Scruggs v. State

• Decision Date: 25 November 1986
• Docket Number: No. 73283,73283
• Citation: 181 Ga.App. 55,351 S.E.2d 256
• Parties: SCRUGGS v. The STATE.
• Court: Georgia Court of Appeals

Page 256

351 S.E.2d 256

181 Ga.App. 55

SCRUGGS v. The STATE.

No. 73283.

Court of Appeals of Georgia.

Nov. 25, 1986.

Vernon J. Neely, Augusta, for appellant.

Sam B. Sibley, Jr., Dist. Atty., Charles R. Sheppard, Asst. Dist. Atty., for appellee.

POPE, Judge.

Willie Lee Scruggs brings this appeal from his convictions of rape and sodomy. Held:

1. Appellant's first enumeration of error challenges the unanimity of the jury's verdict. The record discloses that the first juror polled following the announcement of the verdict responded that the verdict returned in this case was not her verdict. However, at the end of the poll, this juror raised her hand and stated that she had not understood the questions originally propounded to her by the court. She then affirmed that the verdict was her verdict and that she freely and voluntarily entered into it. These circumstances provide no basis for rejection of the verdict. Compare White v. Seaboard C.L.R. Co., 139 Ga.App. 833(1), 229 S.E.2d 775 (1976); Ponder v. State, 11 Ga.App. 60, 74 S.E. 715 (1912).

The next juror stated that her verdict was free and voluntary, "but in my heart I really had some doubts." The trial court explained: "Well, you could have some doubts and still--in other words, there is nothing in the law that says beyond all doubt. It was what was referred to in the Charge as reasonable doubt. So if that is your verdict ... JUROR BEARD: Yes." Another juror also indicated that she had some doubts, but that her verdict was freely and voluntarily entered into and was still her verdict. We find no error in the trial court's efforts to clarify and elaborate on its questions during the poll of the jury in this case. See Hudson v. State, 157 Ga.App. 71(3), 276 S.E.2d 122 (1981). Furthermore, these jurors clearly agreed to the verdict, "and even reluctant agreement is sufficient. [Cit.] The [S]tate must remove reasonable doubts from the jurors' minds; it is not required to erase every question. The record reveals nothing to show that the twelve jurors did not unanimously find the [appellant] guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." Watts v. State, 142 Ga.App. 857, 858, 237 S.E.2d 231 (1977). These circumstances disclose no error in the trial court's receiving the verdict. See Young v. State, 239 Ga. 53(6), 236 S.E.2d 1, cert. den., 434 U.S. 1002, 98 S.Ct. 648, 54 L.Ed.2d 499 (1977), reh. den., 434 U.S. 1051, 98 S.Ct. 904, 54 L.Ed.2d 805 (1978); Wallace v. State, 134 Ga.App. 708(8), 215 S.E.2d 703 (1975). The holding in United States v. Edwards, 469 F.2d 1362(II) (5th Cir.1972), does not require a different result.

2. The trial court did not err in denying appellant's motion for mistrial made at the conclusion of the poll of the jury and premised upon the alleged lack of unanimity cited in Division 1, supra. Walker v. State, 159 Ga.App. 50(1), 282 S.E.2d 697 (1981).

3. Appellant's third enumeration asserts as error two allegedly inconsistent findings resulting from the same facts. However, the Supreme Court's abolition of the inconsistent verdict rule in criminal cases renders this enumeration nugatory. Milam v. State, 255 Ga. 560(2), 341 S.E.2d 216 (1986). In any event, under the facts in this case we find no inconsistency in appellant's conviction of rape and his acquittal of aggravated sodomy but conviction of the lesser included offense of sodomy. See Jones v. State, 159 Ga.App. 472, 283 S.E.2d 691 (1981); Martin v. State, 157 Ga.App. 304(3), 277 S.E.2d 300, cert. den., 454 U.S. 833, 102 S.Ct. 133, 70 L.Ed.2d 112 (1981).

4. Appellant's final enumeration of error challenges his 20-year sentence for sodomy on the ground that it violates the constitutional proscription against cruel and unusual punishment. The sentence imposed is within the statutory limit. OCGA § 16-6-2(b). Therefore, it is not unconstitutionally cruel and unusual, and this court is not empowered to modify it. Sherrell v. State, 170 Ga.App. 798(1), 318 S.E.2d 221 (1984); accord Hoard v. Dutton, 360 F.2d 673(2) (5th Cir.), cert. den., 385 U.S. 881, 87 S.Ct. 166, 17...