NO. COA98-1078
NORTH CAROLINA COURT OF APPEALS
Filed: 21 September 1999
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. JUAN JARRELLE CRUMBLEY
1. Evidence--hearsay--medical diagnosis or treatment
Hearsay statements may be admissible under N.C.G.S. § 8C-1, Rule 803(4) if those
statements are made for the purpose of medical diagnosis or treatment. Factors properly
considered to determine whether statements have been made for the purpose of medical
diagnosis or treatment include whether the examination was requested by persons involved in the
prosecution of the case, the proximity of the examination to the victim's initial diagnosis,
whether the victim received a diagnosis or treatment as a result of the examination, and the
proximity of the examination to the trial date. The key factor is whether the statements resulted
in the child receiving medical treatment and/or diagnosis.
2. Evidence--hearsay--medical treatment exception--child sexual abuse victim--
statements to social worker
The statements of a child sexual abuse victim to a social worker (Womble) were
admissible as hearsay statements made for the purpose of medical diagnosis or treatment where
Womble did not interview the child at the request of persons involved in the prosecution of
defendant but as part of her duties as an emergency investigator for Social Services; the
interview took place approximately twenty months prior to trial and in close proximity to the
child's initial diagnosis and treatment; and, although Womble's investigation ended one day
before another social worker made medical appointments for the child, Womble's role as the
initial investigator played a crucial role in the process that Social Services used to determine
whether to pursue medical treatment and the statements resulted in the child receiving treatment.
3. Evidence--hearsay--medical treatment exception--child sexual abuse victim--
statements to social worker
Statements of a child sexual abuse victim to a social worker (Melendez) were admissible
as hearsay statements made for the purpose of medical diagnosis and treatment where Melendez
did not interview the victim at the request of anyone involved with the prosecution of defendant
but as part of her duties as a social worker; the interview took place approximately twenty
months prior to trial in close proximity to the child's initial diagnosis and treatment; and the
child received medical diagnosis and treatment as a result of Melendez's interviews.
4. Evidence--sexual abuse of child--expert testimony--admissible
The trial court did not err in a prosecution for first-degree statutory rape, first-degreestatutory sexual offense, and indecent liberties by admitting testimony from a pediatrician and
the Director of the Child Sexual Abuse Team at Wake Medical Center that the victim had been
sexually abused where the doctor based her opinions on her own exam of the victim, extensive
personal experience examining children who have been sexually abused, knowledge of child
sexual abuse studies, and a colleague's notes from an interview with the child. She did not base
her opinions on speculation or conjecture, but on adequate data. N.C.G.S. § 8C-1, Rule 702.
5. Sentencing--defendant's presence--alteration between oral rendering and written
judgment
A sentence was vacated where defendant was present in open court when concurrent
sentences were rendered in an oral judgment, but not when a written judgment was entered
which provided that the sentences would run consecutively. This substantive change could only
be made in defendant's presence, where he would have an opportunity to be heard. Appeal by defendant from judgments dated 6 May 1998 by Judge
Quentin T. Sumner in Wilson County Superior Court. Heard in the
Court of Appeals 17 August 1999.
Attorney General Michael F. Easley, by Associate Attorney
General Allison Smith Corum, for the State.
Gibbons, Cozart, Jones, Hughes, Sallenger & Taylor, by
Thomas R. Sallenger, for defendant-appellant.
GREENE, Judge.
Juan Jarrelle Crumbley (Defendant) appeals from a jury
verdict finding him guilty of taking indecent liberties with a
child, first-degree statutory sex offense, and first-degree
statutory rape.
The trial court rendered the following sentence in open
court and in the Defendant's presence, on 6 May 1996: a minimum
prison term of 19 months and maximum prison terms of 23 months
for taking indecent liberties with a child; a minimum prison term
of 288 months and maximum prison term of 355 months for first-
degree statutory sex offense; and, a minimum prison term of 288
months and maximum prison term of 355 months for first-degree
statutory rape. The trial court did not indicate whether the
sentences would run consecutively or concurrently.
The trial court later entered a written and signed judgmenton 6 May 1996. The written and signed judgment imposed the same
length of sentence as previously rendered, but further stated the
sentences would run consecutively. There is no indication in the
record that Defendant was present.
The State presented evidence that on 9 September 1996
Defendant was living with his girlfriend, Teresa Crumbley (Mrs.
