Opinion ID: 2049680
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: other assault sections have particular reference to specific intent

Text: Chapter XI. Assaults of the penal code, MCL 750.81 et seq.; MSA 28.276 et seq., derives from 1931 PA 328, which in turn was based on prior enactments. Chapter XI. Assaults lists a series of assaults punishable as either misdemeanors or felonies depending on the severity of the offense. The points of importance to the issue in the instant case are: first, felonious assault is but one of a number of assault offenses listed in successive sections of 1931 PA 328, and second, the language of the felonious assault section does not include a specific intent to harm another either in the catchline title or in the text setting forth the offense and punishment, whereas a number of the other sections deal with assault offenses where the intent to harm another is specifically set forth in both the catchline title and in the text of the offense. The assault offenses listed in Chapter XI. Assaults follow: 1. assault and assault and battery, 1931 PA 328; MCL 750.81; MSA 28.276 2. assault and infliction of serious injury, 1931 PA 328, as added by 1939 PA 237; MCL 750.81a; MSA 28.276(1) 3. felonious assault, 1931 PA 328; MCL 750.82; MSA 28.277 4. assault with intent to commit murder, 1931 PA 328; MCL 750.83; MSA 28.278 5. assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, 1931 PA 328; MCL 750.84; MSA 28.279 6. assault with intent to maim, 1931 PA 328; MCL 750.86; MSA 28.281 7. assault with intent to commit felony not otherwise punished, 1931 PA 328; MCL 750.87; MSA 28.282 8. assault with intent to rob and steal being unarmed, 1931 PA 328; MCL 750.88; MSA 28.283 9. assault with intent to rob and steal being armed, 1931 PA 328, as amended by 1939 PA 94; MCL 750.89; MSA 28.284. The sections which require a specific intent list the intent as an element, for example assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, MCL 750.84; MSA 28.279: Assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder  Any person who shall assault another with intent to do great bodily harm, less than the crime of murder, shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the state prison not more than 10 years, or by fine of not more than 5,000 dollars. (Emphasis added.) This is to be compared with the felonious assault section, which reads as follows: Any person who shall assault another with a gun, revolver, pistol, knife, iron bar, club, brass knuckles or other dangerous weapon, but without intending to commit the crime of murder, and without intending to inflict great bodily harm less than the crime of murder, shall be guilty of a felony. (Emphasis added.) Comparison of those sections of Chapter XI. Assaults which specifically set forth the requirement of a specific intent to harm another with the felonious assault section demonstrates two points. First, the Legislature demonstrates beyond peradventure that when it intends a particular offense to require a specific intent, it knows how to, and does, require that specific intent. Second, the Legislature demonstrates that in the case of felonious assault it does not intend to require a specific intent. As a consequence, this Court should follow the legislative intent and not require a specific intent for felonious assault.