Opinion ID: 1434401
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: insufficiency of evidence of lack of consent

Text: Defendant next claims that lack of consent as charged in the information was not proven and that it was a necessary element of the offense, without which he could not have been convicted of rape and forcible sodomy. Section 76-5-406(7) supplies the answer. An act of sexual intercourse, sodomy, or sexual abuse is without consent of the victim when the victim is under 14 years of age. The information contained the date of birth of the victim in the probable cause statement and mentioned her age under both counts. The jury was instructed that acts of sexual intercourse and sodomy are without consent of the victim where the victim is under 14 years of age. The age of the victim was established at trial and no other evidence was required to prove lack of consent. The conviction is affirmed. HALL, C.J., DURHAM, J., and DAVID SAM, District Judge, concur. STEWART, J., does not participate herein. DAVID SAM, District Judge, sat. OAKS, J., having resigned, does not participate herein.