The opinion
Cite as 2022 Ark. App. 45
Elizabeth Perry
I attest to the accuracy and
ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
integrity of this document DIVISION I
2023.08.21 12:58:46 -05'00' No. CR-21-184
2023.003.20269
W.O. (A JUVENILE) OPINION DELIVERED FEBRUARY 2, 2022
APPELLANT
APPEAL FROM THE BENTON
COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
V. [NO. 04JV-20-355]
STATE OF ARKANSAS HONORABLE THOMAS E. SMITH,
APPELLEE JUDGE
REVERSED
ROBERT J. GLADWIN, Judge
W.O. appeals the Benton County Circuit Court’s January 21, 2021 adjudication order
finding him guilty of second-degree sexual assault. On appeal, he argues that the circuit court
erred (1) in finding him guilty of violating the sexual-assault statute because there was no finding
that he committed an act for a sexual purpose and (2) by permitting the State to amend the
charges. We reverse.
I. Standard of Review
While a delinquency adjudication is not a criminal conviction, it is based on an allegation
by the State that the juvenile has committed a certain crime. B.T. v. State, 2019 Ark. App. 471,
at 6, 588 S.W.3d 387, 392 (citing A.D. v. State, 2015 Ark. App. 35, 453 S.W.3d 696). Our
standard of review is the same as it would be in a criminal case; that is, whether the adjudication
is supported by substantial evidence. Id. Substantial evidence is evidence, direct or
circumstantial, that is of sufficient force and character to compel a conclusion one way or the
other without speculation or conjecture. Id. In considering the evidence presented below, we
will not weigh the evidence or assess the credibility of witnesses because those are questions for
the fact-finder. Id. The evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the State. A.W. v.
State, 2017 Ark. App. 34, 510 S.W.3d 811.
II. Facts
The State filed a delinquency petition on July 23, 2020, alleging that W.O., born July
25, 2006, engaged in sexual contact with D.W., a nine-year-old boy, by grabbing D.W.’s
genitalia in violation of Arkansas Code Annotated section 5-14-125(a)(5)(A) (Supp. 2021).
A bench trial was held on January 20, 2021, and the State offered two witnesses. Rogers
police detective Dustin Wiens testified that he observed D.W.’s interview at the Child
Advocacy Center on April 22, 2020. He said that there were allegations of sexual contact, and
he spoke with D.W.’s family, who did not corroborate or provide any evidence that
contradicted D.W.’s statements. Wiens did not see any signs that indicated concealment during
D.W.’s interview, and Wiens said that D.W. was calm and seemed sincere. On cross-
examination, Wiens said that he spoke with Elizabeth Hall, D.W.’s aunt and legal custodian,
and she indicated she had spoken to D.W.’s grandmother and that they had kept the boys apart.
He also interviewed W.O., who denied anything had happened. On redirect examination,
Wiens said that he felt like W.O. was not telling him everything and was being very careful of
what he was saying. W.O.’s grandfather told Wiens that W.O. has ADHD and that he takes
medication for it.
D.W. testified that he is ten years old and that he knows the difference between a truth
and a lie. He said that he knows W.O. from church and that W.O. had stayed over at his house
on a few occasions. One night when W.O. stayed over, they argued when they competed for
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the dog’s attention, which made D.W. feel sad. W.O. slept in D.W.’s bed, and D.W. slept on
the couch. When D.W. woke up that night, he remembered seeing W.O. D.W. testified,
I felt my private hurting. That is my genitals under my pants. He was grabbing it,
squeezing it really hard. It hurt. I told him to move. He did move and went back into
my room. He didn’t ever talk to me about what had occurred. He pretended like
nothing happened.
On cross-examination, D.W. said that when this happened, he and W.O. had gotten
into a “fuss” about a dog and that he was afraid W.O. was going to make the dog bite somebody.
He said that his aunt and uncle had told him that if the dog bit somebody, it would “go away.”
He said that he did not tell W.O. to go home because it was really late at night, after dark and
after supper. They were mad at each other, and that is why D.W. had slept on the couch.
