Summary
In Gethers, the victim was kidnapped from Charleston County, taken to Berkeley County and raped, and returned to Charleston County.
Summary of this case from State v. JohnsonOpinion
20467
July 13, 1977.
W. Newton Pough, of Orangeburg, for Appellant, cites: As to the Court's having erred in denying the defendant's (Appellant herein) Motion for a Dismissal or in the alternative, a mistrial on the grounds that the Berkeley County Grand Jury was without authority to return an Indictment: 356 U.S. 405, 78 S.Ct. 875; 3 Hill Law 91; 128 S.E.2d 154; 21 Am. Jur.2d 419, Sec. 403; 153 F. 1, 209 U.S. 56, 52 L.Ed. 681, 28 S.Ct. 428; 387 U.S. 556, 18 L.Ed. 594, 87 S.Ct. 1746; 185 S.C. 341, 194 S.E.2d 160; 364 U.S. 631, 81 S.Ct. 358; 243 S.C. 187, 133 S.E.2d 210; I Strob. 155; 200 S.C. 504, 215 S.E.2d 178.
July 13, 1977.
Appellant was found guilty of kidnapping and rape. The prosecuting witness testified that she was abducted from Charleston County, taken into Berkeley County and raped, and returned to Charleston County.
Appellant asserts that the crime, if any, took place in Charleston County and that the indictment by the Berkeley County Grand Jury was void. He assigns error to the refusal to grant his motions for dismissal or a mistrial. We disagree.
A similar challenge to venue was raised in the recent case of State v. Allen, 266 S.C. 468, 224 S.E.2d 881 (1976) In Allen, the victim was abducted from Calhoun County and murdered, allegedly in Florence County. Although the defendant claimed the murder took place elsewhere, we found sufficient evidence to warrant the conclusion that the crime occurred in Florence County.
Moreover, we held in State v. Wharton, 263 S.C. 437, 441, 211 S.E.2d 237, 239 (1975),
"[I]t is not necessary in a criminal case that venue should be proved affirmatively if there is sufficient evidence from which it can be inferred."
Consistent with our decision in Allen, we find that venue was in Berkeley County.
Appellant's other exceptions are without merit.
Affirmed.
LEWIS, C.J., and LITTLEJOHN, RHODES and GREGORY, JJ., concur.