Zepp v. StateZepp v. State
Fоllowing the denial of her motion for new trial, Rhonda Zepp appeals her convictions for rape, two counts of incest, four counts of child molestation, and aggravated child molestation for acts perpetrated against her five-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter. Zepp’s husband was the co-defendant in her trial; however, his related appeal was dismissed by this Court. Zepp brings numerous enumerations on appeal. Following our review of the voluminous record, and discerning no reversible error, we affirm.
On appeal, the evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict.
Davenport v. State,
1. Zepp contends that the evidence was insufficient to support the rape verdict. She argues that there was no evidence that she aided or abetted her husband in raping their daughter. We do not agree.
Evidence presented at the trial established that Zepp and her husband were both active participants in the sexual acts committed against her daughter. The daughter testified that her mother told her to take her clothes off and was present when her fаther had sex with her. She testified that her father would put his penis in her vagina and in her mother’s, and that her mother had sex with her younger brother while her father had sex with her. She also testified that she did not want to have sex with her father.
Based on Zepp’s conduct, and “[c]onstruing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, any rational trier of fact could have found that [Zepp] was a party to [her husband’s] forcible rape of her daughter.”
Spivey v. State,
2. Shе next argues that the State failed to prove the element of force as to the rape and aggravated sexual battery convictions. We do not agree.
[U]nderOCGA § 16-6-1 (a) , a person commits the offense of rape when he has carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will.. . . [T]he terms “forcibly” and “against her will” are two separate elements of proving rape. The term “against her will” means without consent; the term “forcibly’ means acts of physical force, threats of death or physical bodily harm, or mental coercion, such as intimidation. The state must prove the element of force as a factual matter in forcible rape cases rather than presuming force as a matter of law based on the victim’s age. However, the quantum of evidence to prove force against a child is minimal, since physical force is not required. Intimidation may substitute for force. Further, force may be proved by direct or circumstantial evidence. Lack of resistance, induced by fear, is force, and may be shown by the [child’s] state of mind from her prior experience with [her parents] and subjective apprehension of danger from [them].
(Citations omitted; emphasis in original.)
Pollard v. State,
Here, there was evidence that Zepp told the daughter that she would be spanked or punished if she told anyone what was happening. Thе daughter testified that she had received a “bad whipping” when her parents found out that her brother reported the sexual abuse. She also testified that she was made to have sex with her father, and that Zepp ordered her to take her clothes off. This evidence was sufficient for the jury to find the element of force necessary to support the rape conviction.
Roberts v. State,
Contrary to Zepp’s contention, force is not an еlement of the offense of aggravated sexual battery. Aggravated sexual battery is committed when a person intentionally penetrates with a foreign object other than the sexual organ of a person the sexual organ of another without the consent of that person.
The daughter testified that her mother had a “pink thing that vibrates” which her mother inserted into the child, and which “hurt badly.” This evidence supported the jury’s conclusion that Zepp engaged in the act of aggravated sexual battery by penetrating her daughter’s vagina with a foreign object, specifically, a vibrator.
3. Zepp next argues that the triаl court erred in refusing to admit evidence of the daughter’s prior sexual molestation. The State filed a motion in limine to exclude evidence that the babysitter may have molested the child, and that the child had previously disclosed that the babysitter molested
[E]vidence of prior molestation or previous sexual activity on the part of the victim is not relevant in a molestation case to show either the victim’s reputation for nonchastity or his or her preoccupation with sex. An exception to this exclusion may be authorized when the State introduces evidence that the child has been sexually abused in the past or when the State presents evidence that the child exhibits symptoms of the сhild abuse accommodation syndrome. Here the State presented neither medical evidence showing that the victim had been molested nor evidence showing that she had indicated symptoms consistent with the child abuse accommodation syndrome. As a result, the exception was inapplicable and inquiry into the victim’s sexual history was properly precluded underOCGA § 24-2-3 (b) .
(Citations and punctuation omitted.)