D.W. said that he woke his aunt and told her about the dog, but he did not tell her about “the
other thing.” He said that he did not tell anyone about it for quite a while. On redirect, he
said that the first person he told about the incident was his dad and that he does not know why
he waited to tell someone. He said that he has negative feelings about it and that he does not
enjoy talking about it. “I was afraid to tell somebody about this, so I waited longer than I
needed to.”
The State rested its case, and the defense called Elizabeth Hall to testify. She said that
she is D.W.’s legal guardian and that she is in the process of relinquishing guardianship because
D.W. now lives with his father. She said that D.W. and W.O. had met at church and that they
had spent the night together a few times before the incident. She was made aware of the
allegation when the police officer came to her door. D.W. had not told her or anyone else
about it. She said that the family agreed that D.W. would not be allowed to have any more
contact with W.O. She said that she went so far as to talk to someone at the church about
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W.O.’s being in contact with other children. She does not remember telling an officer about
the boys not having contact and that the families had taken care of it. She remembered telling
the officer that D.W. lied a lot. She did not know if she had said that she did not see a reason
for the police investigation, but it was possible because everything happened quickly, and she
did not know what to do. On cross-examination, she said that D.W. had never lied to her
about anything of this nature or importance. She recanted any position that she had taken in
the past about whether D.W. was being untruthful “now that she had had time to hear all the
evidence.” She added that she had been mad at D.W. the morning after the incident because
she thought he was being rude to W.O. She said that D.W. did not look at him, he stayed as
far away from him in the living room as he could, and he would not speak to him. When
W.O.’s grandmother came to pick him up, she told D.W. to tell him goodbye and asked him
what was wrong. At the time, she thought D.W. was being rude, but now “his actions have
taken on a new light.”
W.O. testified that he is fourteen years old and in the eighth grade. He has lived with
his grandparents for ten years, and he knows D.W. from church. He said that they had spent
the night with each other five or six times and that they had argued at different times. He said
that the night they argued about the dog, he got onto the floor and turned on his phone and
watched Netflix. He said that D.W. left, so he got back on the bed and fell asleep. He woke
up around 8:00 a.m. and went into the living room. Liz, D.W.’s aunt, was there, and he did
not know where D.W. was. He said that he did not go into the living room during the night.
He said that D.W. was mad at him and that he did not see D.W. before he went home that
day.
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The defense rested its case, and the State made its closing argument. The defense argued
in its closing that the incident described was some kind of assault but that it was not sexually
motivated. After the State’s rebuttal argument, the following colloquy occurred:
THE COURT: Count One that I’m looking at is the sexual assault, second degree,
alleging that the victim was under 14, right?
STATE: Yes, Your Honor, that is correct. The—in my closing I confused
two alternate theories, there’s the forcible compulsion theory, but
then there is also the sexual contact by someone who at the time
was—on someone who is under the age of 14, and was not a
spouse, which I believe the evidence did establish.
THE COURT: Except though, if you look at that part of it, you’ve got to be 18
years, or older, if I’m reading the statute right. Look at 5-14-125,
being 18 years or older engages in sexual contact with a person
less than 14, not his spouse. So, in this case it’s really the forcible
compulsion only, right?
STATE: Yes, Your Honor. And the State would, of course, move to
amend that language to be included in our—the actual outline,
and we did intentionally bring out that evidence through the
course of the trial, and in our closing to lay down the foundation
for that—for that finding.
DEFENSE: And, Your Honor, I would object to that. You can’t amend your
petition after close of evidence. That’s a well-established law.
THE COURT: All right. Well, let me sort through this a little bit. The reality of
it is, I’ve heard all of the evidence. I watched the witnesses,
listened to the—and judged their credibility. This case is strictly
about the credibility. Who do you believe? Do you believe WO,
or do you believe DW? I don’t—I think right now, when I
listened to DW, DW came across as very credible and not lying
about any of this. He’s upset about it. WO, he’s got some—he’s
got to cover, he’s afraid he’s going to get in trouble.
Now, I don’t agree with the State. I don’t think WO was doing
this out of some sexual deal, I think whatever got in WO’s head
that night, being mad or whatever, he did something stupid that
14-year-olds do. And there’s a presumption that it’s sexual, but I
don’t think—I don’t think that’s what the case here is.
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But WO, my concern here is, that you—I don’t believe that you
didn’t touch DW that night. I don’t believe you didn’t touch DW
that night, and all I want to do is get some help, to make sure that
this don’t ever happen again.
