{ "id": 4178773, "name": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. JIMMY RAY WILLIAMS", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Williams", "decision_date": "2010-09-07", "docket_number": "No. COA10-11", "first_page": "136", "last_page": "143", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "207 N.C. App. 136" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "644 S.E.2d 615", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "case_ids": [ 12638420 ], "year": 2007, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "621" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/se2d/644/0615-01" ] }, { "cite": "668 S.E.2d 91", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "case_ids": [ 12642284 ], "year": 2008, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "94", "parenthetical": "citing State v. Bagley, 183 N.C. App. 514, 523, 644 S.E.2d 615, 621 (2007)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/se2d/668/0091-01" ] }, { "cite": "358 S.E.2d 65", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1987, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "358 S.E.2d 64", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1987, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "320 N.C. 174", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4729670, 4730118, 4726092, 4725548, 4724635 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1987, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/320/0174-01", "/nc/320/0174-04", "/nc/320/0174-02", "/nc/320/0174-03", "/nc/320/0174-05" ] }, { "cite": "354 S.E.2d 527", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 10, "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "529" }, { "page": "537" }, { "page": "538" }, { "page": "537" }, { "page": "538" }, { "page": "538" }, { "page": "538" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "85 N.C. App. 1", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 12169578 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "20" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/85/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "450 S.E.2d 878", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "884" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "338 N.C. 394", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2519398 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "406" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/338/0394-01" ] }, { "cite": "506 S.E.2d 283", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "290", "parenthetical": "quoting State v. Holden, 338 N.C. 394, 406, 450 S.E.2d 878, 884 (1994)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "131 N.C. App. 156", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11197996 ], "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "167", "parenthetical": "quoting State v. Holden, 338 N.C. 394, 406, 450 S.E.2d 878, 884 (1994)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/131/0156-01" ] }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 14-27.1", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "year": 2009, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "(1)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 14-27.5", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "year": 2009, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "(a)(2)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "678 S.E.2d 592", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2009, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "594", "parenthetical": "internal citations and quotation marks omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "363 N.C. 96", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4150522 ], "year": 2009, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "98-99", "parenthetical": "internal citations and quotation marks omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/363/0096-01" ] }, { "cite": "573 S.E.2d 866", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "868" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "356 N.C. 591", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 1511364 ], "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "595" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/356/0591-01" ] }, { "cite": "183 N.C. App. 514", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8204534 ], "year": 2007, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "523" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/183/0514-01" ] }, { "cite": "193 N.C. App. 521", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 4161365 ], "year": 2008, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "525", "parenthetical": "citing State v. Bagley, 183 N.C. App. 514, 523, 644 S.E.2d 615, 621 (2007)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/193/0521-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 717, "char_count": 15849, "ocr_confidence": 0.736, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.400479698708787e-08, "percentile": 0.27611397421239614 }, "sha256": "24f4adf4fc110bd158a36884044ce3f3d5ed7e27b3a66efb28505e7bb1233a6a", "simhash": "1:866a9d6052908e56", "word_count": 2534 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:56:31.092499+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges GEER and BEASLEY concur." ], "parties": [ "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. JIMMY RAY WILLIAMS" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JACKSON, Judge.\nDefendant Jimmy Ray Williams appeals from a judgment entered 1 July 2009 upon a jury\u2019s verdict finding him guilty of second-degree sexual offense and crime against nature. For the reasons set forth below, we hold no error.