WPCz g)A)3Ij$+Td\zWK^HE hr\Ώ-GPh%}lǙðsJǴ8٭0;̶Ϥ=dNNw#y;I7 SdTR<~OCWdh™v$A <e k:vͮBWMUu8_%eorJ9ۨSW_Hb]U:(r|6eyJ^.8[ۗ^ kig~@|8ygm|q=LY#oyZy bGKpbDo4=gF.K -tϢNA·tOν["0Ԑ|+XGёQlr'wۥj,D'<~&o$S0^K%F<"t3澴Sp"6Qws,J2ZE5jNd %xw~ 0U:^ 4  # N| U:~ 0! 0D mU:^  m 0VQGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG AS 0V B 0D$h D5.. Ac D- 0K/X(`$TR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'T7GXXdXXd7  ,cAZ"Arial Regularsp'3|xHP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 60,  AZ"Arial Regular((3h+$ `!TR[A' LegalX3' Letter A' Legal3'T8[XXdd8    `   0  (#$  0   c_ X[XXX BX X[  h+@T@R[A' LegalX3' Letter A' Legal3'T8[XXdd8 @  `   1    Itisthepolicyoftheappellatecourtsofthisstatetorefertochildvictimsofsexualabuse  bytheirinitials.Statev.DavidKeithLane,No.03S019802CC00013(Tenn.atKnoxville,Sept.  27,1999)(forpublication).,  AZ"Arial Regular 'L U (.3$ !USUS.,   G ["USUS.,  _vXX   Ad FILEDX[Xv  November22,1999  Cecil_Crowson_,Jr. dd AppellateCourtClerkdAk Z[]_E<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(.3$ !USUS.,   d($$   1  Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5\\\\)!dxdx^cb I&mage <=8C HKKKK)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  `!TR[A' LegalX3' Letter A' Legal3'T8[XXdd8   _  xY_B2.jz  `@EJ tt0 x@% % INTHECOURTOFCRIMINALAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  __@$$)ATJACKSON  @MM#SEPTEMBERSESSION,1999    `     h      p   STATEOFTENNESSEE, h   *    `     h   *  No.W199900287CCAR3CD    ` Appellee,   h   *    `     h   *  GIBSONCOUNTY   vs. `     h   *    `     h   *  Hon.DICK_JERMAN_,JR.,Judge   TERRYVESTAL,   h   * z   `     h   *  (RapeofaChild) h`  ` Appellant.   h   * NF  FortheAppellant:   h     FortheAppellee:   CliffordK._McGown_,Jr.  h     PaulG.Summers   AttorneyatLaw   h     AttorneyGeneralandReporter  113NorthCourtSquare h  ~v P.O.Box26    h     J.RossDyer  d\ _Waverly_,TN37185 h     AssistantAttorneyGeneral  (#  JB  `     h     CriminalJusticeDivision 0 ( (ONAPPEALONLY) h     425FifthAvenueNorth !  `     h     2dFloor,_Cordell_ԀHullBuilding !  `     h     Nashville,TN372430493 x   (#  "  TomC._Crider_    #  DistrictPublicDefender h      p      $! 107SouthCourtSquare  h     _Clayburn_ԀL._Peeples_  %" Trenton,TN38382   h     DistrictAttorneyGeneral z&r# (ATTRIALANDOF h     Larry_Hardister_  F(>!% COUNSELONAPPEAL) h     Asst.DistrictAttorneyGeneral ,)$"&  `     h     110CollegeStreet,Suite200 * #'  `     h     Trenton,TN38382 *#( OPINIONFILED:򀀀 v/n(- AFFIRMED B1:*/  DavidG.Hayes, Judge 4-3   5.4 _ X[XXX BX X[@+ # X[X B#OPINION    ` Theappellant,TerryVestal,appealshisconvictionbyaGibsonCountyjury   fortheoffenseofrapeofachild.Thetrialcourtsentencedtheappellanttotwenty l d fiveyearsintheDepartmentofCorrection.Onappeal,theappellantssole 80 challengeisthesufficiencyoftheconvictingevidence.    ` Afterreview,weaffirmthejudgmentofthetrialcourt.    @)BACKGROUND  4,  ` InJanuaryof1998,thevictim,S.H.,   #  1      ׀andhermother,KimberlyWhitten,lived  inMilannextdoortothedisabled,thirtysixyearoldappellantandhiswife.  