FILED Jul 11 2025, 8:59 am
CLERK Indiana Supreme Court Court of Appeals and Tax Court
IN THE
Court of Appeals of Indiana Ethane Potts, Appellant-Defendant
v.
State of Indiana, Appellee-Plaintiff
July 11, 2025 Court of Appeals Case No. 24A-CR-2072 Appeal from the St. Joseph Superior Court The Honorable David L. Francisco, Judge Trial Court Cause No. 71D02-2309-F3-52
Opinion by Judge Vaidik Judges Bailey and DeBoer concur.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 24A-CR-2072 | July 11, 2025 Page 1 of 10 Vaidik, Judge.
Case Summary [1] Ethane Potts was convicted of one count of rape by sexual intercourse and one
count of rape by “other sexual conduct” after forcing his victim—the mother of
his children—to perform oral sex on him and then having sexual intercourse
with her against her will. He argues that these two convictions for two forms of
rape under the rape statute constitute double jeopardy. To establish double
jeopardy, he must show, in part, that one offense was “included” in the other,
either “inherently” or “as charged,” or that the charging information was
ambiguous as to whether one offense was included in the other. But as
explained below, sexual intercourse and “other sexual conduct” are mutually
exclusive acts, so one can never be included in the other, either inherently or as
charged. We therefore affirm both of Potts’s convictions. We also affirm his
sentence of 22 years, with 18 years to serve and 4 years suspended to probation.
Facts and Procedural History [2] The evidence most favorable to the convictions and sentence is as follows. Potts
and his victim, L.B., began dating in approximately 2017, during their freshman
year of high school. They had an “on again off again” relationship over the next
several years, Tr. Vol. II p. 237, and they have two young children.
[3] Potts and L.B. last had consensual sex in early July 2023, but by July 24 they
had broken up and begun seeing other people. That day, L.B. was at work
when she heard that Potts had impregnated another woman. She and Potts Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 24A-CR-2072 | July 11, 2025 Page 2 of 10 began a long text-message exchange in which Potts denied the report but
accused L.B. of cheating on him, and L.B. repeatedly asked Potts to leave her
alone and told him that their relationship was over and “[t]here is no make up.”
Exs. 2-38. When L.B. acknowledged that she had “hooked up” with someone,
Potts threatened to do “some crazy s***” if she didn’t tell him who it was. Exs.
40-43. After L.B. named the man, Potts insisted that he would see her later
despite her unwillingness to see him. Exs. 43-46. Potts added, “[Y]ou’re gonna
get f***ed[.]” Ex. 46. When L.B. continued to refuse to see him, Potts said
again, “I’m gonna f*** you[.]” Exs. 47-48. L.B. finally agreed to meet Potts
outside during a short break at work because she was afraid that he would come
inside and make a scene that would cause her to lose her job. A co-worker
noticed that L.B. “seemed panicky, kind of frantic,” and nervous. Tr. Vol. II
pp. 151-52. L.B. wanted to meet in a public place, but Potts insisted that she get
in his car when he arrived, and she complied.
[4] Potts drove to a nearby parking garage. He wanted L.B. to give him oral sex,
which she refused to do multiple times. Id. at 111-12. Despite L.B. physically
resisting, Potts eventually forced her mouth onto his penis for a short time.
Potts then made L.B. remove her pants and had sexual intercourse with her in
the passenger seat, as L.B. asked him to get off her. When Potts was finished,
he returned to the driver’s seat while L.B. cried. L.B. asked Potts if he “realized
what he did,” and Potts acknowledged that he “forced himself” on her. Id. at
119. He said it would have been “really f***ed up” if he had done that to “a
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 24A-CR-2072 | July 11, 2025 Page 3 of 10 random person” but that this was “just [her].” Id. at 120. The visit to the
parking garage lasted 20 minutes.
