Case Name: STATE of Maine v. Ralph Edward TERRELL
Court: Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Maine
Decision Date: 1979-06-14
Citations: 402 A.2d 483
Docket Number: 
Parties: STATE of Maine v. Ralph Edward TERRELL.
Judges: Before McKUSICK, C. J., POMEROY, WERNICK, ARCHIBALD, JJ., and DU-PRESNE, A. R. J.
Reporter: West's Atlantic Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 402
Pages: 483–483

Head Matter:
STATE of Maine v. Ralph Edward TERRELL.
Supreme Judicial Court of Maine.
June 14, 1979.
John McElwee, Dist. Atty., Thomas L. Goodwin, Deputy Dist. Atty. (orally), Houl-ton, for plaintiff.
Stewart, Griffiths & Quigley by David J. Edgar (orally), Houlton, for defendant.
Before McKUSICK, C. J., POMEROY, WERNICK, ARCHIBALD, JJ., and DU-PRESNE, A. R. J.

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM OF DECISION.
Defendant Ralph Edward Terrell was convicted of gross sexual misconduct in violation of 17-A M.R.S.A. § 253 (Supp.1978). On appeal, defendant argues and the State concedes that the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant committed the requisite "sexual act" as defined by 17-A M.R.S.A. § 251(1)(C). We agree. The defendant's conviction based on the indictment for gross sexual misconduct cannot stand.
Although the evidence may have been sufficient to prove a "sexual contact" as defined by 17-A M.R.S.A. § 251(1)(D), thus establishing the offense of unlawful sexual contact in violation of 17-A M.R.S.A. § 255, the latter crime is not a lesser included offense of gross sexual misconduct. 17 — A M.R.S.A. § 251 defines "sexual contact" and "sexual act" to be mutually exclusive. We therefore must direct the entry of judgment of acquittal on the present indictment.
The entry is:
Appeal sustained.
Judgment of conviction reversed.
Remanded for entry of judgment of acquittal.
DUFRESNE, A. R. J., sat by assignment.
DELAHANTY, GODFREY and NICHOLS, JJ., did not sit.