Testimonyattrialrevealedthatthesevenyearoldvictimandherfouryearold  brother,Joey,frequentlyvisitedtheappellantshomeandhadspentthenightthere d\ ontwooccasions.Ononeofthoseoccasions,thevictim,wasasleeponthecouch 0 ( andherbrotherhadfallenasleeponthefloorofthelivingroom.Thevictimrelated ! that Iwaslayingdownonthecouchasleepandmypantswas[sic]downandhe #  [appellant]waslickingmyprivates.Afterfullyawakening,thevictimtoldthe %" appellanttostop. `'X $  ` Oncrossexamination,thevictimtestifiedthatshewaswearingpurpleshorts *#( andpinkpanties.Sherelatedthatwhensheawoke, they[hershortsandpanties] ,%* weredownaround[her]kneesandshedidnotpullthemdown.Shereiteratedthat .', theappellantwas lickingitandthatshealwayskeptherlegstogether. \0T).  ` KimberlyWhitten,themotherofthevictim,testifiedthatonalaterevening, 5.4 she,herhusband,herchildren,andherniecesandnephewswerevisitinginthe  appellantshome.Onthisevening,thechildrenwereplayinginthebackbedroom  ofthehouseandtheadultswereinanotherroom.Thechildrencontinuously kept   comingbackandforthtelling[Ms.Whitten]things[theappellant]wassaying.That l d evening,theappellantinvitedthegirlstospendthenightathishome.Ms.Whitten 80 declinedtheappellantsinvitation.Twentyminutesafterreturningtoherhome,the   victimrelatedtohermotherinappropriateremarkswhichtheappellanthadmadeto   thechildrenearlierthatevening.Followingthisdiscussion,thevictimthenadvised   hermotheroftheinstantactofsexualabusewhichoccurredduringherprevious h` overnightvisitattheappellantshouse. p  4,  `    ` TiffanyandJustinAires,cousinsofthevictim,werepresentintheappellants  homeduringthelastvisitandcorroboratedtheappellantsinappropriateremarksto  thechildren.Tiffanytestifiedthattheappellantsaid somethingaboutsalt.Justin d\ relatedthattheappellant wastalkingaboutsaltandstufflikethat,explainingthat 0 ( salt wassomestuffthatyouputonfrontofyouand[thevictim]tolduswhatitwas. ! Justintestifiedthat,accordingtothevictim,salt wassex.Justinprovidedthat he #  [appellant]saidheputitontheirbodyandlickedit.Herelatedthatthevictim %" talkedabout privateparts.TiffanyandJustinbothtestifiedthattheappellant `'X $ askedthechildrentospendthenightathishouseandofferedtogivethem ,)$"& somethinginreturn.Followingthiswitness,theStateresteditscaseinchief. *#(  ` Thedefendanttestifiedthathehadbeenpreviouslyconvictedofan .', aggravatedassaultandamisdemeanortheft.Headmittedthatthevictimandher \0T). brotherhadvisitedandspentthenightinhishomeandthathehadgiventhe (2 +0 childrengifts.However,hedeniedanysexualcontactwiththevictim.Heclaimed 3,2 thatthevictimhadconcoctedthisstorybecausehebecameangrywithMs.Whitten 5.4 aftershepermittedfouryearoldJoeytoenterhishomedrinkingabeer.He 706 recountedaneveninginwhichMs.WhittenbroughtthevictimandJoeytohishome X9P28 claimingthatshewas toodrunktoattendtoherchildren.Theappellanttestified  thattheboyhadabeerinhishandandwasdrinkingit.Afteranexchangeofsome  crosswordsbetweenMs.WhittenandtheappellantregardingJoeysactions,he   testifiedthatMs.Whittensaid, [y]ous.o.b.Youllpay. l d  ` Oncrossexamination,theappellanttestifiedthathewenttobedbeforethe   childrenandhiswifetooktheresponsibilityofgettingthechildrentobed.Onthe   nighttheaccusationwasmade,headmittedthathewasinthebackbedroom;   however,hestatedthathewassearchingforaT.V.inthecloset.Heexplainedthat h` somefleapowderhadbeenspilledontohisdogandhetoldthechildren, 4, 8 ` youvegotthatalloverhim[referringtothedog].Ifhelicksthat,hes  goingtokillthepuppies.Itsjustlikesalt.Itwouldhavekilledhim.  