Crumbley), and Mrs. Crumbley's seven-year-old daughter, A.J. At
the time of trial Mrs. Crumbley and Defendant were married.
While A.J. and Defendant were alone at their residence on 9
September 1996, Defendant came into A.J.'s bedroom and pulled off
her clothes. Defendant then stuck A.J. with a nail "in [her]
privates." Defendant also used his fingers to stretch her
private parts "so he could really stick it [the nail] in there."
Deborah Barnes (Barnes), A.J.'s aunt, arrived at Defendant's
residence on 9 September 1996 and heard A.J. screaming. When
Barnes entered the residence, she saw Defendant coming out of
A.J.'s bedroom while zipping up his pants. Barnes then went into
A.J.'s room and found A.J. in her bed and "her panties were half
up." A.J. was nervous and shaking. On 10 September 1996 Barnes
reported the incident to Sherry Beard (Detective Beard), a
detective for the Wilson County Sheriff's Department.
Detective Beard contacted the Wilson County Department of
Social Services (Social Services) to report the incident. SocialServices then contacted Brenda Womble (Womble), an emergency
investigator with Social Services, to investigate the report.
Womble went to Defendant's residence on 10 September 1996 to
determine whether A.J.'s presence in the residence with Defendant
placed her at a high risk for harm, and to determine whether A.J.
should be taken into protective custody. Womble testified she
interviewed A.J. at the residence, and A.J. told her Defendant
"did bad things to her" and "tries to make [her] take [her]
clothes off." She also testified A.J. told her Defendant "puts
his hand in her pants" when in the bedroom and in the living
room. Womble determined A.J. should be separated from Defendant,
and A.J. went to stay at her grandmother's home. Womble also
contacted Becky Melendez (Melendez), a social worker in the Child
Protective Services Unit of Social Services, and Melendez was
assigned to A.J.'s case. On 10 September 1996, Womble met
Melendez at A.J.'s grandmother's home and Melendez began her
investigation.
Melendez interviewed A.J. on 10 September 1996 and 11
September 1996. Melendez testified A.J. told her during those
interviews Defendant "had been touching her in places that he
shouldn't be touching her, and she wanted it to stop." She also
testified A.J. pointed to the vaginal area of a doll to indicate
where Defendant had been touching her, and A.J. placed the handof a male doll on the vaginal part of a female doll. Melendez
determined from her interview A.J. would need medical treatment.
Melendez therefore made an appointment for A.J. to see a sexual
abuse specialist at Wake Medical Center. Since A.J. could not be
seen at Wake Medical Center until 18 September 1996, Melendez
also made an appointment for A.J. to see a pediatrician prior to
the appointment at Wake Medical Center.
The trial court qualified Denise Everette, M.D. (Dr.
Everette), a board-certified pediatrician and the Director of the
Child Sexual Abuse Team at Wake Medical Center, as an expert in
the field of child sexual abuse. Dr. Everette performed a
physical exam on A.J. on 18 September 1996. She testified she
has examined over 2500 children for sexual abuse, and her exam of
A.J. revealed a narrow rim of hymen. She stated in her
experience a narrow hymen in a young girl is consistent with
penetration of some type. She testified she sees significant
abnormal findings of a narrow hymen in 35 percent of the children
she examines for sexual abuse. Of that 35 percent, approximately
20 percent have findings similar to the findings in A.J.'s case.
Dr. Everette stated she could never completely rule out the
possibility a child had been born with a narrow hymen.
In addition to her physical examination of A.J., Dr.
Everette consulted notes from an interview of A.J. conducted by acolleague from the Child Sexual Abuse Team at Wake Medical
Center. She also has reviewed the results of other doctors'
studies on child sexual abuse. Dr. Everette testified in her
opinion A.J. had been penetrated, and this penetration could have
been digital or penile. She also testified in her opinion A.J.
had been sexually abused. The State introduced into evidence
a signed statement made by Defendant on 27 November 1996 at the
Wilson County Sheriff's Department. Defendant admitted in the
statement he "sexually touched" A.J. on three different
occasions. Defendant further admitted he had penetrated A.J.
with his finger and his penis.
Defendant, however, testified he had never touched A.J. in
any inappropriate way. Defendant also testified his written
statement of 27 November 1996 was false, and he had given the
statement in exchange for Detective Beard's promise to help him
receive a lower bond.
