Opinion ID: 2360451
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Lewd Acts

Text: The District of Columbia proscribes lewd, indecent, or obscene acts, which include any lewd, obscene, or indecent sexual proposal[.] D.C.Code § 22-1312(a) (2001); see also Harlee v. District of Columbia, 558 A.2d 351, 352 (D.C.1989); District of Columbia v. Garcia, 335 A.2d 217, 219 (D.C.1975). A sexual `proposal,' in the context of [§ 22-1312(a)], connotes virtually the same conduct or speech-conduct as a sexual solicitation; the term clearly implies a personal importunity addressed to a particular individual to do some sexual act. . . . [G]iven the nature of the common law offense of solicitation, it is appropriate to construe the sexual proposal clause of [§ 22-1312(a)] as limited to solicitations to commit lewd, obscene or indecent sexual acts which if accomplished would be punishable as a crime. Garcia, 335 A.2d at 221. The evidence of record shows that, upon discovering that his niece was sexually active, appellant asked her several times to have sex with him. That evidence showed that appellant solicited sex from his niece, and it is sufficient to support appellant's conviction of attempted lewd acts. See United States v. Fleming, 215 A.2d 839, 841-842 (D.C.1966) (defendant may be found guilty of attempt even though the evidence shows a completed offense).