Opinion ID: 2317313
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: does the crime of sexual assault comprehend the allegations set forth in plaintiffs' complaint?

Text: There is no question that the crime of sexual assault as defined in § 11-37-6 requires the element of sexual penetration with another person    under the age of consent. We have recently defined the tort of battery in Proffitt v. Ricci, R.I., 463 A.2d 514, 517 (1983), as an act that was intended to cause, and does cause, an offensive contact with or unconsented touching of or trauma upon the body of another   . The crime, as described above, does require a contact that is made offensive by operation of the statute and to which consent may not be given by one under sixteen years of age. By pleading guilty to the charge, defendant admitted all of the foregoing elements. He therefore admitted a battery upon the minor daughter of plaintiffs. Nothing in his argumentative affidavit or in his general denial by answer to interrogatory No. 2 creates a genuine issue of material fact in respect to this solemn judicial admission. Therefore, the trial justice was correct in granting partial summary judgment insofar as that judgment related to the commission of battery. There are, however, other allegations in the complaint that appear to relate to assaults of a nature not comprehended within the definition of sexual assault. Among other allegations in counts 2 and 3 are included the claims that defendant caused tremendous apprehension and fear on the part of plaintiffs' minor child. Although such conduct would constitute an assault, it is not necessarily comprehended within the definition of third-degree sexual assault. Moreover, count 4, which alleges enslavement, and count 5, which alleges alienation of affections, in no way can be subsumed under the rubric of third-degree sexual assault. As a consequence, the trial justice was in error in granting partial summary judgment in respect to liability on all of the plaintiffs' claims. Said partial summary judgment should have been entered only in respect to the complaint of battery, which is fully established by the conviction of third-degree sexual assault based upon a plea of guilty. For the reasons stated, the defendant's appeal is denied in part and sustained in part. The partial summary judgment is hereby modified to include only liability for the tort of battery by reason of unconsented sexual penetration. As so modified, the judgment is affirmed. The papers in the case may be remanded to the Superior Court for trial of all issues not disposed of by the partial summary judgment as modified herein.