Opinion ID: 879827
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Similarity of crimes or acts.

Text: Appellant, in his brief, contends that the acts are not similar, without articulating why they are not. The crime charged here is sexual abuse of a stepdaughter. The prior acts testified to by T.M. were also sexual acts with Eiler when she was his stepdaughter. Both girls were minors when they were forced to engage in the sexual activities. Appellant points out that S.A. was subject to touching and T.M. testified that she had unwillingly engaged in intercourse and that these acts are not similar. However, the first acts to which T.M. was subject by Eiler were acts of touching also. In addition, we established in State v. Tecca (Mont. 1986), 714 P.2d 136, 43 St.Rep. 264, that the prior acts need not be identical to the offense committed but be merely of sufficient similarity. Tecca was applied to State v. Long (Mont. 1986), 726 P.2d 1364, 43 St.Rep. 1948. The defendant in Long was convicted of sexual abuse for rubbing the clothed bottom of a five-year-old. This was deemed sufficiently similar to the prior acts of rubbing the genitals of two four-year-olds after their pants had been removed. The acts here of sexual contact with stepdaughters are sufficiently similar.