Ayers v. State
Ayers v. State
Opinion
The appellant, Michael Bernard Ayers, was convicted of escape in the first degree, a violation of §
The evidence presented at trial tended to show that the appellant was an inmate at the Decatur Work Release Facility. On April 26, 1990, he walked away from his work release employer and went to a nearby housing project. That night, he went to a local hotel in an effort to obtain cash. After trying several room doors and finding them locked, he came to the room occupied by the victim. She had left the door slightly ajar because she had the only key to the room and her roommate, who had no key, was scheduled to return later that night. The appellant entered the room and proceeded to repeatedly rape and sodomize the victim. After a period of time, the victim fled naked from the room and ran down the hall, where she was aided by other guests at the hotel. The appellant also came out of the room, but when he did, the door closed, thereby locking his clothes within. He then ran away. The victim was taken to the hospital where an examination revealed no anal or vaginal trauma.
On April 28, 1990, the appellant returned to the hotel lobby and asked the clerk to call a taxi. The clerk recognized that the appellant fit the description of the rapist and notified the police. The appellant was arrested in the lobby of the hotel. After his arrest, the appellant gave a statement to the police admitting the attack.
The element of forcible compulsion is an essential element for both rape in the first degree and sodomy in the first degree. See §
There was evidence presented at trial to support a finding that the victim was threatened by the appellant to the extent that she believed that serious physical injury would ensue if she resisted. The appellant twisted the victim's arm behind her back to control her movements around the hotel room. Furthermore, the appellant threatened to "use a curling iron" on the victim if she did not stop crying, after which he proceeded to have anal intercourse with her for a second time.
"When there is legal evidence from which the jury could, by fair inference, find the defendant guilty, the trial court should submit the case for the jury to determine the weight it will give the evidence." Sullivan v. State,
As stated above, there are two ways to show forcible compulsion. The first is physical force which overcomes earnest resistance. This is the means of showing forcible compulsion that our Supreme Court addressed in Cordar. The second way forcible compulsion may be demonstrated is by a threat, either express or implied, that places a person in fear of serious physical injury or death. This second way of showing forcible compulsion is the form demonstrated in the present case. Therefore, Cordar is readily distinguishable from the case at hand.
Only where there is a rational theory from the evidence to support a verdict on the lesser offense may the court charge the jury with respect to the lesser included offense. §
"(a) A person commits the crime of sexual misconduct if:
"(1) Being a male, he engages in sexual intercourse with a female without her consent, under circumstances other than those covered by sections
13A-6-61 [rape in the first degree] and13A-6-62 [rape in the second degree]; or with her consent where consent was obtained by the use of any fraud or artifice; or"(2) Being female, she engages in sexual intercourse with a male without his consent; or
"(3) He or she engages in deviate sexual intercourse with another person under circumstances other than those covered by sections
13A-6-63 [sodomy in the first degree] and13A-6-64 [sodomy in the second degree]. Consent is no defense to a prosecution under this subdivision. (Emphasis added.)
There was no evidence presented at trial which suggested that the appellant's attack on the victim took place undercircumstances other those defined as rape in the first degreeor sodomy in the first degree. Therefore, under the facts of this case, the appellant was not entitled to a jury charge on the offense of sexual misconduct.
For the reasons stated herein, the judgment in this case is due to be, and it is hereby, affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
All the Judges concur. *Page 722
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Michael Bernard Ayers v. State.
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- 8 cases
- Status
- Published