Anditwouldhavekilledeveryoneofthepuppies,soIhadtocleanall  ofthatup.` !` ! ( ` LoraineVestal,theappellantswife,testifiedthatshenevernoticedany d\ inappropriatebehaviorbetweenherhusbandandthevictim.Shestatedthatshe 0 ( wasawakebothnightsthatthechildrenstayedatherhome.Shetestifiedthatthe ! appellantwasinbedwithheronbothoccasionsandnormallytheysleptwithanarm #  aroundeachother.Sherelatedthatshewas averylightsleeperandwouldhave %" knownifherhusbandhadgottenoutofthebed.Mrs.Vestalfurthertestifiedthatthe `'X $ childrencontinuedtoreturntoherhomefollowingthenightoftheallegedincident ,)$"& andshedidnotseeanyindicationthatthevictimwasafraidoftheappellant. *#(  ` Inrebuttal,theStaterecalledMs.Whitten,thevictimsmother.Ms.Whitten .', testifiedthatsheneverwenttotheappellantshomedrunknorhadsheeverallowed \0T). herchildrentohavepossessionofalcoholattheappellantshome.However,she (2 +0 didrelatethat ifyoudohaveabeersittingaround,he[Joey]willdrinkoutofit. 3,2 Shedeniedbeingthrownoutoftheappellantshomeorhavingeverarguedwith 5.4 him.Shetestifiedthattheappellantwasconstantlytryingtogivehermoneyto buy 706 herfriendship. X9P28 Ї ` Thedefense,inrebuttal,calledSherryJoyner,thesisteroftheappellant.  ShetestifiedthatinthelatterpartofJanuary,shewitnessedtheargumentbetween  Ms.WhittenandtheappellantoverJoeydrinkingabeer.Aftertheappellant   threatenedtoturnherintothepolice,Ms.Whittenbecamehostileandsaid, Illget l d you....,yousorrys.o.b. 80  ` Followingthetrialcourtsinstructions,thejuryreturnedaverdictofguiltyfor   rapeofachild.   @. @ll!SUFFICIENCYOFTHEEVIDENCE  4,  ` Theappellantchallengesthesufficiencyoftheconvictingevidence  supportinghisconvictionforrapeofachild.Hissufficiencychallengeistwofold.  First,heargues,thatbaseduponthetestimonyofthevictimattrial,penetrationwas   anatomicallyimpossible.Next,hearguesthattheevidencesupportsaverdictof d\ notguilty.Insupportofhisclaimofinnocence,heargues:(1)thelackofscientific 0 ( orphysicalproofofrape;(2)Ms.Whittensanimositytowardhim;and(3)hisalibi ! providedbyhiswife #   ` Ajuryconvictionremovesthepresumptionofinnocencewithwhicha `'X $ defendantiscloakedandreplacesitwithoneofguilt,sothatonappeal,aconvicted ,)$"& defendanthastheburdenofdemonstratingthattheevidenceisinsufficient.Statev. *#( Tuggle,639S.W.2d913,914(Tenn.1982).Indeterminingthesufficiencyofthe ,%* evidence,thiscourtdoesnotreweighorreevaluatetheevidence.Statev. .', Cabbage,571S.W.2d832,835(Tenn.1978).Onappeal,theStateisentitledto \0T). thestrongestlegitimateviewoftheevidenceandallreasonableinferenceswhich (2 +0 maybedrawntherefrom.Statev.Harris,839S.W.2d54,75(Tenn.1992),cert. 3,2 denied,507U.S.954,113S.Ct.1368(1993).Viewingtheevidenceunderthese 5.4 criteria,itisthiscourtsresponsibilitytoaffirmtheconvictioniftheproofwas 706 sufficientforanyrationaltrieroffacttohavefoundtheessentialelementsofthe X9P28 offensebeyondareasonabledoubt.Jacksonv.Virginia,443U.S.307,317,99  S.Ct.2781,2789(1979);Statev.Cazes,875S.W.2d253,259(Tenn.1994),cert.  denied,513U.S.1086,115S.Ct.743(1995);Tenn.R.App.P.13(e).Itisnotthe   dutyofthiscourttorevisitquestionsofwitnesscredibilityonappeal,thatfunction l d beingwithintheprovinceofthetrieroffact.SeegenerallyStatev.Adkins,786 80 S.W.2d642,646(Tenn.1990);Statev.Burlison,868S.W.2d713,718719(Tenn.   