Opinion ID: 1716246
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Anal Copulation

Text: As earlier stated, the anal-genital crime against nature between human beings proscribed by our statute has jurisprudentially been held to be the conduct proscribed by the common-law crime of sodomy. State v. Murry, 136 La. 253, 66 So. 963 (1914); State v. Long, 133 La. 580, 63 So. 180 (1913); State v. Williams, 34 La. Ann. 87 (1882). See State v. Lindsey, 310 So.2d 89, concurring opinion 310 So.2d 92 (La.1975). Only because of this definite meaning of the statutory language has the enactment been saved from unconstitutional vagueness. The crime of sodomy, or anal-genital intercourse, was clearly defined at common law, and penetration of the anus by the penis was an essential element. Perkins on Criminal Law 389-90 (2d ed. 1969); Clark & Marshall, A Treatise on Crimes, Section 11.07 (7th ed., 1967). See also discussion and citation of authority in State v. Morrison, 25 N.J.Super. 534, 96 A.2d 723 (1953). The charge by Count 1 was the defendant did place his penis in the area of the anus of the victim. The only evidence on this count at the trial was that the defendant placed his penis between the victim's legs. There was thus no evidence of the essential element of penetration. The defendant's motion for a directed verdict and for a new trial on Count 1, because of the total lack of evidence as to this essential element, is therefore well founded. In arguing that penetration is not required, the state relies upon the 1975 amendment's exclusion from the crime against nature of anal sexual intercourse under circumstances constituting the rape crimes, La.R.S. 14:41, 41.1, 42, and 43 (see italicized clause in La.R.S. 14:89 (1975) quoted in full in Appendix 1). Since penetration is required for the rape crimes, the state contends that it is not required in order for anal-genital conduct to constitute a crime against nature. The rape crimes, however, concern sexual intercourse, whether anal or vaginal, committed without the consent of the other party. In the case of a juvenile, it is deemed to be without the consent of the victim . . . [w]here the victim is under the age of twelve years. La.R.S. 14:42(3) (1975). Under the statutory scheme, where the anal sexual activity is committed with the consent of the other participant, or with the consent of a juvenile over the age of twelve and under seventeen years, the criminal conduct violates the crime-against-nature statutes rather than the rape statutes. We therefore find no merit to the state's contention that, because of the exclusion of rape offenses from the crime against nature statute, penetration is no longer required for a crime against nature committed by anal-genital activity. We should note that the circumstance that the present type of anal-genital conduct with a juvenile is not technically punishable as a crime against nature does not mean that it is exempt from criminal responsibility. See, e. g., the statute defining indecent behavior with juveniles, with punishment up to imprisonment at hard labor for five years imposed for its violation. La. R.S. 14:81 (1977). (The statute which punishes contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile through sexually immoral acts, with punishment by imprisonment up to two years at hard labor, likewise appears to be applicable. La.R.S. 14:92(7) (1976).) For reasons previously stated, we find that the state presented no evidence of an essential element of the crime charged by Count 1. We therefore conclude that the defendant's conviction on this count must be reversed, and a judgment of acquittal ordered by us to that count.