Opinion ID: 2621781
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Lesser-Included Offense of Assault and Battery

Text: [¶ 18] Mueller also contends that a lesser-included offense instruction should have been given with respect to the offense of simple battery, as defined by Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-2-501(b) (LexisNexis 2001): § 6-2-501. Simple assault; battery; penalties. (a) A person is guilty of simple assault if, having the present ability to do so, he unlawfully attempts to cause bodily injury to another. (b) A person is guilty of battery if he unlawfully touches another in a rude, insolent or angry manner or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another. (c) Except as provided by subsection (e) of this section, simple assault is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00). (d) Except as provided by subsection (f) of this section, battery is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the term of probation imposed by a judge under this subsection may exceed the maximum term of imprisonment established for the offense under this subsection provided the term of probation, together with any extension thereof, shall in no case exceed one (1) year. (e) A household member as defined by W.S. XX-XX-XXX who is convicted upon a plea of guilty or no contest or found guilty of simple assault against any other household member, after having been convicted upon a plea of guilty or no contest or found guilty of a violation of W.S. 6-2-501(a), (b), (e) or (f), 6-2-502, 6-2-503, 6-2-504 or other substantially similar law of this or any other state, tribe or territory against any other household member, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both. (f) A household member as defined by W.S. XX-XX-XXX who commits a second or subsequent battery against any other household member shall be punished as follows: (i) A person convicted upon a plea of guilty or no contest or found guilty of a second offense under this subsection against any other household member, after having been convicted upon a plea of guilty or no contest or found guilty of a violation of W.S. 6-2-501(a), (b), (e) or (f), 6-2-502, 6-2-503, 6-2-504 or other substantially similar law of this or any other state, tribe or territory against any other household member within the previous five (5) years is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or both; (ii) A person convicted upon a plea of guilty or no contest or found guilty of a third or subsequent offense under this subsection against any other household member, after having been convicted upon a plea of guilty or no contest or found guilty of a violation of W.S. 6-2-501(a), (b), (e) or (f), 6-2-502, 6-2-503, 6-2-504 or other substantially similar law of this or any other state, tribe or territory against any other household member within the previous ten (10) years is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than two (2) years, a fine of not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00), or both. [¶ 19] Mueller offered this lesser-included offense instruction: YOU ARE INSTRUCTED that the necessary elements of the lesser included offense of the crime of Battery are: 1. That on or about the 10th day of September 1999, 2. In the County of Natrona, and State of Wyoming, 3. The Defendant, Bill Mueller 4. Intentionally, Knowingly, or Recklessly and unlawfully; 5. Caused bodily injury to another person. If you find from your consideration of all the evidence that any of these elements has not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt, then you should find the Defendant not guilty. If, on the other hand, you find from your consideration of all the evidence that each of these elements has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt, then you should find the Defendant guilty. [¶ 20] Applying the test set out above, an instruction was offered, but a side-by-side comparison readily reveals that part two of the test is not met. The elements of the lesser-included offense are identical to part of the elements of the greater offense. However, elements 4 and 5 do not require that the person be a peace officer, and we conclude that this difference is significant enough so that the identity factor is not met. The remaining elements are identical, but those relate only to non-substantive elements of the crime (date, place, and name of defendant). Another differentiating factor is that the battery statute appears in Chapter 2 of Title 6, which deals with the general subject of offenses against the person, whereas, interference with a peace officer appears in Chapter 5 of Title 6, which deals with a more specific subject matter, offenses against public administration. Thus, these two statutes vindicate two different and distinguishable interests of the State in exercising its police powers. [¶ 21] The trial court did not err in refusing the proposed lesser-included offense instruction on battery.