State v. Nelson, 2508

Decision Date03 April 1996
Docket NumberNo. 2508,2508
Citation322 S.C. 377,471 S.E.2d 767
PartiesThe STATE, Respondent, v. Larry Don NELSON, Appellant. . Heard
CourtSouth Carolina Court of Appeals

Jack Swerling, Columbia, for appellant.

Attorney General Charles Molony Condon, Chief Deputy Attorney General Donald J. Zelenka, Assistant Attorneys General Harold M. Coombs, Jr., and William Edgar Salter, III, Columbia; and Solicitor Donald V. Myers, Lexington, for respondent.

GOOLSBY, Judge:

Larry Don Nelson appeals his conviction on four counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the first degree and four counts of lewd act on a minor. We affirm.

Beginning in 1991, Amber Hayes, the three year old victim, accompanied her father to visit his friend, James Nelson. Larry Don Nelson lived with his mother and his brother James. During these visits, Amber spent time alone with Larry. On June 8, 1992, Dr. Graham, Amber's pediatrician, examined her and, as a result, suspected sexual abuse. He referred Amber to Dr. Breeland, a codirector of a clinic for children suspected of having been physically or sexually abused. After examining Amber on June 10, 1992, Dr. Breeland concluded Amber had been sexually abused. As a result of these findings, Dr. Breeland contacted D.S.S. D.S.S. removed Amber from her home on June 11, 1992, and placed her in the care of her grandmother.

After receiving counseling from Beth Maris, a sexual trauma therapist, Amber was returned to her home on August 21, 1992. Eventually, Amber told Maris and her grandmother that Larry Nelson and James Nelson had abused her. Amber's mother then contacted D.S.S. James and Larry Nelson were subsequently arrested and charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor. 1

At trial, the State introduced Amber's testimony through a video deposition. At the time of her deposition, Amber was five years old. Amber testified Larry Nelson sexually molested her on three separate occasions.

The State also offered testimony from Maris, a licensed independent clinical social worker and a certified sex therapist. Maris was qualified as an expert in the area of sexual therapy and the subsection of that area of sexual trauma and abuse of children. Maris testified she began seeing Amber around July 20, 1992. She interviewed Amber's family and concluded it was not an abusive family. As a result of her findings, Maris submitted a written report dated August 14, 1992, to D.S.S. recommending Amber be returned to her family. Maris testified she did not know the identity of the perpetrators at the time she submitted her report. After subsequent counseling, Amber identified her assailants to Maris, who in turn told Amber's parents. Maris stated in her opinion Amber was sexually abused.

Maris further testified she had worked with pedophiles and child abusers. She testified pedophiles and child abusers have sexual fantasies about children. Maris stated, "They see themselves as the children's friends, the one that really cares about the children. They relate to them in a sexual way and they don't see that as hurtful." Maris testified it would be consistent with the condition of pedophilia for an individual to have videotapes containing children's programs, children's books, children's clothing, children's toys, photographs, drawings, and pictures. Maris stated a pedophile would use these items for sexual stimulation and fantasy of children.

The State also offered the testimony of Charles William Belk, Sr., and Wendy Frazier, of the City of West Columbia Police Department. Belk testified he assisted investigator Frazier in the arrest of Nelson on September 29, 1992. Belk and Frazier interviewed Nelson. Belk testified Nelson indicated he was uncomfortable speaking in front of Frazier because he did not like adult women and could not trust them. With respect to Amber, Belk testified Nelson stated she was a precious little girl and that he loved her very much and did not want her hurt or anything to happen to her.

Belk testified Nelson voluntarily consented to a search of his residence. Belk stated he found two stuffed animals in Nelson's bedroom closet, a Cookie Monster and an Oscar the Grouch. The State entered both into evidence without objection.

Belk further testified he interviewed Nelson on the morning of September 30, 1992. He testified Nelson stated he had had fantasies about small girls and children in general. Belk testified Nelson found children to be sweet and innocent and good and told him he idolized Punky Brewster and wished all women were as honest and sweet as she was.

