Opinion ID: 2533821
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Difference in the Description of Attempted Third Degree Sexual Assault

Text: We begin by examining Madden's contention that the difference in the description of third degree sexual assault between the charging document and the jury instructions violated his constitutional rights. Although the briefs concentrated on whether the difference was per se reversible error or must be analyzed under plain error, we must first determine whether it amounted to error at all. The United States and Colorado Constitutions guarantee a defendant the fundamental right to be notified of the charges made against him. U.S. Const. amend. VI; Colo. Const. Art. II, Sec. 16; People v. Cooke, 186 Colo. 44, 46, 525 P.2d 426, 428 (1974). In Colorado, notice is accomplished through the filing of an indictment, complaint, or information. § 16-5-101, C.R.S. (2004). Madden was notified of the charges against him by information. Because the notice requirement lies at the foundation of the due process of law, a defendant cannot be required to answer a charge not contained in the information. Schmuck, 489 U.S. at 717, 109 S.Ct. 1443; People v. Rodriguez, 914 P.2d 230, 257 (Colo. 1996). Madden was charged with attempted third degree sexual assault. §§ 18-2-101 & 18-3-404(1.5). Section 18-3-404(1.5) sets forth the crime of third degree sexual assault as follows: Any person who knowingly, with or without sexual contact, induces or coerces a child by any of the means set forth in section 18-3-402 or 18-3-403 to expose intimate parts or to engage in any sexual contact, intrusion, or penetration with another person, for the purpose of the actor's own sexual gratification, commits sexual assault in the third degree. (emphasis added). [7] This statute prohibits two forms of conduct-inducing a child to expose intimate parts, with or without sexual contact, and inducing a child to engage in any sexual contact. The information charging Madden with attempted third degree sexual assault highlighted the first form of conduct. Specifically, the information charged Madden with engaging in conduct constituting a substantial step toward its commission, namely, defendant did attempt to unlawfully, feloniously and knowingly, with or without sexual contact, induce or coerce a child, ... to expose intimate parts. (emphasis added) The information cited the attempt statute, section 18-2-101, and the third degree sexual assault statute, section 18-3-404(1.5), as the basis for the charge against Madden. The jury instructions, on the other hand, incorporated the second form of prohibited conduct. The instructions for attempted third degree sexual assault stated that the elements of that offense were: 1. That the defendant, 2. in the State of Colorado, at or about the date and place charged, 3. with the intent to commit the crime of Third Degree Sexual Assault by Force, 4. engaged in conduct constituting a substantial step toward the commission of Third Degree Sexual Assault by Force. In contrast to the information, the jury instruction advised that Madden committed third degree sexual assault if he knowingly subjected a person to any sexual contact. [8] Madden asserts that the difference between the information and the instructions amounted to a change in the essential elements of the crime charged. He alleges that the change compelled him to answer a charge not contained in the charging instrument, thereby depriving him of his constitutional right to be notified of the charges against him. An examination of the crime charged in the information confirms that Madden received constitutionally adequate notice. To satisfy the constitutional requirement, the notice given by the information must be sufficient to advise the accused of the charges, to give him fair and adequate opportunity to prepare his defense, and to ensure that he is not taken by surprise because of evidence offered at the time of trial. Cooke, 186 Colo. at 46, 525 P.2d at 428. The notice requirement is also intended to protect the defendant from further prosecution for the same offense. People v. Williams, 984 P.2d 56, 60 (Colo.1999). The description of attempted third degree sexual assault provided by the information was sufficient to allow Madden to prepare a defense against the offense as described in the jury instructions. It was also sufficient to protect Madden from double jeopardy. Because Madden was charged with attempted third degree sexual assault the prosecution only needed to prove that, with the intent to commit third degree sexual assault, he took a substantial step toward committing such assault. Specifically, Madden was charged with taking a substantial step toward inducing a child to expose intimate parts, with or without sexual contact. The prosecution did not need to prove that Madden actually induced S.J. to expose intimate parts in order to convict Madden of the crime charged, only that he took a substantial step toward inducing her to do so. Because the assault as charged could be completed with or without sexual contact, it was possible that the prosecution would present evidence that the substantial step Madden took toward inducing S.J. to expose her intimate parts was some form of sexual contact. Consequently, Madden was put on notice that he could potentially have to defend against allegations that he subjected S.J. to sexual contact in the course of attempting to induce her to expose intimate parts. From the language of the charging document, and the fact that he was charged with an attempt crime, Madden cannot claim that he was only prepared to defend against allegations that he caused the victim to expose her intimate parts. He had to be prepared to defend against charges of subjecting S.J. to sexual contact as well, because such contact could have been the substantial step he took toward inducing her to expose intimate parts. Thus, the information did contemplate that engaging in sexual contact was a possible method of committing the crime, and the court of appeals erred in concluding otherwise. Furthermore, the information cited both the criminal attempt statute, section 18-2-101, and the third degree sexual assault statute, 18-3-404(1.5), as the basis for the charge. This citation directed Madden to the statute as a whole and provided further notice of both of the prohibited forms of conduct. See Cervantes v. People, 715 P.2d 783, 787 (Colo.1986) (The fact that the information cited the second degree assault statute as a whole would help defendant conclude which specific subsection he was being charged under, even though the information inadequately described that subsection.). The charging document provided constitutional notice of the crime instructed. Madden was advised that sexual contact could be an element of the crime charged, he was given notice that he would need to prepare a defense to allegations of sexual contact, and could not argue that he was taken by surprise if evidence of sexual contact was presented. Accordingly, the change in description of third degree sexual assault between the jury instructions and the information did not deprive Madden of his Sixth Amendment rights. Because Madden received adequate notice, we reverse the ruling of the court of appeals and uphold Madden's conviction for attempted third degree sexual assault.