\nIn May 2008, William Ray Epperson (\u201cEpperson\u201d) had been living with his mother for forty-seven years. Epperson has an I.Q. of fifty-eight and is considered to have mild mental retardation. Epperson needs daily assistance with household chores and receives monthly disability checks for mental retardation. Defendant is Epperson\u2019s mother\u2019s boyfriend and has known Epperson for many years. Defendant often spent time with the family and frequently stayed overnight at Epperson\u2019s mother\u2019s house.\nTowards the end of May 2008, Epperson helped defendant move a refrigerator at defendant\u2019s trailer. Epperson testified that after he helped move the refrigerator, he went into the bathroom to put up a shower curtain, and then he went into the bedroom where defendant performed fellatio on him. Epperson testified that defendant asked \u201cif he could suck [Epperson\u2019s] dick\u201d and that defendant told Epperson \u201cnot to tell.\u201d Epperson testified that he told defendant \u201cno\u201d but defendant performed fellatio anyway. Epperson also testified as to another occasion at his mother\u2019s house where defendant came into Epperson\u2019s bedroom and began performing fellatio on Epperson. On that occasion, Epperson told defendant \u201cno,\u201d and defendant stopped. Because Epperson\u2019s mother\u2019s house is in Surry County and the indictment only charges crimes alleged to have been committed in Forsyth County, we only are concerned with the incident that took place at defendant\u2019s trailer in Forsyth County. A few days after the incidents defendant told his mother what had happened. Epperson also told his sister, two step-brothers, and Detective A.W. Adkins (\u201cDetective Adkins\u201d) about the incidents.\nOn 22 September 2008, defendant was indicted on one count of second-degree sexual offense and one count of crime against nature. On 30 June 2009, a jury convicted defendant of both charges. On 1 July 2009, defendant was sentenced to sixty to eighty-one months imprisonment. Defendant appeals.\nDefendant argues that the trial court erred in denying defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss the second-degree sexual offense at the end of all the evidence. We disagree.\nWe review the denial of a motion to dismiss de novo. State v. Robledo, 193 N.C. App. 521, 525, 668 S.E.2d 91, 94 (2008) (citing State v. Bagley, 183 N.C. App. 514, 523, 644 S.E.2d 615, 621 (2007)). In order to survive a motion to dismiss, the State must have presented substantial evidence as to each essential element of the offense charged and as to defendant\u2019s identity as the perpetrator. State v. Scott, 356 N.C. 591, 595, 573 S.E.2d 866, 868 (2002).\nWhen ruling on a motion to dismiss for insufficient evidence, the trial court must consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, drawing all reasonable inferences in the State\u2019s favor. Any contradictions or conflicts in the evidence are resolved in favor of the State, and evidence unfavorable to the State is not considered. The trial court must decide only whether there is substantial evidence of each essential element of the offense charged and of the defendant's] being the perpetrator of the offense. Substantial evidence is relevant evidence that a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion. When the evidence raises no more than a suspicion of guilt, a motion to dismiss should be granted. However, so long as the evidence supports a reasonable inference of the defendant\u2019s guilt, a motion to dismiss is properly denied even though the evidence also permits a reasonable inference of the defendant\u2019s innocence.\nState v. Miller, 363 N.C. 96, 98-99, 678 S.E.2d 592, 594 (2009) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted).\nTo support the charge of second-degree sexual offense, the State was required to present substantial evidence that the defendant (1) engaged in a sexual act; (2) with a person who is mentally disabled, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless; and (3) knew or should reasonably have known that the other person is mentally disabled, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless. N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 14-27.5(a)(2) (2009). Defendant does not deny that he engaged in a sexual act with Epperson. However, defendant contends that there was insufficient evidence that Epperson is mentally disabled pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes, section 14-27.1(1), and insufficient evidence that defendant knew or should reasonably have known that Epperson was mentally disabled.\nDefendant first contends that there was insufficient evidence that Epperson was mentally disabled pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes, section 14-27.1(1). We disagree.\nNorth Carolina General Statutes, section 14-27.1(1) defines \u201cmentally disabled\u201d as:\n(i) a victim who suffers from mental retardation, or (ii) a victim who suffers from a mental disorder, either of which temporarily or permanently renders the victim substantially incapable [(a)] of appraising the nature of his . . . conduct, or [(b)] of resisting . . . a sexual act, or [(c)] of communicating unwillingness to submit to ... a sexual act.\nN.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 14-27.1(1) (2009). \u201c[0]ne who is \u2018mentally [disabled]\u2019 under the sex offense laws is \u2018statutorily deemed incapable of consenting\u2019 to intercourse or other sexual acts.