Fowler v. State

WOODLEY, Judge.

The appeal is from a conviction for aggravated assault with punishment assessed at a fine of $250.00.

The prosecutrix was the wife of a university student who worked part time at a men’s store where appellant was employed.

There had been some conversation between the three concerning her return to a modeling career, and appellant offered to help by obtaining a photographer to take some photographs of her to submit to various agencies.

Appellant came to her apartment about 5:50 P.M., while her husband was working, and told her the photographer would arrive shortly, but if he was not there by 6 o’clock he would proceed with the measurements of her body.

The photographer did not arrive and appellant began by measuring her neck and arms. He asked if she had any padding in her “bra” and, when she said she did, told her to remove the “bra”, and she went into another room and did so.

The prosecturix testified that she returned to the room wearing a loose fitting blouse; that appellant, who the evidence shows was an adult male, “suddenly reached up and grabbed my breasts and he saw I was shocked” and later he “grabbed at it again”.

The prosecutrix testified that appellant’s conduct caused her to feel a sense of shame and disgrace, but she did not call or cry out because she was afraid of what he would do if she did call out. As soon as appellant left she notified her husband.

Appellant denied this or any other assault upon the pro-secutrix during the taking of her measurements.

The court, in his charge, defined “assault and battery” and instructed the jury as to the punishment when an assault is committed by means used such as inflicts disgrace upon the person assaulted.

A conviction was authorized upon a finding by the jury, beyond a reasonable doubt, that appellant was an adult male and that he made an aggravated assault upon the prosecutrix, she being a female, and also upon a finding beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant made an aggravated assault upon the prosecutrix “by means used such as inflicted disgrace upon the person” of the prosecutrix.

“Disgrace” was defined as meaning “a cause of shame or reproach, that which dishonors, a state of ignominy, dishonor, or shame.”

The jury was instructed that if they did not so believe, or if they had reasonable doubt thereof, to find appellant not guilty.

The jury was also instructed: “if you believe from the evidence that the defendant placed his hands upon Barbara Hathaway, but did so without intention to injure her or her feelings, and with probable grounds to believe that such action would not be objectionable to her, or if you have a reasonable doubt thereon, you will find the defendant not guilty and so say by your verdict.”

The charge in the particular mentioned, fully protected appellant’s rights.

Appellant having denied that he used any indecent conduct or undue familiarity with the person of the prosecutrix, a charge that if he did so but such did not create a sense of shame or other disagreeable emotion was not called for and its omission was not prejudicial.

The evidence is sufficient to sustain the conviction and no reversible error appears.

The judgment is affirmed.