Mrs. Crumbley testified on behalf of Defendant that she did
not notice any changes in A.J. on or after 9 September 1996, and
that A.J. did not disclose any abuse to her. Defendant's parents
and minister testified Defendant had the reputation in the
community for being a peaceful person.
________________________________
The issues are whether: (I) the statements made by A.J. toWomble and Melendez were admissible under the Rule 803(4) hearsay
exception; (II) Dr. Everette's opinions were inadmissible on the
grounds they were based on speculation; and (III) the entry of a
criminal sentence, in the absence of Defendant, constitutes a
valid sentence.
I
[1]Defendant argues the trial court erred by allowing
social workers Womble and Melendez to testify regarding hearsay
statements made to them by A.J. during the course of their
investigation. We disagree.
Hearsay statements may be admissible under Rule 803(4) if
those statements are made for the purpose of medical diagnosis or
treatment. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8C-1, Rule 803(4) (1992).
Statements made to an individual other than a medical doctor may
constitute statements made for the purpose of medical diagnosis
or treatment.
State v. Smith, 315 N.C. 76, 84-85, 337 S.E.2d
833, 840 (1985) (children's statements to their grandmother
regarding a sexual assault were admissible under Rule 803(4)
because their statements "immediately resulted in their receiving
medical treatment and diagnosis");
see also State v. Figured, 116
N.C. App. 1, 12, 446 S.E.2d 838, 845 (1994),
disc. review denied,
339 N.C. 617, 454 S.E.2d 261 (1995) (child's statements to a
social worker regarding sexual abuse were admissible under Rule803(4) since the statements were made for the purpose of medical
diagnosis or treatment).
Factors properly considered to determine whether statements
have been made for the purpose of medical diagnosis or treatment
include:
(1) whether the examination was requested by
persons involved in the prosecution of the
case; (2) the proximity of the examination
to the victim's initial diagnosis; (3)
whether the victim received a diagnosis or
treatment as a result of the examination;
and (4) the proximity of the examination to
the trial date.
State v. Jones, 89 N.C. App. 584, 591, 367 S.E.2d 139, 144
(1988). The key factor to consider, however, is "whether the
statements resulted in the child receiving medical treatment
and/or diagnosis."
State v. Rogers, 109 N.C. App. 491, 503, 428
S.E.2d 220, 227,
disc. review denied, 334 N.C. 625, 435 S.E.2d
348 (1993),
cert. denied, 511 U.S. 1108, 128 L. Ed. 2d 54 (1994).
Womble
[2]Womble did not interview A.J. at the request of persons
involved in the prosecution of Defendant, but as part of her
duties as an emergency investigator for Social Services. The
interview took place approximately twenty months prior to trial.
In addition, the interview took place in close proximity to
A.J.'s initial diagnosis and treatment.
See Re Lucas, 94 N.C.App. 442, 446, 380 S.E.2d 563, 566 (1989) (child's statements to
mother admissible under Rule 803(4) when statements led to child
receiving medical attention within fourteen days). Womble
interviewed A.J. on 10 September 1996, and A.J. received an
initial diagnosis on 18 September 1996. A.J. also received
medical treatment sometime between 10 September 1996 and 18
September 1996.
Although Womble did not make any medical appointments for
A.J., A.J. did receive medical diagnosis and treatment as a
result of her interview with Womble. Womble conducted an initial
interview of A.J. to determine whether immediate action was
needed to protect A.J. Womble's initial interview revealed
additional investigation was necessary, and Womble contacted
Melendez to continue the investigation. Womble then met Melendez
at A.J.'s grandmother's home on the evening of 10 September 1996,
and Melendez took over the investigation. Although Womble's
investigation ended one day before Melendez made medical
appointments for A.J., Womble's role as the initial investigator
played a crucial part in the process that Social Services used to
determine whether to pursue medical treatment for A.J. The
statements resulted in A.J. receiving medical treatment within
eight days from the date of the interview. The statements A.J.
made to Womble were therefore admissible as statements made forthe purpose of medical diagnosis or treatment.
Melendez
[3]Melendez did not interview A.J. at the request of any
persons involved with the prosecution of Defendant, but as part
of her duties as a social worker in the child protective
services unit of Social Services. The interview took place
approximately twenty months prior to trial. In addition, the
interview took place in close proximity to A.J.'s initial
diagnosis and treatment. Melendez interviewed A.J. on 10
September 1996 and 11 September 1996, and A.J. received an
initial diagnosis on 18 September 1996. A.J. also received
treatment sometime between 10 September 1996 and 18 September
1996.