Bishop v. State,
4. Zepp makes multiple claims that her trial counsel was ineffеctive, and that, but for his ineffectiveness, the trial results would have been different. We do not agree.
To prevail on an ineffectiveness claim, Zepp must show both that her trial counsel’s performance was deficient and that this deficiency prejudiced her defense.
Howard v. State,
(a) Zepp asserts that her trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to object when the trial court allowed a partition to be placed between her and the children when they testified. She also claims that the presence of the partition violated her confrontation rights under the state and federal constitutions.
The evidence shows that the State moved to have the children testify via сlosed circuit television pursuant to
[T]he right to confront is not absolute and may, in appropriate cases, bow to accommodate other legitimate interests in the criminal trial process. Clearly, the prosecution of child sex abuse cases poses substantial difficulties because of the emotional trauma frequently suffered by child witnesses who must testify about the sexual assaults they have suffered. To a child who does not understand the reason for confrontation, the anticipation and experience of being in close proximity to the defendant can be overwhelming. This court is unable to recognize any compelling logical reason for which a victim of child molestation would be forced into direct eye to eye contact with the appellant at all times. The right to confrontation is a right to ask and secure answers to questions from a witness who is present in cоurt and in full view of the trier of fact. This condition was satisfied by the trial court’s resolution in this case. In many cases, to require eye-to-eye contact between the victim and the appellant would not only be intimidating, and very possibly exacerbate the damage done them, but it also serves no meaningful purpose in the search for truth. Would the victim be more likely to tell the truth if forced to stare the defendant in theface? Certainly not as a matter of law and certainly not as a matter of fact. We have no information as to such a proposition and only superstition would suggest it. The victims are at a tender age and they understand their obligation to tell the truth. The mere fact that the trial court used its discretion in allowing the victims to [be separated by a partition] where they would not have to directly face the appellant in no way violated the appellant’s constitutional right to confrontation. The appellant had the full opportunity to confront each victim with a thorough and sifting cross-examination and to expose each victim to the court and jury.
(Citations and punctuation omitted.)
Ortiz v. State,
While our Supreme Court has held that Zepp “was entitled to an unobstructed view of [the children] while they were on the stand,”
Richardson v. State,
supra,
Likewise, we do not find that Zepp’s trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the procedure. At the motion for new trial hearing, Zepp’s counsel testified that he wanted the children to testify face to face, but that he thought thе
(b) Zepp next contends that her rights to due process and effective assistance were violated when the court improperly commented on the evidence. Zepp complains about several instances which she contends reflect the trial court’s improper commentary on the evidence. Although Zepp made no objection at trial regarding the conduct of the trial court, the plain error rule applies to criminal cases in which the trial court violates
Zepp complains that on three different instances, in sustaining the State’s objection during the examination of certain witnesses, the trial court said, “I agree,” and in doing so, improperly commented on the evidence. Our review of the transcript reveals that the trial court’s remarks merely reflected its ground for sustaining the objection, and, as such, did not implicate
Zepp also complains that on another occasion, the trial court responded after the State’s objection, that “I recall the evidence
Zepp also complains about the trial court’s questioning of the two victims; however, our review reveals no impropriety.
It is well settled that a trial court may question a witness in order to develop the truth of a case. Though a judge is prohibited from expressing or intimating his opinion as to what has or has not been proved, the trial judge does have the right to propound a questiоn or series of questions to any witness for the purpose of developing fully the truth of the case. The extent to which the examination conducted by the court shall go is a matter within the court’s discretion.
(Citations omitted.)
Jackson v. State,
Contrary to Zepp’s argument, the court’s inquiries were not an improper expression of its opinion of the case, but attempts to clarify the children’s testimony, without commenting on the evidence or the guilt of the defendant.
