Morris v. State

Sognier, Chief Judge.

James Richard Morris was convicted of the offense of cruelty to children, OCGA § 16-5-70 (b), and he appeals.

OCGA § 16-5-70 (b) provides that “[a]ny person commits the offense of cruelty to children when he maliciously causes a child under the age of 18 cruel or excessive physical or mental pain.” Appellant contends the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction because the State failed to meet its burden of proof on both the causation and the malicious intent elements of the crime, and the evidence was circumstantial and did not exclude every reasonable…