In the Interest of J.F., Minor Child
J.F., Minor Child-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant
Danielle M. Ellingson
Attorney for Appellee State
Mary A. Triick, Assistant Attorney General
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Floyd County, Karen Kaufman Salic, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Bower, C.J., and May and Greer, JJ. Opinion by Greer, J. (8 pages)
J.F. appeals a juvenile court order adjudicating him delinquent based on findings he committed the delinquent act that would constitute one count of sexual abuse in the third degree if he was an adult. J.F. challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support the adjudication, arguing the juvenile court misstated the facts, the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a sex act occurred, and his accuser, S.F., was not credible. OPINION HOLDS: We conclude there was sufficient evidence to adjudicate J.F. delinquent of committing acts that would constitute sexual abuse in the third degree. The evidence establishes that S.F. was twelve years old at the time and the acts she claimed J.F. committed against her were sex acts. The juvenile court found her testimony credible and supported by other witness testimony. We give weight to the juvenile court’s credibility determination and affirm.