My concern really is, if I’m correct, and you did, for whatever
reason, grab him that night, which I believe by the evidence, not
willing to admit it, and tried to lie about it—that is more
dangerous than just acting out of whatever. So that’s my concern.
So, I’ve got to do something about it. I mean, I think [defense
counsel’s] right, this is the—sometimes you scratch your head and
go what in the world happened? But DW’s own testimony was,
he woke up, DW said stop, WO stopped, and he left. So, he
shouldn’t have touched him at all. But when he said stop, you did.
All right. But there’s another section down here that covers your
part of this, I believe.
STATE: Your Honor, are you referring to subsection (5)(a) of the statute?
THE COURT: Yeah, I think I was reading (4)(a).
STATE: And that is correct, Your Honor. Co-counsel and I were
reviewing the statute again, and we did identify that subsection
(5)(a), where the defendant being a minor engages in sexual
contact with another person who is less than 14 years of age, but
not the person’s spouse.
THE COURT: Well, the reality of it is, that actually fits—there’s a presumption
that touching genitals is sexual. It doesn’t talk anything about
sexual gratification or deviant sexual activity. And what you did,
by grabbing him, that’s sexual contact. I think it meets the code,
and I’m satisfied with that D felony.
I really just want to make sure I get WO in counseling, if he’s not
already in counseling, just to make sure that as he gets older, don’t
ever touch anybody or say anything inappropriate, okay? And
don’t ever have anything on your social media, your computer,
your phone, it’s all very dangerous. And the older you get, this
type of deal can get really, really serious.
The only thing that’s concerning me right now is, I don’t believe
you didn’t touch him. I think you’re just afraid to get in trouble.
I’m not going to lock you up. I’m not going to do that. I’m going
to get you some help, and make sure we have some things in place
to make sure this never happens again, okay, WO? But be truthful
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with the counselors when you talk to them and do your
counseling, okay? I think WO’s been through a lot in life, seems
to me like, if I remember right.
DEFENSE: Your Honor, one, I would like to make a record in case WO
wants to appeal. I would object to the Court saying that there was
not any kind of sexual connotation, and then finding that there
was sexual contact. I think sexual contact infers by its definition
that there was some type of sexual gratification assault. So, I don’t
think the State has met its burden on that.
THE COURT: I’m not—I don’t think I have to read into his mind. I think the
reality of it is, you grabbed somebody’s genitals while they’re
asleep. I think that’s what the presumption is. Just because I may
not think you planned on doing much more, I don’t know. But I
think it meets the burden of it. So, I get your record. I’m just
saying grabbing the genitals—the case, these facts, are pretty clear.
DW was asleep. DW woke up. WO was grabbing his genitals
without his permission. DW said stop. WO stopped. WO left.
That’s it.
I think it meets the burden of that code. I’ll note your objection.
But I’m not—I’m not going to sit here and say that WO intended
on—I don’t know what WO intended on doing. I don’t think the
State has to prove that. I think there’s a presumption, if you’re
touching somebody’s genitals without their permission, that’s
sexual contact.
So that’s all I’m finding. And the code says that. It doesn’t say
anything about sexual gratification or deviant sexual activity, if I’m
reading this thing right. Under that D felony, I don’t read that
any of that stuff has to be in place, just sexual contact.
An adjudication order was filed January 21, 2021, finding W.O. guilty of second-degree
sexual assault and ordering that W.O. have no contact with D.W. W.O. filed a timely notice
of appeal, and this appeal followed.
III. Sexual Contact
W.O. argues that the circuit court erred in finding him guilty of second-degree sexual
assault under Arkansas Code Annotated section 5-14-125(a)(5)(A) because the statute requires
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that “sexual contact” be committed for the purpose of sexual gratification, and the court stated
that there was no finding that W.O. committed an act for a sexual purpose. Arkansas Code
Annotated section 5-14-125 provides that a person commits sexual assault in the second degree
if the person, being a minor, engages in sexual contact with another person who is less than
fourteen years old and is not the person’s spouse. Ark. Code Ann. § 5-14-125(a)(5)(A)(i) and
(ii). “Sexual contact” is defined, in part, as an act of sexual gratification involving the touching,
directly or through clothing, of the sex organs. Ark. Code Ann. § 5-14-101(12)(A) (Supp.