Further, A.J. received medical diagnosis and treatment as a
result of Melendez's interviews with A.J. Melendez determined
based on her interviews that A.J. needed medical assistance.
Melendez made an appointment for A.J. to see a doctor at Wake
Medical Center on 18 September 1996, and to see a pediatrician
sometime between 10 September 1996 and 18 September 1996. The
statements that A.J. made to Melendez were therefore admissible
as statements made for the purpose of medical diagnosis and
treatment.
II
[4]Defendant argues the trial court erred by allowingexpert testimony by Dr. Everette that in her opinion: (1) A.J.'s
narrow hymen could have been caused by digital or penile
penetration, and (2) A.J. had been sexually abused. He contends
these opinions are based on speculation or conjecture, did not
therefore assist the trier of fact, and should not have been
admitted into evidence.
(See footnote 1)
We disagree.
Rule 702 of the North Carolina Rules of Evidence provides
that expert testimony may be made in the form of an opinion.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8C-1, Rule 702 (Supp. 1998). Rule 702 does
not, however, allow opinion testimony based on inadequate data.
See State v. Rogers, 323 N.C. 658, 664, 374 S.E.2d 852, 856
(1989);
see also Pulley v. City of Durham, 121 N.C. App. 688,
693, 468 S.E.2d 506, 509 (1996) (doctor's opinion was not
speculation and was therefore admissible under Rule 702 when
"there was competent evidence in the record to show that [the
doctor] based her opinion on her own observations of plaintiff,
combined with her study of materials and her discussions with
other professionals");
State v. Clark, 324 N.C. 146, 160, 377
S.E.2d 54, 62-63 (1989) (opinion of an expert was properlyexcluded when the expert stated his opinion was "purely
speculation" and "conjecture").
The record indicates Dr. Everette based her opinions on her
own exam of A.J., extensive personal experience examining
children who have been sexually abused, knowledge of child sexual
abuse studies, and a colleague's notes from an interview with
A.J. She did not base her opinions on speculation or conjecture,
but on adequate data. Her opinions are therefore admissible as
expert testimony under Rule 702.
III
[5]Defendant argues the trial court erred by imposing
sentences, to run consecutively, on Defendant when Defendant was
not present. We agree.
The sentence actually imposed in this case was the sentence
contained in the written judgment.
See Abels v. Renfro Corp.,
126 N.C. App. 800, 803, 486 S.E.2d 735, 737 ("Announcement of
judgment in open court merely constitutes 'rendering' of
judgment, not entry of judgment."),
disc. review denied, 347 N.C.
263, 493 S.E.2d 450 (1997). The Defendant had a right to be
present at the time that sentence was imposed.
See State v.
Beasley, 118 N.C. App. 508, 514, 455 S.E.2d 880, 884 (1995);
see
also State v. Pope, 257 N.C. 326, 330, 126 S.E.2d 126, 129 (1962)
("The right to be present at the time sentence or judgment ispronounced is a common law right, separate and apart from the
constitutional or statutory right to be present at the trial.");
State v. Bonds, 43 N.C. App. 467, 474, 259 S.E.2d 377, 381 (1979)
(vacating judgment entered while accused was not present),
on
reh'g, 45 N.C. App. 62, 262 S.E.2d 340,
appeal dismissed and
disc. review denied, 300 N.C. 376, 267 S.E.2d 687,
cert. denied,
449 U.S. 883, 66 L. Ed. 2d 107-08 (1980). Because there is no
indication in this record that Defendant was present at the time
the written judgment was entered, the sentence must be vacated
and this matter remanded for the entry of a new sentencing
judgment.
In so holding, we reject the State's argument that Defendant
was present because he was present in open court at the time the
sentence was originally rendered by the trial court. Had the
trial court not altered its sentence, we would agree with the
State. In this case, the legal effect of the oral judgment was
that the prison sentences would run concurrently. N.C. Gen.
Stat. § 15A-1354(a) (1997) (if court does not specifically state
that multiple sentences will run consecutively, sentences must
run concurrently). The written judgment actually entered by the
trial court specifically provided that the sentences would run
consecutively. This substantive change in the sentence could
only be made in the Defendant's presence, where he and/or hisattorney would have an opportunity to be heard.
Trial: No Error.
Sentence: Vacated and remanded.
Judges TIMMONS-GOODSON and HORTON concur.
Footnote: 1