\u201d State v. Washington, 131 N.C. App. 156, 167, 506 S.E.2d 283, 290 (1998) (quoting State v. Holden, 338 N.C. 394, 406, 450 S.E.2d 878, 884 (1994)).\nDefendant relies upon State v. Oliver, 85 N.C. App. 1, 354 S.E.2d 527 (1987), to support his argument that Epperson was able to appraise the nature of his conduct and communicate an unwillingness to receive oral sex, and therefore, was not \u201cmentally disabled.\u201d Id., cert. denied, 320 N.C. 174, 358 S.E.2d 64, supersedeas denied, 320 N.C. 174, 358 S.E.2d 65 (1987). In Oliver, the victim was a sixteen-year-old who functioned at an eight-year-old level and had a full scale I.Q. of sixty-six or less. Id. at 4, 354 S.E.2d at 529. Expert testimony established that the victim in certain circumstances was capable of appraising the nature of her conduct. Id. at 18, 354 S.E.2d at 537. The victim also testified that she verbally protested the sexual abuse. Id. at 20, 354 S.E.2d at 538. Accordingly, we held that \u201cthe State\u2019s evidence was not sufficient to show the victim was substantially incapable of \u2018appraising the nature of . . . her conduct\u2019 or \u2018communicating unwillingness to submit to the . . . sexual act.\u201d Id. at 18, 354 S.E.2d at 537. However, based upon expert testimony that the victim would find it very difficult to disobey an authority figure, we also held that there was \u201csufficient evidence to support a finding that the victim was substantially incapable of \u2018resisting the ... sexual act.\u2019 \u201d Id. Specifically, we ruled that\nthe element of \u201csubstantially incapable of... resisting the ... sexual act\u201d is not negated by the victim\u2019s ability to verbally protest or even to engage in some physical resistance of the abuse. The words \u201csubstantially incapable\u201d show the Legislature\u2019s intent to include within the definition of \u201cmentally [disabled]\u201d those persons who by reason of their mental retardation or disorder would give little or no physical resistance to a sexual act.\nId. at 20, 354 S.E.2d at 538. Accordingly, \u201c[v]iewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, we [found] the evidence sufficient to support the trial court\u2019s denial of defendant]^] motion for nonsuit.\u201d Id. at 20-21, 354 S.E.2d at 538.\nIn the case sub judice, both parties agreed that the evidence tended to show that Epperson was capable of appraising the nature of his conduct and of communicating an unwillingness to submit to a sexual act. The element at issue is whether Epperson was substantially capable of resisting a sexual act. Expert testimony showed that Epperson had a full scale I.Q. of fifty-eight, placing him in the range of mild mental retardation. The expert witness testified that Epperson \u201chad difficulty expressing himself verbally\u201d; \u201cwas able to read very simple words like go, cat, [and] in\u201d; \u201cwas able to solve very simple addition and subtraction problems\u201d; and \u201chad difficulty answering questions about social abilities, every-day-life tasks.\u201d Epperson\u2019s sister testified that Epperson needed daily assistance with \u201c[c]ooking, washing his clothes, [and] making sure he brushed his teeth.\u201d During trial, the following exchange occurred:\n[Defendant\u2019s counsel]: [D]id [defendant] ask you if he could suck your dick?\n[Epperson]: Yeah.\n[Defendant\u2019s counsel]: And what did you say when he asked you that?\n[Epperson]: He told me not to tell at the trailer. That\u2019s what he told me.\n[Defendant\u2019s counsel]: Well, did he ask you \u2014 well, what did [you] say when he asked you that question?\n[Epperson]: I told him no.\n[Defendant\u2019s counsel]: And then what did he do?\n[Epperson]: He suck[ed] it.\nEpperson testified that he did not want defendant to \u201csuck [his] dick\u201d and Epperson had also told Detective Adkins that he did not want the incident to take place. In the light most favorable to the State, notwithstanding Epperson\u2019s communication of his unwillingness to receive oral sex, defendant completed the sexual act, allowing an inference that Epperson was unable to resist the sexual act. As a \u201cperson who by reason of [his] mental retardation or disorder would give little or no physical resistance to a sexual act,\u201d Epperson falls within the Legislature\u2019s definition of \u201cmentally [disabled].\u201d See Oliver, 85 N.C. App. at 20, 354 S.E.2d at 538. When taken in the light most favorable to the State, a reasonable juror could find that Epperson was substantially incapable of resisting a sexual act and was \u201cmentally disabled\u201d pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes, section 14-27.1(1). Accordingly, defendant\u2019s first argument is without merit.\nDefendant next contends that there was insufficient evidence that defendant knew or reasonably should have known that Epperson was mentally disabled because defendant is unable to discern a difference in mental capability between Epperson and himself. We disagree.\nIn support of this contention, defendant relies on the following testimony by expert witness Dr. Ashley King (\u201cDr. King\u201d):\n[Defendant\u2019s counsel]: [D]id [defendant] mak\u00e9 any comparisons between he [sic] and Mr. Epperson?\n[Dr. King]: Yes, he did.\n[Defendant\u2019s counsel]: What did he say that Mr. Epperson was able to do?\n[Dr. King]: Let\u2019s see. He said that he could read, work in the yard, clean the house and fix a lawnmower. And he said, quote, \u201che seemed just like me, but he could read and write,\u201d end quote.