Summary
In State v. Smith, 98 N.H. 149, 95 A.2d 789 (1953), we permitted a second trial for assault where the defendant had been previously charged and acquitted of gross, lewd and lascivious behavior.
Summary of this case from State v. HoutenbrinkOpinion
No. 4188.
Decided April 7, 1953.
To establish the defense of former jeopardy it must appear that the offense previously charged was the same in law and in fact. Hence, the defense of former jeopardy may not be successfully pleaded to complaint for assault under R. L., c. 455, s. 22, by reason of the fact that the respondent had previously been acquitted of a complaint under Id., c. 449, s. 3, for gross, lewd and lascivious behavior at the same time and place by substantially the same conduct toward the same person since the statute in each case requires proof of a distinguishing element not contained in the other.
COMPLAINT, charging the respondent with assault, on September 20, 1952, at Portsmouth, upon a female child, by putting his arms around her from behind, his hands between her legs, and touching her with his hands, putting her in fear. The respondent moved to dismiss because of a prior acquittal "on the same set of facts." The question of law presented by the motion was reserved and transferred by the justice of the municipal court under R. L., c. 377, s. 20.
The reserved case states that a prior complaint, charging the respondent with "gross lewd and lascivious behavior" at the same time and place in Portsmouth by substantially the same conduct toward the same child, was previously dismissed "at the close of the State's evidence."
Thomas E. Flynn, Jr., city solicitor, and Warren E. Waters, Assistant Attorney General, (Mr. Flynn orally), for the State.
Arthur J. Reinhart, for the respondent, filed no brief.
The respondent's motion to dismiss raises the defense of former jeopardy. The issue is whether he has previously been tried for the offense now charged. It is apparent that the complaint upon which he was formerly acquitted was based, as the motion alleges, upon "the same set of facts" alleged in the pending complaint, except for the allegation that the child was put in fear. But "the test is not whether the defendant has already been tried for the same act, but whether he has been put in jeopardy for the same offense." Morey v. Commonwealth, 108 Mass. 433, 434. Accord, State v. Brooks, 215 Wis. 134. It must appear that the offense previously charged was the "same in law and in fact." Commonwealth v. Roby, 12 Pick. 496, 504. See also, Commonwealth v. DiStasio, 297 Mass. 347, 356.
The first complaint charged violation of R. L., c. 449, s. 3, by which "open, gross lewdness or lascivious behavior" is made a misdemeanor. State v. Burgess, 77 N.H. 170. This is one of the "offenses against chastity." R. L., c. 449. The gist of the offense is lustful conduct, tending by its probable disclosure and shamefulness to debase the standard of public morals. State v. Franzoni, 100 Vt. 373; State v. Parker, 233 Mo. App. 1037; Commonwealth v. Cummings, 273 Mass. 229; 53 C.J.S. 8, 9. The adjective "open," which was not embodied in the complaint dismissed, refers to the quality of the act, rather than the place where committed. State v. Juneau, 88 Wis. 180; Commonwealth v. Wardell, 128 Mass. 52. Assault is not an essential element of the offense. See State v. Burgess, supra; State v. Jacobson, 197 Ia. 547, 552.
The offense now charged is assault, which under R. L., c. 455, s. 22, is likewise a misdemeanor. This is an offense "against the person" (R. L., c. 455, supra), the gist of which is the unlawful touching of the person of another. An overt act involving threat or use of physical force is a necessary element. 6 C.J.S. 917, 918. The public interest is in protection of the right to freedom from interference with the person, rather than the preservation of moral standards. No requirement that the act shall be lustful, shameful, or indecent is imposed.
From what has been said it sufficiently appears that the offenses charged by the two complaints are distinct, although in this instance arising out of the same acts. Conviction or acquittal of one is no bar to prosecution for the other. 1 Wharton, Crim. Law (12th ed.) 564. The respondent was acquitted of gross lewd behavior, not of assault. As established by the early case of State v. Sias, 17 N.H. 558, 559, 560, the rule of former jeopardy affords no defense "unless the facts charged in the second [complaint] would, if true, have sustained the first." The rule was recently applied in State v. Donovan, 97 N.H. 190, 192. While the same acts may form a part of each offense, the statute in each case requires proof of a distinguishing element, which the other does not. See Morey v. Commonwealth, supra; Gavieres v. United States, 220 U.S. 338. In the one case it is unconcealed lewdness. In the other it is physical violence, however slight, or the threat thereof. The respondent's motions should be denied.
Case discharged.
All concurred.