Jose Luis Fernandez v. State of Arkansas

Summary

The court affirmed Fernandez’s rape conviction and life sentence, holding that substantial circumstantial evidence supported the finding that sexual penetration occurred. The evidence included the victim’s testimony, the circumstances in the van, medical evidence of semen collected from inside the rectum, and a partial Y-chromosomal DNA profile matching Fernandez’s profile. The court concluded that the circuit court properly denied the motions for directed verdict.