Opinion ID: 2265552
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Ingerson's Acquittal on the Rape Indictment

Text: The Parole Board revoked Ingerson's parole on October 16, 1980. A jury acquitted him of the rape charge on July 16, 1981. On August 31, 1981, the Board denied Petitioner's request for reconsideration based on the acquittal. Petitioner filed his first post-conviction review petition on September 14, 1981, and amended that petition on October 13. Accordingly, Ingerson could have made the argument that the acquittal barred the revocation of his parole in his first post-conviction petition. He failed to do so, and he therefore has waived the issue. He is barred from raising that issue on this second post-conviction review petition now here on appeal. See McEachern v. State, 456 A.2d 886, 889 (Me.1983); 15 M.R.S.A. § 2128(3) (Supp. 1984-1985). Moreover, even if we were to reach the merits of Ingerson's belated argument, we would in any event deny his appeal. As a condition of his parole, Ingerson agreed to comply with all federal, state and municipal laws. In determining if a parolee has broken the law, the Board need find by a mere preponderance of the evidence that the violation occurred; it need not find a parole violation beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Maier, 423 A.2d 235, 239 (Me.1980). Thus, even though a criminal jury entertained a reasonable doubt as to Ingerson's guilt of the crime of rape, the same evidence might well support another factfinder's determination that it was more likely than not that Ingerson had engaged in the prohibited conduct. Cf. State v. Scott, 343 A.2d 177, 178 (Me.1975) (difference between proof beyond a reasonable doubt required for criminal conviction and preponderance of evidence necessary to establish insanity defense). See also Taylor v. Commissioner of Mental Health, 481 A.2d 139, 145-54 (Me.1984) (consideration of standards of proof on release of acquittee by reason of insanity). The fact that a jury concludes that a certain body of evidence does not satisfy the high standard of proof required for conviction in a criminal case does not bar another factfinding tribunal from concluding that the same evidence does satisfy the more relaxed civil standard of proof applied in an administrative proceeding for revocation of parole. [1] See Standlee v. Rhay, 557 F.2d 1303, 1307 (9th Cir.1977); Annot., 76 A.L.R.3d 578-82 (1977) and cases cited therein. Ingerson takes nothing on this contention.