Court Opinion

ID: 9739361
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 20:12:55.282876+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:11.792228
License: Public Domain

Concurring in Part—Dissenting in Part
Prentice, J.
I concur with Judge Arterburn in the affirmance of the conviction of first degree burglary, but dissent as to the conviction of sodomy.
I take exception to any conviction or charge under the first portion of the Acts of 1905, ch. 169, § 473, p. 584, (1956 Repl.) Burns’ § 10-4221, i.e., “Whoever commits the abominable and detestable crime against nature with mankind or beast * * * shall be deemed guilty of sodomy, * *
*677The Revised Statutes of 1852, ch. 61, § 2, p. 351, (1956 Repl.) Burns’ § 9-2401, provides “Crimes and misdemeanors shall be defined and punishment therefor fixed by statutes of this state and not otherwise.” I am not unmindful of the decision holding that when a public offense has been declared by statute in the general terms of the common law, without more particular definition, the courts will resort to the common law for the particular acts constituting the offense. This rule, however, should not be enlisted to emasculate the statute requiring crimes to be defined by statute. In this era of relative enlightenment and freedom of expression there can be no excuse for offenses regarding sex acts to be vague. “The abominable and detestable crime against nature” is so general as to be meaningless. It can be utilized to mean whatever its user wants it to mean. What is “abominable” or “detestable” to one may be perfectly acceptable to another, and no one should be subjected to criminal prosecutions except upon clear and definite charges. The undesirability of the expression of certain words or thoughts within the chambers of Victorian society, nevertheless, cannot obviate the requirement that crimes be defined with that degree of particularity that will permit persons or ordinary knowledge to know or ascertain what is lawful and what is unlawful, and should not make persons insecure by the possibility that others in position of authority may find their acts undesirable. If certain acts of a sexual nature are considered by our Legislature to be objectionable in our society, and if their prohibition would not violate the constitutional rights of others, then let such acts be enacted as crimes fully defined in clear, unequivocal language.
I would affirm the conviction of burglary and reverse the charge of sodomy.
Note.—Reported in 266 N. E. 2d 617.