State v. Rogers

• Decision Date: 11 January 1988
• Docket Number: No. 87-KA-423,87-KA-423
• Citation: 519 So.2d 246
• Parties: STATE of Louisiana v. Kenneth ROGERS. 519 So.2d 246
• Court: Court of Appeal of Louisiana — District of US

Page 246

519 So.2d 246

STATE of Louisiana v. Kenneth ROGERS.

No. 87-KA-423.

519 So.2d 246

Court of Appeal of Louisiana,

Fifth Circuit.

Jan. 11, 1988.

Martha E. Sassone, Indigent Defender, Gretna, for Kenneth Rogers.

Dorothy Pendergast, Asst. Dist. Atty., Research & Appeals, Gretna (Louise Korns, of counsel), for State.

Before BOWES, GAUDIN and WICKER, JJ.

BOWES, Judge.

Defendant, Kenneth Rogers, was indicted by the grand jury of violation of LSA R.S. 14:42.1, forcible rape. On motion of defendant, a sanity hearing was held and it was determined that the defendant was legally sane and competent to stand trial. The defendant elected to be tried before a judge alone, was found guilty as charged, and sentenced to ten years at hard labor with credit given for time served. Defendant appeals his conviction and sentence.

The facts of the case are as follows. On the morning of March 17, 1984, after teaching a children's dance class, the victim returned to her apartment, where she stopped to drop off her purse. She immediately left the apartment to get her mail from the apartment complex mailboxes. On her way, she encountered the defendant, who told her he was a new resident there. He then asked if she would like to play tennis with him, but the victim declined the invitation. However, she did continue to speak with him. On the return from the mailboxes, the defendant asked her if she would like to see where he lived. She agreed to go with him, but stated she could only stay a minute.

The defendant's abode was an upstairs efficiency apartment. Upon arriving there, the defendant walked in first, followed by the victim, who proceeded directly to the balcony to experience the view of the swimming pool from an upper floor. When she turned back into the apartment, the defendant grabbed her by the breast. She tried to push him away, but was unsuccessful. When she asked "What is wrong? Are you crazy? I didn't come up here for this," the defendant got angry and pushed her toward the bed. He told her if she screamed he would kill her. He then pushed her onto the bed, sat on her legs, and told her to get undressed. She explained that she couldn't get undressed while he was sitting on her, and, when he released her, she ran for the door, but he caught her by the neck before she could escape and held her while he pulled at her clothes and his own. At that time, he put her on the bed and proceeded to rape her.

After completion of the act, he lay on top of her and begged her not to get him in trouble. When she was free, the victim got partially dressed and returned to her apartment, where she called the apartment complex manager and the police. She was taken to Lakeside Hospital where she was examined and seminal fluid was found.

Later that evening, the defendant was arrested when he returned to his apartment. He testified that although he did have sexual intercourse, it was the victim who initiated it and all acts were consensual.

On appeal, defendant presents four assignments of error:

1. The trial court erred in denying defendant's motion for a new trial.

2. The trial court erred in finding defendant guilty of forcible rape when the evidence was insufficient to support such a finding.

3. The trial court erred in sentencing the defendant to a term of ten (10) years at hard labor.

4. Also assigned as error are any and all errors patent on the face of the record.

Assignment of Error Nos. 1 and 2 ¹

Defendant urges that this court examine the record of the case to determine whether, as a matter of law, the evidence presented at trial was sufficient to prove all elements of the crime alleged.

Defendant was charged under LSA-R.S. 14:42.1 with the crime of forcible rape. This statute defines forcible rape as:

A. Forcible rape is a rape committed where the anal or vaginal sexual intercourse is deemed to be without the lawful consent of the victim because the victim is prevented from resisting the act by force or threats of physical violence under circumstances where the victim reasonably believes that such resistance would not prevent the rape.

Consequently, to prove the charge of forcible rape, the prosecution has the burden of proving that (1) anal or vaginal intercourse occurred, (2) without the lawful consent of the victim, (3) the victim's resistance is prevented by force or threats of physical violence, and (4) the victim reasonably believes that such resistance would not prevent the rape. State v. Richardson, 425 So.2d 1228 (La.1983).

