Morton v. State
Morton v. State
Opinion
Ronald Anthony Morton was indicted for sodomy in the first degree in violation of §
The record reveals that E.G. was four-years old at the time of the abuse. She attended the Head Start program. Joette Whitlow was her teacher. Whitlow testified that E.G. was normally energetic and cheerful. One day in February 1988, however, E.G. was withdrawn and cried most of the day. She would not eat breakfast or tell Whitlow why she was crying. E.G. told Whitlow that she was itchy and indicated that she wanted Whitlow to scratch her back. E.G. told Whitlow that she was "itching all over." (R. 17.) Whitlow took E.G. to the social worker to find out what was wrong. Whitlow testified that E.G. made a complaint to her about sexual contact later that day.
Scarlett David, a social worker for Head Start, testified that E.G. was brought to her office on February 22, 1988. E.G. was crying and said she was itching. She further testified that E.G. was scratching herself all over her body but that she did not have any kind of rash. David also looked at E.G.'s vaginal area. She testified that E.G.'s vaginal area was a little red and swollen. E.G. indicated that she had some discomfort in that area. She called E.G.'s family and talked to a woman who said she was E.G.'s cousin. That woman came to the school and picked E.G. up. David further testified that E.G. walked with a limp when she left her office and that she had never seen her walk that way before.
E.G.'s mother testified that the appellant was E.G.'s father. E.G. was living with her father in February 1988. She had been living with her father and her grandmother for approximately four weeks. E.G.'s mother was having financial problems. She had two other children including a 14-year-old son and an 11-year-old daughter.
E.G.'s mother testified that she had taken E.G. to church on Sunday, February 21, 1988, and that E.G. was fine at that time. She brought her back to her grandmother's house after getting something to eat. She further testified that she had seen E.G. on February 22, 23, and 24 and that E.G. was not acting like herself. She stated that on February 24, E.G. was distant to her. When she called to check on E.G. on February 25, E.G.'s grandmother told her that the school had called, and she immediately went to the school. The principal told her to go to Children's Hospital, which she did. She talked to a doctor and a social worker at the hospital. After leaving the hospital, she went to pick up E.G. E.G. acted very strange. E.G.'s mother testified that a social *Page 564 worker arrived while she was at E.G.'s grandmother's house and talked to her for 20 to 30 minutes. She then turned E.G. over to the State at that time.
Mary McGrimmon, a child welfare worker with the Jefferson County Department of Human Resources (DHR), testified that she received a call concerning E.G. on February 25, 1988. She took E.G. to Children's Hospital and talked with a social worker. She then went to E.G.'s grandmother's house and talked with E.G.'s mother. E.G.'s mother consented to the State's taking custody of the child. The case was transferred to Faye Liles, a social worker with DHR, the next day.
Liles first saw E.G. on February 26, 1988. Liles testified that when she asked her "Do you know why I'm here?" E.G. made a complaint. (R. 74.)
E.G. was six-years old at the time of the trial. She testified, in substance, that her father came into her room one night and closed the door. He got on top of her and pulled her pants down. He turned her over so that she was lying on her stomach. He put his "private parts" in her "private part." (R. 83.) He turned her back over and did it again. He then put his "private part" in her mouth. (R. 84.) She tasted something wet and then spit out a white substance. She testified that the appellant then put his hand over her mouth so she could not scream. He told her to "shut up" or she would never see her mother again. (R. 85-86.) She further testified that her grandmother came into the room, put her hand over her mouth and said, "Oh my God." (R. 86.) E.G. testified that the appellant told her to say that her brother had done it. She further testified that she told the doctor that her brother did it, but that her brother had not done anything to her.
Nancy Payne, a clinical social worker for Family and Child Services, testified that she worked with E.G. in therapy beginning on March 2, 1988. She saw her 14 times. She testified that E.G. exhibited extreme behavior that is common in sexually abused children. She testified that while playing with a dollhouse and dolls, E.G. talked about a little girl with her father on top of her and her grandmother coming in the room and screaming. The State rested at the end of this testimony. The appellant's motion for judgment of acquittal was denied.
The appellant called E.G.'s mother as a defense witness. She testified that she had not seen E.G. between the time she brought her home from church on Sunday until Thursday, February 25. Although she saw E.G. on Wednesday, E.G. was asleep.
Ella Morton, the appellant's mother, testified that the appellant and E.G. were living with her in February 1988. At that time she did "sitting work" and worked from 11:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. (R. 161.) She testified that when she left for work on Sunday night, E.G.'s mother had not brought her back yet. She testified that she did not notice anything wrong with E.G. on Monday afternoon after the school called and told her to pick E.G. up. She testified that she never saw the appellant in bed with E.G.
The appellant testified that he was living with his mother in 1988. In February 1988, he lived with his mother, Joyce Bell, and E.G. He testified that E.G. was living with him permanently and that E.G.'s mother brought her home around 9:00 p.m. Sunday evening. He testified that he talked to someone from E.G.'s school the next day and as a result, he sent Joyce Bell to pick her up. As a result of a conversation he had with Joyce Bell, he took E.G. to the doctor that evening. He took E.G. to Children's Hospital because Community Hospital told him it did not have the facilities to accommodate her. He testified that he had never touched or fondled E.G. He further testified that E.G. complained about her "bottom" on Monday night when Joyce Bell was giving her a bath. (R. 185.) E.G. told Bell that her brother would bother her when her mother left them alone.
On rebuttal, Joette Whitlow testified that on the day that she came to school itching, E.G. told her, in substance, that her father had put his "private part" in her mouth. *Page 565
An indictment "must contain the elements of the offense intended to be charged and sufficiently appraise the defendant of what he must be prepared to meet." Chambers v. State,
We have carefully reviewed all of the indictments and find that they were sufficient in their allegations "(1) to identify the accusation lest the accused be tried for an offense different from that intended by the grand jury, (2) to enable the defendant to prepare for his defense, (3) to allow the judgment to protect the defendant and foreclose the possibility of being twice put in jeopardy for the same offense, and (4) to enable the trial court after conviction to pronounce judgment on the record." Chambers,
"The granting of a mistrial is an extreme measure and should be exercised only when manifestly necessary or when the ends of justice would otherwise be defeated." Free v. State,
The role of this court is to determine whether the evidence was legally sufficient and not to decide the facts of the case.White. We find that the case was properly submitted to the jury and that the evidence is sufficient to sustain the conviction.
The appellant's contention that the testimony was not proper rebuttal was not preserved for review. The appellant objected to the testimony, stating that "[t]here is no proof that this is the first complaint." (R. 199.) Specific objections waive all grounds not stated. Hargrove v. State,
The appellant later moved to strike the testimony because it had not been produced pursuant to the appellant's discovery request. The trial court denied the motion. A defendant does not have a constitutional right to discovery in a criminal case. Scroggin v. State,
For the reasons set forth above, this case is due to be, and hereby is affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
All the Judges concur. *Page 567
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Ronald Anthony Morton v. State.
- Cited By
- 14 cases
- Status
- Published