Appellant was convicted of rape by an Allen County jury and was sentenced to a term of 30 years.
The record reveals: On January 8, 1978, at 4:00 p. m., the fourteen-year-old victim left her home to go to work at Link’s Skating Rink. As she walked along Holton Street, she was grabbed by the neck from behind. The assailant, later identified as appellant Frederick Aron, told her to “shut up and you won’t get hurt.” Threatening her with a knife, appellant led the victim through a yard, down an alley, and finally into an abandoned house at 1416 Hurd Street. Once inside, appellant demanded and was given the victim’s money. He then took her to an upstairs room and ordered her to remove her clothing. When she refused, he struck her in the face. Appellant and the victim struggled over the knife, after which appellant threw her to the floor and began choking her with his scarf. The victim lost consciousness. When she regained consciousness, appellant tied her arms and legs, and then forcibly raped her. The victim scratched appellant’s neck during the struggle and made an unsuccessful attempt to grab the knife. Following the sexual assault, appellant told the victim not to tell anyone about the incident since “they ain’t going to believe you anyway.”
Appellant claims the trial court erred in refusing to grant his motion for continuance. Appellant had alleged in the motion that the State had not provided him with the series of photographs used by the police and victim in identifying appellant. The trial court’s ruling on a motion for continuance lies within its sound discretion and will be reversed only where a manifest abuse of discretion is shown. TR. 53.4;
Works v. State
(1977)
Appellant next asserts that the victim should not have been permitted to testify as to her out-of-court and in-court identification of appellant. An unduly suggestive lineup of photographic display which creates a substantial likelihood of misidentification is not admissible in evidence.
Neil v. Biggers
(1972)
In his brief, appellant raises the question of the sufficiency of the evidence to support the verdict. The point, however, is not argued or even mentioned in the body of the brief. Thus, the issue must be deemed waived. AP. 8.3(A)(7);
Foster v. State
(1974)
The above recital of facts was taken from the testimony of the victim. In addition, the investigating officers searched the abandoned house at 1416 Hurd Street. They found blood and some of the victim’s belongings in an upstairs room. The victim’s claim that she had been raped was corroborated by the expert testimony of the examining physician at the hospital and a police chemist who performed tests on the victim’s clothing. This evidence, as well as other evidence in the record, is substantial evidence of probative value and is sufficient to uphold the verdict of the jury.
The judgment of the trial court is in all respects affirmed.
