Opinion ID: 1411093
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Jury Instructions on Indecent Liberties with a Child

Text: Defendant asserts that the jury instructions regarding indecent liberties with a child were confusing and misleading in that the trial court failed to specify the acts underlying the indecent liberties charge. Because defendant failed to object to the instructions at trial, we consider only whether the trial court committed plain error. See N.C. R.App. P. 10(c)(4). A reversal for plain error is only appropriate in the most exceptional cases. State v. Duke, 360 N.C. 110, 138, 623 S.E.2d 11, 29 (2005), cert. denied, 549 U.S. 855, 127 S.Ct. 130, 166 L.Ed.2d 96 (2006). Plain error analysis should be applied cautiously and only when after reviewing the entire record, it can be said the claimed error is a ` fundamental error, something so basic, so prejudicial, so lacking in its elements that justice cannot have been done.' State v. Odom, 307 N.C. 655, 660, 300 S.E.2d 375, 378 (1983) (quoting United States v. McCaskill, 676 F.2d 995, 1002 (4th Cir.) (citation omitted), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1018, 103 S.Ct. 381, 74 L.Ed.2d 513 (1982)). An appellate court must be convinced that absent the error the jury probably would have reached a different verdict. State v. Walker, 316 N.C. 33, 39, 340 S.E.2d 80, 83 (1986) (citing Odom, 307 N.C. at 661, 300 S.E.2d at 378-79). The jury received the verbatim instructions on indecent liberties taken from the North Carolina Pattern Jury Instructions. See 2 N.C.P.I.-Crim. 226.85 (2008). When instructing on indecent liberties, the judge is under no requirement to specifically identify the acts that constitute the charge. See State v. Hartness, 326 N.C. 561, 563-67, 391 S.E.2d 177, 178-81 (1990). In State v. Lawrence, this Court stated, a defendant may be unanimously convicted of indecent liberties even if: (1) the jurors considered a higher number of incidents of immoral or indecent behavior than the number of counts charged, and (2) the indictments lacked specific details to identify the specific incidents. 360 N.C. 368, 375, 627 S.E.2d 609, 613 (2006)(citing Hartness and State v. Lyons, 330 N.C. 298, 412 S.E.2d 308 (1991)). Defendant contends that Hartness and Lawrence should not control this issue because, in those cases, all of the evidence offered at trial was ruled competent to support the charges alleged. He argues that this case differs because the jury could have based its indecent liberties conviction solely on the same acts that resulted in the sexual offense conviction, which we have now found invalid under the corpus delicti rule. We disagree. While the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to sustain the sexual offense conviction, it withstands the corpus delicti rule as to the conviction for indecent liberties with a child. Therefore, even if the jury based its conviction on the same facts as those underlying the sexual offense charge, it was appropriate for them to do so. [T]he crime of indecent liberties is a single offense which may be proved by evidence of the commission of any one of a number of acts. Hartness, 326 N.C. at 567, 391 S.E.2d at 180. A defendant is guilty of indecent liberties with a child if, being 16 years of age or more and at least five years older than the child in question, he either: (1) Willfully takes or attempts to take any immoral, improper, or indecent liberties with any child of either sex under the age of 16 years for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire; or (2) Willfully commits or attempts to commit any lewd or lascivious act upon or with the body or any part or member of the body of any child of either sex under the age of 16 years. N.C.G.S. § 14-202.1 (2007). Defendant's extrajudicial confession alone establishes all of the elements of indecent liberties with a child; thus, under the corpus delicti rule, the question becomes whether independent corroborating evidence is strong enough to prove the trustworthiness of the confession. As discussed above, Jonathan's testimony regarding defendant's statements made immediately after the extrajudicial confession is not evidence independent of the confession and is not sufficient corroboration evidence. However, after reviewing the entirety of the record, we find there is strong corroborating evidence to establish the trustworthiness of defendant's extrajudicial confession as to the indecent liberties charge. First, defendant's trial testimony mirrors his extrajudicial confession in that he admits that during the first visit, he was drunk and alone with K.L.C. on Jonathan's bed with his penis exposed. This evidence strongly corroborates defendant's extrajudicial confession admitting to an indecent liberty against K.L.C. and satisfies the requirements of the corpus delicti rule. The jury also heard K.L.C. testify that defendant grabbed her by the shoulders, undressed her, and exposed himself during the second visit. Therefore, it was proper for the jury to consider the confession, along with the other evidence presented at trial, to determine if defendant committed the crime of indecent liberties with a child. Because the jury could have found that defendant's acts during the first or second visit constituted an indecent liberty with a child, it is immaterial that the trial court did not give specific instructions as to which of those acts were at issue. See Lawrence, 360 N.C. at 375, 627 S.E.2d at 613. After receiving correct instructions on the law, the jury was unanimous in deciding that defendant committed the offense of indecent liberties with a child. As such, we find no plain error and affirm defendant's conviction for indecent liberties with a child.