clothing. However, he told her not to tell anyone about his

behavior. She stated Defendant tried to bribe her with items such as toys and

candy. However, she did not testify that Defendant said anything about the abuse

when presenting these items to her.

E.H. reported that Defendant was her family’s only source of money but was

not asked and did not indicate how old she was when she realized or was told this.

There was no indication that Defendant told E.H. that he would withhold financial

support if she did not allow the acts to continue or if she reported his behavior. In

fact, Defendant continued to support the family until he was arrested. According

to E.H., the continued financial support was the result of threats by Ms. Mallette

that she would report Defendant’s behavior to police if he did not pay her.

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There was no testimony that Defendant was in a position of authority, as he

was not with E.H. on a daily basis because he was a truck driver who was home

twice a month and on holidays. At trial, E.H. stated that after her report, she was

never left alone in the room with Defendant again, but there was no testimony by

E.H. about being home alone or alone in a room with Defendant prior to her report.

During her interview with police, Ms. Schoubroek stated she never left her

children alone with Defendant. There was testimony that the initial act of abuse

occurred at Christmas while E.H. was in bed with Defendant. However, there was

no testimony as to whether others were present in the room at that time, and Ms.

Schoubroek told police that Defendant was in one Christmas but did not live in the

home at that time, and E.H. slept with her on that occasion. However, E.H. said in

the statement attached to the amended bill of particulars that Defendant lived in the

same house with her when the initial act occurred. There was no testimony about

where Defendant lived during the remainder of the period listed in the indictment.

There was no testimony that the Defendant acted as a father figure.

Additionally, there was no testimony that he babysat or took care of E.H. while he

was with her.

Based on the evidence presented by the State, we cannot say the State

proved that Defendant committed the offense via influence by virtue of a position

of control or supervision over E.H. Accordingly, all elements necessary to support

Defendant’s conviction of molestation of a juvenile were not proven by the State.

Under La.Code Crim.P. art. 821(C), “an appellate court that finds ‘the

evidence, viewed in a light most favorable to the state, supports only a conviction

of a lesser included responsive offense . . . may modify the verdict and render a

judgment of conviction on the lesser included responsive offense.’” State v.

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Teague, 04-1132, p. 9 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/2/05), 893 So.2d 198, 205. This court

must, therefore, determine whether any responsive offense was proven.

Indecent behavior with a juvenile is a responsive offense to aggravated rape

of a child under thirteen. La.Code Crim.P art. 814(A)(8.1). Indecent behavior

with juveniles is defined as the commission of “[a]ny lewd or lascivious act upon

the person or in the presence of any child under the age of seventeen, where there

is an age difference of greater than two years between the two persons” with the

intention of arousing or gratifying the sexual desires of either person. La.R.S.

14:81. Lack of knowledge of the child’s age shall not be a defense. Id.

As previously discussed, Defendant’s act of touching E.H.’s vagina over and

under her clothing with his hand and touching her vagina with his penis constituted

lewd and lascivious acts. E.H. testified that the acts occurred from the time she

was six until she was twelve, and she was fifteen years old at the time of trial.

Defendant was sixty-three years old at the time of trial. Therefore, it is clear that

Defendant was more than two years older than E.H. at the time the offenses

occurred.

In addition to the above elements, the State must also prove that Defendant

had the specific intent to arouse or gratify his sexual desires or those of the victim.

Teague, 893 So.2d 198. Defendant’s acts of touching E.H.’s vagina in the manner

described by her were deliberate, intentional, and could have no other purpose than

to arouse his sexual desires.

Therefore, we find that the evidence, when viewed in a light most favorable

to the prosecution, proves all elements of indecent behavior with a juvenile, who

was under the age of thirteen during a portion of the time period listed in the bill of

information, beyond a reasonable doubt. Accordingly, the Defendant’s conviction

35

and sentence rendered by the trial court is vacated, a judgment of guilty of indecent

behavior with a juvenile is rendered, and the matter is remanded for sentencing in

accordance with this court’s opinion.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 2

In his second assignment of error, Defendant contends that his sentence is

constitutionally excessive. Because the Defendant’s conviction and sentence for

molestation of a juvenile is vacated, this assignment of error is moot.

CONCLUSION

Defendant’s conviction and sentence for molestation of a juvenile is vacated,

a judgment of guilty of indecent behavior with a juvenile is entered, and the case is

remanded for sentencing.

VACATED, RENDERED IN PART, AND REMANDED.

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