Opinion ID: 1202601
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: time and place

Text: In Harrell, the court described the appropriate method for evaluating the time element of sexually assaultive behavior: The greater the interval of time between acts constituting an episode of sexually assaultive behavior, the greater the likelihood of separate offenses. That the interval is merely minutes or even seconds, as with the other elements and factors discussed, cannot be a solely determinative factor.... An episode of sexually assaultive behavior can and usually does involve multiple invasions of the intimate parts of the victim's body. Whether such invasions are a single offense or separate offenses can sometimes be placed in perspective by the time interval between specific acts. Harrell, 88 Wis.2d at 572-573, 277 N.W.2d at 473. The place element is strongly related to time. If a defendant grabs a woman in a parking garage by the breasts and says Baby, I want to screw you, drags her into a nearby stairwell and puts his hand between her legs and rubs before she can run away, then the different places (garage for one contact and stairwell for the other contact) would be a significant factor that would support two separate convictions. An interruption in contact, either in time or space, followed by a resumption indicates the occurrence of two offenses. However, no such interruption of either time or space occurred here. The entire episode lasted, according to the victim's testimony, only a few seconds. [8] Furthermore, contact with both the victim's breasts and sex organ happened simultaneously. Similarly, all contact took place in one place, on Seventh Street in Parkersburg. No interruption in either time or place occurred (even under the majority's statement of facts), further indicating that only one conviction for first-degree sexual abuse is appropriate. 3.