\n[Defendant\u2019s counsel]: So based upon those statements that were made by [defendant] to, would you think he was able to discern a difference between him and Mr. Epperson?\n[Dr. King]: I wouldn\u2019t base that . . . making that discernment on those statements or on any single piece of data.\n[Defendant\u2019s counsel]: Well, based on all of your data then, not just that one particular statement, but based on all of your data, do you think that he would be able to discern the difference between he [sic] and Mr. Epperson?\n[Dr. King]: I think that it might be difficult for him. I mean, he might \u2014 he might notice that there were things about Mr. Epperson that were different, like him repeating things over and over, but I don\u2019t know that he would conclude from that that Mr. Epperson was mentally retarded.\nDr. King testified that based upon her evaluation, her diagnosis was that he had \u201cborderline intelligence,\u201d placing him \u201cbetween below average and mild mental retardation.\u201d Dr. King testified that \u201c[she] wasn\u2019t able to successfully test [defendant]\u201d because she thought that \u201c[defendant] was trying to ... seem a little bit less intelligent than he actually is during [their] interview.\u201d Dr. King testified that defendant was \u201cmalingering... so much so that [she] could not use the tests at all[;] in fact, [she] had to discard the whole process.\u201d Dr. King also testified that defendant\u2019s 2004 test result of a full scale I.Q. of fifty-four was inaccurate because defendant was able to drive a forklift and a car, tasks that she would expect someone with an I.Q. between seventy and eighty to perform. Dr. King agreed with the statement that, at the time of the 2004 test, defendant had a \u201chuge reason to malinger because the result could be ... a monthly [disability] check.\u201d Defendant also knew that Dr. King\u2019s evaluation was in preparation for her testimony at defendant\u2019s trial. When asked whether \u201c[defendant] would ... be in a position to recognize some mental deficits in talking with someone who, in fact, has a mental deficit,\u201d Dr. King responded, \u201cI would think it would depend upon how pronounced [the mental deficits] were and how different they were from what [defendant\u2019s] idea of normal was.\u201d\nIn contrast, the State\u2019s evidence tended to show that Epperson displayed many signs of mental disability. Detective Adkins testified that, within three minutes of talking with Epperson, \u201cit became clearly obvious . . . that [Epperson] had some deficits.\u201d However, Detective Adkins testified that, during an interview with defendant later on that same day, \u201c[defendant appeared [to be] a normal and healthy adult male. And the only deficits that [Detective Adkins] determined in conducting [the] interview was his inability to read or write.\u201d Evidence also showed that defendant had a driver\u2019s license, held regular jobs, took care of Epperson\u2019s mother when she was sick by cooking meals and making sure she took her medication, could connect a VCR, and could read \u201csomewhat.\u201d Epperson, on the other hand, could not drive, never has held a regular job, only could cook food in a microwave, had to be reminded to brush his teeth, did not know how to connect a VCR, and could not read.\nMoreover, defendant had sufficient opportunity to get to know Epperson as more than just a casual observer. Prior to the charges against defendant, Epperson lived with his mother for forty-seven years. During the thirteen years defendant dated Epperson\u2019s mother, defendant spent one or two nights a week at Epperson\u2019s mother\u2019s house and \u201chung out with the family.\u201d Therefore, defendant had ample opportunity, or reasonably should have discovered, Epperson\u2019s mental disability. Defendant\u2019s offer to Epperson of a Pepsi or $10.00 to have oral sex is a strong indication that defendant actually did know that Epperson functioned at the level of a child or person with a mental disability. Taken in the light most favorable to the State, a reasonable juror could find that defendant knew or should have reasonably known that Epperson was mentally disabled. Accordingly, this argument fails. We hold that there was sufficient evidence to support the trial court\u2019s denial of defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss.\nFor the foregoing reasons, we hold no error.\nNo Error.\nJudges GEER and BEASLEY concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "JACKSON, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Attorney General Roy A. Cooper, III, by Assistant Attorney General Sarah Y. Meaeham, for the State.", "Daniel J. Clifton, for defendant-appellant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. JIMMY RAY WILLIAMS\nNo. COA10-11\n(Filed 7 September 2010)\nSexual Offenses\u2014 second-degree sexual offense \u2014 mentally disabled victim \u2014 sufficient evidence\nThe trial court did not err in denying defendant\u2019s motion to dismiss a charge of second-degree sexual offense because the State presented substantial evidence of all the elements of the offense, including that the victim was mentally disabled and that defendant knew or should reasonably have known that the victim was mentally disabled.\nAppeal by defendant from judgment entered 1 July 2009 by Judge William Z. Wood, Jr. in Forsyth County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 19 August 2010.\nAttorney General Roy A. Cooper, III, by Assistant Attorney General Sarah Y. Meaeham, for the State.\nDaniel J. Clifton, for defendant-appellant." }, "file_name": "0136-01", "first_page_order": 160, "last_page_order": 167 }