Jackson v. State, 02S00-8804-CR-387

Decision Date28 March 1989
Docket NumberNo. 02S00-8804-CR-387,02S00-8804-CR-387
Citation535 N.E.2d 1173
PartiesRichard A. JACKSON, Appellant, v. STATE of Indiana, Appellee.
CourtIndiana Supreme Court

Barrie C. Tremper, Chief Public Defender, Fort Wayne, for appellant.

Linley E. Pearson, Atty. Gen., Jay Rodia, Deputy Atty. Gen., Indianapolis, for appellee.

GIVAN, Justice.

A jury trial resulted in a conviction of appellant of Attempted Child Molesting, a Class B felony, for which he received a sentence of twenty (20) years, Child Molesting, a Class C felony, for which he received a sentence of eight (8) years, and Confinement, a Class C felony, for which he received a sentence of eight (8) years, all sentences to run concurrently.

The facts are: On October 26, 1986, at approximately 4:00 p.m., appellant, along with his brother-in-law and a friend, went to the apartment of Jerry Cox in Fort Wayne. After playing cards for a couple of hours, the men decided to go outside and drink some beer. After about thirty minutes, they decided to leave the scene in appellant's automobile. However, appellant asked Cox if he could go back inside and use the bathroom, which he did.

While appellant was still in Cox's apartment, the 11-year-old victim, C.E., entered with Cox's son, J.J. As the children started to leave, appellant allowed J.J. to go out the door but blocked C.E.'s exit. He then threw C.E. on the floor and partially removed her clothing. He then partially removed his own clothing and lay on top of C.E. She testified that appellant unsuccessfully attempted to put his penis in her vagina, then did stick his finger in her vagina. During this time, she was attempting to cry out; appellant, however, held his hand over her mouth.

While this was going on Cox returned to his apartment and was shocked to see appellant partially clothed and laying on top of someone who was crying. He first exited the apartment, then decided to return and stop appellant. When he returned to the apartment, he realized that it was C.E who was under appellant. At that time, the victim's older brother attempted to enter the room but was prevented from doing so. The door was slammed and locked. The brother pounded on the door, and after a few minutes, was permitted to enter. When the door was opened, the victim ran past her brother crying, and her brother saw appellant pulling up his pants. The victim ran downstairs to her mother and told her what had happened. The police were called and arrived before appellant left the scene. He was taken to the police station where, officers testified, he told several versions of the incident but denied criminal activity. The victim was taken to the hospital where she was partially examined.

The doctor testified he did not do the usual internal vaginal examination because of the victim's mental...

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1 cases
  • Shaffer v. State, 67A01-9601-CR-12
    • United States
    • Indiana Appellate Court
    • November 27, 1996
    ...a witness of tender years, especially in embarrassing situations, is left largely to the discretion of the trial court. Jackson v. State, 535 N.E.2d 1173, 1174 (Ind.1989). We will reverse the trial court's decision only if there is a clear abuse of such discretion. Id. In the present case, ......

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