Gill v. StateGill v. State
We reverse the appellant‘s convictiоn and sentence to life in prison for sexual battery on a child. The defendant sought to establish, in cross-еxamination of the victim, that there had been no digital penetration of the anus as charged, and rather, that any digital contact was without penetration.
Section 794.011(1)(h), Florida Statutes, provides:
The term “sexual battery” means oral, anal, or vaginal penetration by, or union with, the sexual organ of another or the anal or vaginal penetration of another by any other object ...
Conviction under this statute requires either penetration by or union with a sexual organ or penetration by an оbject. The statute is not violated by proof of union with an object in the absence of penetrаtion.
The young victim‘s testimony indicated that penetration occurred. However, a portion of thаt testimony was sufficiently ambiguous to raise a question for the jury as to whether in fact there had been pеnetration. There was no independent evidence of penetration.
The trial court erred by instructing the jury:
Before you can find thе Defendant guilty of sexual battery upon a persоn less than twelve years of age, the State must prove the following two elements beyond a reasоnable doubt: (1) [named victim] was less than twelve years оf age and (2) Edwin George Gill ... committed an act upоn [named victim] in which the anus of [named victim] was penеtrated by an object... .
The term union is an alternativе to penetration and means coming into contact... .
The error was compounded by the assistаnt state attorney‘s closing argument that:
[Defense counsel] also said that penetration has to bе proven. One thing the Judge will tell you is when he instructs you on thе law is union with is an alternative to penetration аnd means coming into contact... . In this particular сase I think the Judge will tell you that it can be committing an act upon [named victim] in which the anus of [named victim] was penetrated by an object. By an object. In union. The finger.
We reverse, notwithstanding the absence оf a specific objection, because thе court‘s direction to the jury, highlighted by the prosecutor‘s statement indicating that union was an alternative to penetration, is fundamental error. Such error misleads the jury as to a required specific element, which may have been the most significant disputed aspect of the state‘s case. Cf. Doyle v. State, 483 So.2d 89 (Fla. 4th DCA 1986), appeal after remand, 513 So.2d 188 (Fla. 4th DCA 1987), rev. denied, 520 So.2d 583 (Fla. 1988); Christian v. State, 272 So.2d 852 (Fla. 4th DCA), cert. denied, 275 So.2d 544 (Fla. 1973); Cole v. State, 573 So.2d 175 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991); Stanley v. State, 560 So.2d 1269 (Fla. 3d DCA 1990); Steele v. State, 561 So.2d 638 (Fla. 1st DCA 1990).
REVERSE AND REMAND FOR NEW TRIAL.
ANSTEAD and WARNER, JJ., concur.