Belk testified Nelson told him he had the opportunity to molest Amber but did not because he loved her too much and he did not want to see her hurt. Frazier also testified Nelson made that statement. Belk further testified Nelson stated he enjoyed playing games with Amber. Belk testified Nelson told him he enjoyed playing "Cookie Monster" and "doctor" with Amber. Belk testified when he asked Nelson what he meant by "playing doctor," Nelson just stared at him.

Frazier testified after the interview she and Belk searched Nelson's bedroom as well as James Nelson's bedroom. Frazier testified over objection there were fifty-eight videotapes, which included children's videotapes. A few of these were commercial tapes, but most of them were homemade.

The solicitor introduced over a defense objection the following thirteen exhibits, all of which were taken from Nelson's home: (1) a scrapbook of pictures of young girls dressed in underwear and gymnastics clothing, (2) a membership card to the Punky Brewster fan club, (3) a picture frame with a commercial sample picture of a young girl dressed in gymnastics clothing, (4) a laminated picture of a young girl lying on a couch, (5) a laminated advertisement of a young girl dressed in sleepwear, (6) a mobile with a young girl's picture, (7) a videotape containing segments of children's shows, particularly a segment teaching children about sexual abuse, (8) a laminated picture of a young girl taken from an advertisement, (9) a Punky Brewster coloring book, (10) a copy of Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales, specifically "The Fitcher's Bird Tale," a story about a wizard who takes young girls from their homes, as well as items inserted in the book, (a) a "Save The Children" advertisement used as a book marker; (b) an article entitled "Modern Day Monsters," which deals with children's sexual abuse, (11) six pictures of Punky Brewster, (12) Nelson's birth certificate, and (13) a Cookie Monster doll.

The jury convicted Nelson of four counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the first degree, and four counts of lewd act on a minor. Nelson was sentenced to thirty years on each count of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the first degree and ten years on each count of lewd act on a minor. The trial court ordered the sentences would run consecutively.

I.

Nelson contends the trial court erred in allowing the State to introduce into evidence the items the police seized from his home because that evidence improperly placed Nelson's character in issue and tended to show only that he had a propensity to commit the crime charged.

Whether or not the evidence in question incidentally reflected poorly on Nelson's character, it was relevant to show Nelson's motive to commit the crimes for which he was charged. State v. Bell, 302 S.C. 18, 393 S.E.2d 364 (1990) (evidence of the defendant's bizarre sexual desires was admissible to show those desires gave him a motive to commit the crime with which he was charged); see also Stamey v. State, 194 Ga.App. 305, 390 S.E.2d 409 (1990) (copies of sexually oriented magazines found stored in the defendant's basement were admissible to show motive in prosecution for child molestation); cf. State v. Bowen, 48 Wash.App. 187, 738 P.2d 316, 319 (1987) (defining "motive" as an inducement or that which leads or tempts the mind to indulge a criminal act).

In Bell, the defendant was convicted of the murder and kidnapping of nine and a half year old Debra Mae Helmick. At the time of his trial, Bell had already been convicted of the kidnapping and murder of seventeen year old Shari Faye Smith. During the time Shari had been...

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2 cases
  • State v. Nelson
    • United States
    • South Carolina Supreme Court
    • 6 Abril 1998
    ...count of lewd act. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively. The Court of Appeals affirmed Petitioner's conviction. State v. Nelson, 322 S.C. 377, 471 S.E.2d 767 (Ct.App. 1996). This Court granted certiorari to consider whether certain evidence was properly admitted at trial. We find......
  • State v. Luckabaugh, 2689
    • United States
    • South Carolina Court of Appeals
    • 3 Junio 1997
    ...any less relevant to the central issue in the case, namely, his alleged intent to commit a sexual battery. See State v. Nelson, 322 S.C. 377, 471 S.E.2d 767 (Ct.App.1996) (criminal sexual conduct case in which the court of appeals upheld the trial court's admission of evidence that the defe......

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