Opinion ID: 1708413
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Overlapping Statutory Provisions

Text: Defendants successfully argued below that the statutes are unconstitutional because in some instances the same conduct may expose an accused to charges under any one of four provisions: solicitation or attempt of prostitution; solicitation or attempt of crime against nature. Assuming this to be so, however, we are not aware of how this statutory arrangement conflicts with any constitutional principle. The policy of our criminal code recognizes that there will be overlapping in the code sections and other statutes and expressly provides that in such cases prosecution may proceed under either provision. La. R.S. 14:4 and Reporter's Comment. It is intended that there shall be only one prosecution and that the offender will be protected from unwarranted multiple prosecutions by the law concerning double jeopardy. Id. The trial court did not state why it found this statutory policy to be unconstitutional. The defendants' cursory arguments will be discussed along with other insubstantial contentions in the next section.