2021).
W.O. argues that the incident as alleged by D.W. was not committed for the purpose
of sexual gratification but was a simple assault. The circuit court stated,
Now, I don’t agree with the State. I don’t think W.O. was doing this out of some
sexual deal, I think whatever got in W.O.’s head that night, being mad or whatever, he
did something stupid that 14-year-olds do. And there’s a presumption that it’s sexual,
but I don’t think—I don’t think that’s what the case here is.
W.O. maintains that while direct proof of sexual gratification is not required, a finding that the
purpose of contact was for sexual gratification is required for a court to rule that sexual contact
occurred under the statute. Id.
Contrary to the State’s argument, W.O. contends that this issue is preserved for appellate
review. We agree. W.O.’s trial counsel stated,
I would object to the court saying that there was not any kind of sexual
connotation, and then finding that there was sexual contact. I think sexual contact infers
by its definition that there was some type of sexual gratification assault. So, I don’t think
the State has met its burden on that.
To preserve an argument, a proper objection must be asserted at the first opportunity after the
matter to which the objection has been made occurs. Dickerson v. State, 363 Ark. 437, 444, 214
S.W.3d 811, 817 (2005) (citing Gates v. State, 338 Ark. 530, 543, 2 S.W.3d 40, 47 (1999)).
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Here, the circuit court had not done anything objectionable until it announced its ruling from
the bench. Because W.O. objected at the proper time, this court may address the issue on
appeal. See A.W. v. State, 2017 Ark. App. 34, 510 S.W.3d 811 (argument not preserved because
it was made for the first time on appeal).
W.O. argues that the circuit court erred by finding that the offense need not be
committed for the purpose of sexual gratification and stating that the court did not know why
or how the offense was committed, yet finding W.O. guilty of second-degree sexual assault.
He contends that a finding of intent to commit an act for the purpose of sexual gratification is
essential for a finding that sexual assault occurred.
The State argues that the testimony of a sex-crime victim alone is sufficient to support
an adjudication. Brown v. State, 374 Ark. 341, 288 S.W.3d 226 (2008). Further, when sexual
contact occurs without a legitimate medical reason, it can be assumed that such contact was for
sexual gratification, and the State need not offer direct proof on that element. Holland v. State,
2017 Ark. App. 49, 510 S.W.3d 311. Thus, the State claims that D.W.’s testimony supports
the adjudication, and the presumption of sexual contact for the purpose of sexual gratification
was never rebutted. Holland, supra. Further, the State contends that, despite the circuit court’s
“confusing and contradictory” statements during its ruling, the court concluded that W.O. had
violated section 5-14-125(a)(5)(A) and recognized that it had to apply the presumption that
W.O. committed the act for the purpose of sexual gratification in determining the truth of the
charge.
Regardless of the State’s characterization of the circuit court’s recognition of the
presumption required, we cannot ignore the circuit court’s clear finding that W.O.’s actions
were not for the purpose of sexual gratification. The circuit court ignored that “sexual contact”
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is defined as an act of sexual gratification. Ark. Code Ann. § 5-14-101(12)(A). Once the court
made its finding of fact that W.O. did not act for the purpose of sexual gratification, it then
made an error of law by finding that there was sexual contact based on the presumption. The
circuit court’s finding that sexual gratification was not proved effectively rebuts the presumption
as defined under the statute. Id. Accordingly, we reverse.
IV. Motion to Amend Charge
Second, W.O. argues that the circuit court erred by permitting the State to amend the
charges after both the State and the defense had rested. See Martinez v. State, 2014 Ark. App.
182, 432 S.W.3d 689. However, there is no merit to W.O.’s argument because, as evidenced
by the colloquy set forth above, the circuit court did not rule on the motion to amend the
charge, and the adjudication is based solely on Arkansas Code Annotated section 5-14-
125(a)(5)(A)—the charge contained in the delinquency petition.
Reversed.
VIRDEN and WHITEAKER, JJ., agree.
Laura Avery, for appellant.
Leslie Rutledge, Att’y Gen., by: Karen Virginia Wallace, Ass’t Att’y Gen., for appellee.
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