Court Opinion

ID: 7822674
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-07 17:59:53.821244+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:30:46.530823
License: Public Domain

John I. Purtle, Justice, concurring. I take strong exception to the dissenting opinion. It is manifestly unfair to state that the majority legalizes the fondling of twelve year old girls by adult males. Such language is unjustified and unfounded. Sexual contact is defined in Ark. Stat. Ann. § 41-1801(8) (Repl. 1977) as follows: “Any act of sexual gratification involving the touching of the sex organs or anus of a person, or the breast of a female.” I do not understand how any sound thinking person could say the touching of the buttock by a hand through the clothing is expressly included in the foregoing statute. Since it is admitted by the dissent that we strictly construe criminal statutes, I cannot understand the position of the dissent. Perhaps it is a matter which should be taken up with the legislature. It is not our duty or prerogative to construe laws in the manner in which we think they ought to be written. It is the function of the legislative branch of the government to enact laws in the manner in which they deem proper. It is the responsibility of the people to keep the legislative branch informed on such matters. The judicial branch is not given the authority to re-write the laws to its own liking. Perhaps appellant violated some other statute but he clearly did not conduct himself in a manner which is prohibited by Ark. Stat. Ann. § 41-1808( 1 )(c) (Repl. 1977).