Crim.App.1993).    ` Theappellantcontends itisanatomicallyimpossiblefor[theappellant]to h` haveperformedcunnilingusunderthefactsofthiscase.Specifically,hecontends 4, thattheStatefailedtoprovepenetrationinviewofthefactthatthevictimtestified  thatshekeptherlegstogethertheentiretime.Thus,heargues,thatatbest,the  evidencesupportsaconvictionforaggravatedsexualbattery.   ` Bystatutorydefinition,cunnilingusconstitutessexualpenetration.#X[XX X[# X[XXX[Tenn. 0 ( CodeAnn.#X[XX X[?# X[XXX[Ԁ3913501(7)(1997).Inthiscase,thetrialcourtproperlydefined ! sexualpenetrationtothejuryas sexualintercourse,cunnilingus,fellatio,anal #  intercourse,oranyotherintrusion,howeverslight,ofanypartofapersonsbodyor %" anyobjectintothegenitaloranalopeningsofthevictims,thedefendants,orany `'X $ otherpersonsbody,butemissionofsemenisnotrequired.SeeTenn.CodeAnn. ,)$"& 3913501(7)(emphasisadded).Thetrialcourtfurtherdefinedcunnilingustothe *#( juryas asexactaccomplishedbyplacingthemouthortongueonorinthevagina ,%* ofanother.SeeT.P.I.Crim.10.12(4thed.1995)(emphasisadded). .',  ` Anexaminationoftherecordrevealsthefollowingtestimonyduringthedirect (2 +0 examinationofS.H.: 3,2 8 ` Q:Iwanttoaskyouifanythingthatyoufelttobeimproperorwrong5.4` !` ! 8 ` happenedwhileyouspentthenightathishome?6/5` !` ! 8 ` A:WhenIwaslayingdownonthecouchasleepandmypantswas r8j17 downandhewaslickingmyprivates.X9P28` !` !  >:639 Thereafter,thevictimindicatedthather privatesmeanthervaginalarea.The  testimonyclearlyestablishesthattheappellantperformedcunnilingusonS.H.The  actofcunnilingusdoesnotrequirethatthemouthortongueactuallypenetratethe   vagina.Statev.ChesleyRandellThompson,No.03C019807CC00238(Tenn. l d Crim.App.atKnoxville,March24,1999);Statev.BruceAlanRudd,No.03C01 80 9707CR00307(Tenn.Crim.App.atKnoxville,Oct.6,1998),perm.toappeal   denied,(Tenn.March22,1999);Statev.MichaelWarrenEvans,No.02C019306   CC00124(Tenn.Crim.App.atJackson,March2,1994),perm.toappealdenied,   (Tenn.Aug.1,1994);Statev.ReginaldL.Parker,No.02C019306CR00130 h` (Tenn.Crim.App.atJackson,Dec.28,1994);Statev.KarlE.Vanderbilt,No.70 4, (Tenn.Crim.App.atJackson,April8,1992),perm.toappealdenied,(Tenn.July6,  1992).Therefore,arationaljurorcouldhavefoundthattheappellantpenetrated  S.H.   ` Tosupportaconvictionforrapeofachild,theStateisrequiredtoprovean 0 (  unlawfulsexualpenetrationofavictimbythedefendantorthedefendantbya ! victim,ifsuchvictimislessthanthirteen(13)yearsofage.Tenn.CodeAnn.39 #  13522(a).Ourobligationuponappellatereviewistoviewtheevidenceinthelight %" mostfavorabletotheState.Inthiscase,theStateclearlyestablishedthroughthe `'X $ testimonyofthesevenyearoldvictimthenecessaryelementsfortheoffenseof ,)$"& rapeofachild.Werejecttheappellantsinvitationtoreweightheevidence *#( producedattrial.SeeCabbage,571S.W.2dat835.Thetestimonyofonewitness ,%* issufficienttoconvicttheappellantoftheoffense.Thisissueiswithoutmerit. .',  ` Thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisaffirmed. (2 +0 #X[XX X[k?# X9P28 Ї `     h   ____________________________________   `     h   DAVIDG.HAYES,Judge  CONCUR: R J _______________________________________   JOEG.RILEY,Judge   _______________________________________ 4, THOMAST.WOODALL,Judge