In the instant case, there was no dispute that sexual intercourse occurred. Both the victim and the defendant testified to penetration and the examining physician at Lakeside Hospital testified that he found seminal fluid. Therefore, the issues to be determined are: (1) whether or not the intercourse took place without consent of the victim; (2) whether her resistance was prevented by force or threats; (3) and did she reasonably believe such resistance would not prevent the rape.

The victim testified that when she attempted to push the defendant away, he told her that if she screamed he would kill her. Further, she stated that she believed if she resisted, or tried to fight back, that he would have hurt her. Finally, when she did get free for a moment and ran to the door, he followed her, grabbed her by the neck and held her until the actual intercourse took place.

Although the lack of voluntary consent on the part of the victim was contradicted by the defendant, the fact finder obviously found the victim's testimony more credible and rejected the defendant's testimony. Certainly, the victim's testimony seems logical and we do not find that determination in error. State v. Green, 463 So.2d 657 (La.App. 4 Cir.1985).

The conviction in this case obviously turned on credibility of witnesses and such credibility is legally and properly determined by the trier of fact. State v. Arnaud, 412 So.2d 1013 (La.1982). When the testimony is conflicting, the credibility of witnesses is a matter within the sound discretion of the trier of fact--in this case, the trial judge alone. Factual determinations will not be disturbed on review unless clearly contrary to the evidence. State v. Richardson, 425 So.2d 1228 (La.1983) and State v. Klar, 400 So.2d 610 (La.1981); State v. Cobbs, 350 So.2d 168 (La.1977); State v. Butler, 450 So.2d 764 (La.App. 5 Cir.1984).

Thus, we find that the State has proven the requisite elements of the offense. This assignment lacks merit.

Assignment of Error No. 3

Defendant argues that his sentence of ten years at hard labor is excessive. Forcible rape is punishable by imprisonment "at hard labor for not less than five nor more than forty years. At least two years of the sentence imposed shall be without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence." LSA--R.S. 14:42.1(B). Here the defendant was sentenced to serve ten years at hard labor, but the trial judge did not specify that two years of that sentence was to be served without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence as mandated by LSA--R.S. 14:42.1(B). When these restrictions are placed on a sentence by law, as in the instant case, and the trial judge fails to impose them, the sentence is "illegally lenient." State v. Robertson, 459 So.2d 581 (La.App. 5 Cir.1984).

A reviewing court faced with an illegal sentence is guided by LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 882:

A. An illegal sentence may be corrected at any time by the court that imposed the sentence or by an appellate court on review.

B. A sentence may be reviewed as to its legality on the application of the defendant or of the state;

(1) In an appealable case by appeal; or

(2) In an unappealable case by writs of certiorari and prohibition.

The State did not object to the sentence when it was imposed and did not apply to the trial court for correction of sentence. However, in State's brief, it is argued that not only is the sentence as imposed not excessive, but, additionally, that it is illegally lenient and for this reason should be remanded for resentencing.

This court has ruled "that where the State in its brief called the court's attention to an illegally lenient sentence and requested that the case be remanded to the trial court so that the sentence can be corrected, as was done here, that this constituted an application for review by the State." State v. Hardan, 501 So.2d 848 (La.App. 5 Cir.1987); State v. Sepcich, 473 So.2d 380 (La.App. 5 Cir.1985) Appeal after Remand 485 So.2d 559 (La.App. 5 Cir.1986).

Based on the facts above, we find that the sentence in the instant case is illegally lenient, has been properly brought to our attention, and must be set aside. Although an appellate court can in some instances simply correct a sentence under LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 882, it appears that if the resentencing involves sentencing discretion by the trial judge that the case should be remanded. The reasoning behind this procedure is that in cases where the trial judge simply overlooked the "without benefit" provision of a statute, as in this case, a reviewing court cannot determine whether the trial judge may have imposed a more lenient sentence if the prosecution had pointed out the restriction to him. State v. Jackson, 452 So.2d 682 (La.1984). Consequently, the instant case must be remanded...