Zepp, likеwise, complains that the trial court improperly admitted testimony about body language and eye contact during the
testimony of the defense witness Dr. Farrar, which resulted in the bolstering of certain witnesses, and also gave the jury the trial court’s opinion as to what witnesses to believe. Zepp also maintains that the trial court’s questioning of this witness violated
Even if error occurred, it was induced by the defense, which opened the door. During direct examination Dr. Farrar testified about the purpose of videotaping victims and nonverbal clues, commenting that:
Well, the primary reason for videotaping, that’s ideal, is because, as I was saying earlier, what happens in these interviews, especially with needy children, they’re going to watch and have eye contact, as ya’ll saw in the videotape with [the daughter], she had pretty good eye contact with... the evaluator.
The trial court later questioned Dr. Farrar about body language and whether one could determine a person’s honesty through her eye contact with the interviewer.
“A self-induced error is too close to premeditated error, hence beyond further appellate scrutiny.” (Citations, punctuation and footnote omitted.)
Gordon v. State,
Additionally, we find that the trial court’s questioning of the witness regarding the hypotheses associated with body language did not violate
While Zepp contends her counsel was deficient for not objecting in these instances, such an objection was not warranted by the court’s statements. Therefore, this error is without merit.
Biswas v. State,
(c) Zepp also contends counsel was ineffective when he failed to object to the testimony of two State’s witnesses which bolstered the crеdibility of the victims.
It is well established that “[t]he credibility of a witness is a matter to be determined by the jury under proper instructions from the court.”
(i) Zepp first complains about the DFACS investigator’s comment that “I confirmed the sexual abuse.” The investigatоr testified that upon initiating an investigation of sexual abuse allegation, she could either find the allegations confirmed, unconfirmed, or unsubstantiated, and that in this case she “confirmed the sexual abuse.” The transcript reveals that Zepp’s trial counsel’s subsequent objection was sustained, the answer was struck, and the trial court instructed the jury to disregard the comment. Accordingly, we find no error. See
Williams v. State,
(ii) We, likewise, find no merit to Zepp’s contentiоn that her trial counsel was ineffective for failing to obj ect to the testimony of the lead investigator about whether he determined that probable cause existed to obtain an arrest warrant for Zepp. See
Amaechi v. State,
(iii) The State’s expert in pediatric forensics testified regarding her review of the physical examination of the daughter and commented that the findings were consistent with the allegation that the daughter’s “father had put his penis in her vagina.” Zepp complains that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to this comment because it improperly reflected the expert’s opinion that she believed the daughtеr’s allegation. We do not agree.
The testimony of experts that certain medical or scientific tests resulted in findings consistent with molestation does not violate
(d) Zepp also complains that her trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the trial court’s charge that the “quantum of evidence necessary to provе force against a child is minimal.” Zepp argues that her counsel erred in failing to reserve objections to the charge, thus failing to preserve the error on appeal.
We find no error because the judge’s charge represented a correct statement of the law. See
State v. Collins,
(e) Although Zepp complains that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to evidence that her parental rights were terminated, the record does not reflect that this evidence was ever admitted. During the defense’s questioning of the foster mother about the adequacy of the evidence against the parents in the DFACS action, the State objected to the relevance, contending that “the objection is that regardless of whether there is enough to terminate parental rights, this jury is here to decide the evidence in this case.” Thе court sustained the objection.
Where counsel in the hearing of the jury make statements of prejudicial matters which are not in evidence, it is the duty of the court to interpose and prevent the same. On objection made, the court shall also rebuke the counsel and by all needful and proper instructions to the jury endeavor to remove the improper impressionfrom their minds; or, in his discretion, he may order a mistrial if the prosеcuting attorney is the offender.
Here, the evidence shows that the defense employed the legal tactic of showing that the children were in foster care and had stayed in multiple foster homes, and had been improperly influenced by suggestions from the foster parents. Statements based upon reasonable and permissible inferences from evidence already before the jury do not violate the proscriptions of
5. Although Zepp complains that her trial attorney was generally ineffective, Georgia does not recognize the cumulative error doctrine.
Howren v. State,
Judgment affirmed.
Notes
In all proceedings involving the criminal charges specified in this Code section, the court may order that the testimony of a child ten years of age or younger who has been the victim of any violation of Code Section 16-5-70, Code