Sign In
Events
Newsletters
Search

Close

Close Search

Cancel

SEARCH
MY LAW.COMNEW

Hughes v. State

Evidence of the victim's mother's molestation as a child was irrelevant, since the victim did not learn about her mother's molestation until after she made her outcry.

X

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

Following a jury trial, Robert Hughes appeals his conviction of child molestation,1 contending that the verdict was against the weight of the evidence and that the court erred in three evidentiary rulings. We hold that the evidence supported the verdict and that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in the evidentiary rulings. Accordingly, we affirm. Construed in favor of the verdict, Short v. State ,2 the evidence shows that while his wife was asleep, Hughes would often enter his stepdaughter’s bedroom from the time she was seven and lay down behind her while she slept on her side. He would then move the stepdaughter’s panties, place his private part between her legs, and rub it back and forth against her private part. These incidents did not cease until a sibling moved into the stepdaughter’s bedroom when the stepdaughter was ten.

Some months later, when the now eleven-year-old stepdaughter was with a church group on a week-long choral tour, she approached one of the group’s female counselors and told her of the incidents. They consulted the church pastor, who arranged for the stepdaughter to inform her mother after the tour group returned from its trip. The mother immediately confronted Hughes with the accusations, who responded, “If it happened, it only happened one time.” She kicked Hughes out of the house and contacted police. She later recorded conversations with Hughes over the phone, in which he acknowledged the statement that it may have happened “one time” and in which he also conceded that he may have done something “by accident.”

Trending Stories

 
Reprints & Licensing
Mentioned in a Law.com story?

License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand.

LEARN MORE

More From ALM

Premium Subscription
With this subscription you will receive unlimited access to high quality, online, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas.
View Now
Team Accounts
Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team.
View Now
Bundle Subscriptions
Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Both options are priced the same.
View Now
Go to CLE Center
Elite Trial Lawyers 2024
July 11, 2024
New York, NY

The National Law Journal Elite Trial Lawyers recognizes U.S.-based law firms performing exemplary work on behalf of plaintiffs.


Learn More
GlobeSt. Women of Influence (WOI) 2024
July 22, 2024 - July 24, 2024
Lake Tahoe, CA

GlobeSt. Women of Influence Conference celebrates the women who drive the commercial real estate industry forward.


Learn More
General Counsel Summit (GCS) 2024
August 12, 2024 - August 13, 2024
Sydney, New South Wales

General Counsel Summit is the premier event for in-house counsel, hosting esteemed legal minds from all sectors of the economy.


Learn More
Go to Events Go to Webcasts
TRUSTS & ESTATES ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

COLE SCHOTZ P.C. TRUSTS & ESTATES ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: NEW JERSEY OR NEW YORK OFFICES: Prominent mid-Atlantic la...


Apply Now ›
Associate Position - Casualty Litigation Department - 2 - 4 years' Litigation Experience

Post & Schell's Casualty Litigation Department is currently seeking an attorney with 2- 4 years of litigation experience, preferably in ...


Apply Now ›
Personal Injury Attorney

A client focused Atlanta Personal Injury Law Firm is seeking an experienced, highly motivated, and enthusiastic personal injury attorney who...


Apply Now ›
Go to Lawjobs
SMGQ Law
06/21/2024
Daily Business Review

Full Page Announcement


View Announcement ›
Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari
06/14/2024
New Jersey Law Journal

Professional Announcement


View Announcement ›
Go to Professional Announcements