[5] Potts drove L.B. back to work. When she went inside, she looked “[p]etrified”
and was shaking, and her clothes were “messed up.” Id. at 152-53. L.B. told her
co-worker that Potts had raped her. Later that afternoon, Potts texted L.B. that
he was going to pick up their son from the babysitter. L.B. responded, “Do you
not realize what you just did?” and “Like what in your right mind told you that
you could do that to me[?]” Exs. 57-58. When Potts claimed not to know what
she was talking about, L.B. told him that she had spent the last hour and a half
crying and “trying to decide whether to report it[.]” Ex. 58. Potts responded
with a series of messages urging L.B. not to report him, warning that if she did,
her children would lose their father forever. Exs. 58-64. That night, L.B. went
to a hospital, reported the assault, and submitted to a sexual-assault
examination.
[6] The State charged Potts with four counts of Level 3 felony rape under Indiana
Code section 35-42-4-1, which provides that rape can be committed by sexual
intercourse or by “other sexual conduct.” Of the four counts against Potts, two
were based on the act of sexual intercourse and two were based on the act of
“other sexual conduct” (Potts forcing L.B. to perform oral sex on him):
Count I: [Potts] did knowingly have sexual intercourse with [L.B.] when [L.B.] attempted to physically, verbally, or by other visible conduct refuse [Potts’s] act.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 24A-CR-2072 | July 11, 2025 Page 4 of 10 Count II: [Potts] did knowingly cause [L.B.] to perform or submit to other sexual conduct [when L.B.] attempted to physically, verbally, or by other visible conduct refuse [Potts’s] act.
Count III: [Potts] did knowingly have sexual intercourse with [L.B.] when such person was compelled by force or the imminent threat of force.
Count IV: [Potts] did knowingly cause [L.B.] to perform o[r] submit to other sexual conduct when such person was compelled by force or the imminent threat of force.
Appellant’s App. Vol. II pp. 13-14.
[7] A jury trial was held in July 2024. Potts admitted to engaging in sexual activity
with L.B. but claimed it was all consensual. The jury disagreed and found Potts
guilty as charged. When the court ordered Potts remanded into custody
pending sentencing, he tried to run out of the courtroom and had to be subdued
by court security.
[8] At the sentencing hearing, the court and the parties agreed that four rape
convictions would constitute double jeopardy but that two convictions—one for
sexual intercourse and one for “other sexual conduct” (oral sex)—would not.
The court entered convictions on Count I and Count IV.
[9] In sentencing Potts on those two counts, the trial court found his criminal
history to be an aggravating circumstance. Potts has prior misdemeanor
convictions for criminal mischief, possession of marijuana, and possession of
paraphernalia. L.B. was the victim of the criminal mischief, and Potts was on
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 24A-CR-2072 | July 11, 2025 Page 5 of 10 probation for the marijuana and paraphernalia convictions when he committed
these offenses. The court also found the nature and circumstances of the
offenses to be aggravating, including Potts “gaslighting [L.B.] and attempting to
emotionally manipulate her, through the children, to not report his criminal
conduct.” Id.
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FILED Jul 11 2025, 8:59 am
CLERK Indiana Supreme Court Court of Appeals and Tax Court
IN THE
Court of Appeals of Indiana Ethane Potts, Appellant-Defendant
v.
State of Indiana, Appellee-Plaintiff
July 11, 2025 Court of Appeals Case No. 24A-CR-2072 Appeal from the St. Joseph Superior Court The Honorable David L. Francisco, Judge Trial Court Cause No. 71D02-2309-F3-52
Opinion by Judge Vaidik Judges Bailey and DeBoer concur.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 24A-CR-2072 | July 11, 2025 Page 1 of 10 Vaidik, Judge.
Case Summary [1] Ethane Potts was convicted of one count of rape by sexual intercourse and one
count of rape by “other sexual conduct” after forcing his victim—the mother of
his children—to perform oral sex on him and then having sexual intercourse
with her against her will. He argues that these two convictions for two forms of
rape under the rape statute constitute double jeopardy. To establish double
jeopardy, he must show, in part, that one offense was “included” in the other,
either “inherently” or “as charged,” or that the charging information was
ambiguous as to whether one offense was included in the other. But as
explained below, sexual intercourse and “other sexual conduct” are mutually
exclusive acts, so one can never be included in the other, either inherently or as
charged. We therefore affirm both of Potts’s convictions. We also affirm his
sentence of 22 years, with 18 years to serve and 4 years suspended to probation.
