Howard Lindsey v. State of Mississippi

Summary

The Supreme Court of Mississippi affirmed Howard Lindsey’s convictions for two counts of gratification of lust and two counts of sexual battery involving two minor victims. The court held that the victims’ testimony, despite some inconsistencies and the absence of physical evidence, was sufficient for a reasonable jury to find Lindsey guilty. The court concluded that the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence and affirmed the consecutive sentences.

Holdings

1. The unsupported testimony of a sex-crime victim may be sufficient to support a guilty verdict when the testimony is not discredited or contradicted by other credible evidence; corroborating physical or medical evidence was not required here.
2. The inconsistencies in M.L.'s and T.P.'s testimony and prior statements did not materially contradict or discredit the testimony necessary to support the convictions, and the verdicts were not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the jury's verdicts for two counts of gratification of lust and two counts of sexual battery were against the overwhelming weight of the evidence because the victims' testimony was uncorroborated, inconsistent, and unsupported by physical or medical evidence.

Disposition

affirmed