Court Opinion

ID: 9534032
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:36:25.35569+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:29:21.074005
License: Public Domain

SULLIVAN, Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part
I concur with respect to Parts I and III. I respectfully dissent with regard to Part II.
As accurately noted by the majority, “the Double Jeopardy Clause protects against multiple punishments for the same offense.” Op. at 779. In my view, Games v. State (1997) Ind., 684 N.E.2d 466, reh’g 690 N.E.2d 211, did not, by implication or otherwise, overrule the clear and unambiguous holdings of our Supreme Court in Ellis v. State (1988) Ind., 528 N.E.2d 60, and in Hansford v. State (1986) Ind., 490 N.E.2d 1083. The decision of this court in Acuna v. State (1991) Ind.App., 581 N.E.2d 961 correctly reflects these holdings in striking down an incest conviction as violative of double jeopardy considerations when viewed in conjunction with a child molestingfeexual intercourse conviction.
I would do the same in this case insofar as the two convictions relate to the 1983 single incident involving J.S.R. Here, there was but one sexual act alleged and proved. There was but one victim. I cannot perceive that the General Assembly intended that there be multiple punishments for that single act.