Opinion ID: 1255736
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Propriety of Charge

Text: Appellant argues that, under the facts of this case, he should have been charged with the crime of third-degree sexual assault as described in § 6-2-304(a)(i) instead of with the crime of indecent liberties as described in § 14-3-105. Appellant's claim is without merit. Section 6-2-304(a)(i) provides: (a) Except under circumstances constituting a violation of W.S. 14-3-105, an actor commits sexual assault in the third degree if: (i) The actor is at least four (4) years older than the victim and who inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim under the age of sixteen (16) years ... Section 14-3-105(a) provides: (a) Any person knowingly taking immodest, immoral or indecent liberties with any child or knowingly causing or encouraging any child to cause or encourage another child to commit with him any immoral or indecent act is guilty of a felony, and upon conviction shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisoned in the penitentiary not more than ten (10) years, or both. This Court has repeatedly and conclusively stated: It is well established that when an act violates more than one criminal statute, the State may prosecute under either so long as it does not discriminate against any class of defendants. Bueno-Hernandez v. State, 724 P.2d 1132, 1140 (Wyo.1986), cert. denied, 480 U.S. 907, 107 S.Ct. 1353, 94 L.Ed.2d 523 (1987). See also Nowack v. State, 774 P.2d 561, 563 (Wyo.1989); Kallas v. State, 704 P.2d 693, 694-95 (Wyo.1985). It is not necessary for us to apply that rule in this case, however, because Appellant's actions which were charged in Count III did not constitute a crime under the third-degree sexual assault statute. The victim was born on May 6, 1977, and Appellant's date of birth was February 14, 1974. Section 6-2-304(a)(i), therefore, did not apply because Appellant was less than four years older than his victim was.