Facts and Procedural History [2] The evidence most favorable to the convictions and sentence is as follows. Potts
and his victim, L.B., began dating in approximately 2017, during their freshman
year of high school. They had an “on again off again” relationship over the next
several years, Tr. Vol. II p. 237, and they have two young children.
[3] Potts and L.B. last had consensual sex in early July 2023, but by July 24 they
had broken up and begun seeing other people. That day, L.B. was at work
when she heard that Potts had impregnated another woman. She and Potts Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 24A-CR-2072 | July 11, 2025 Page 2 of 10 began a long text-message exchange in which Potts denied the report but
accused L.B. of cheating on him, and L.B. repeatedly asked Potts to leave her
alone and told him that their relationship was over and “[t]here is no make up.”
Exs. 2-38. When L.B. acknowledged that she had “hooked up” with someone,
Potts threatened to do “some crazy s***” if she didn’t tell him who it was. Exs.
40-43. After L.B. named the man, Potts insisted that he would see her later
despite her unwillingness to see him. Exs. 43-46. Potts added, “[Y]ou’re gonna
get f***ed[.]” Ex. 46. When L.B. continued to refuse to see him, Potts said
again, “I’m gonna f*** you[.]” Exs. 47-48. L.B. finally agreed to meet Potts
outside during a short break at work because she was afraid that he would come
inside and make a scene that would cause her to lose her job. A co-worker
noticed that L.B. “seemed panicky, kind of frantic,” and nervous. Tr. Vol. II
pp. 151-52. L.B. wanted to meet in a public place, but Potts insisted that she get
in his car when he arrived, and she complied.
[4] Potts drove to a nearby parking garage. He wanted L.B. to give him oral sex,
which she refused to do multiple times. Id. at 111-12. Despite L.B. physically
resisting, Potts eventually forced her mouth onto his penis for a short time.
Potts then made L.B. remove her pants and had sexual intercourse with her in
the passenger seat, as L.B. asked him to get off her. When Potts was finished,
he returned to the driver’s seat while L.B. cried. L.B. asked Potts if he “realized
what he did,” and Potts acknowledged that he “forced himself” on her. Id. at
119. He said it would have been “really f***ed up” if he had done that to “a
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 24A-CR-2072 | July 11, 2025 Page 3 of 10 random person” but that this was “just [her].” Id. at 120. The visit to the
parking garage lasted 20 minutes.
[5] Potts drove L.B. back to work. When she went inside, she looked “[p]etrified”
and was shaking, and her clothes were “messed up.” Id. at 152-53. L.B. told her
co-worker that Potts had raped her. Later that afternoon, Potts texted L.B. that
he was going to pick up their son from the babysitter. L.B. responded, “Do you
not realize what you just did?” and “Like what in your right mind told you that
you could do that to me[?]” Exs. 57-58. When Potts claimed not to know what
she was talking about, L.B. told him that she had spent the last hour and a half
crying and “trying to decide whether to report it[.]” Ex. 58. Potts responded
with a series of messages urging L.B. not to report him, warning that if she did,
her children would lose their father forever. Exs. 58-64. That night, L.B. went
to a hospital, reported the assault, and submitted to a sexual-assault
examination.
[6] The State charged Potts with four counts of Level 3 felony rape under Indiana
Code section 35-42-4-1, which provides that rape can be committed by sexual
intercourse or by “other sexual conduct.” Of the four counts against Potts, two
were based on the act of sexual intercourse and two were based on the act of
“other sexual conduct” (Potts forcing L.B. to perform oral sex on him):
Count I: [Potts] did knowingly have sexual intercourse with [L.B.] when [L.B.] attempted to physically, verbally, or by other visible conduct refuse [Potts’s] act.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 24A-CR-2072 | July 11, 2025 Page 4 of 10 Count II: [Potts] did knowingly cause [L.B.] to perform or submit to other sexual conduct [when L.B.] attempted to physically, verbally, or by other visible conduct refuse [Potts’s] act.
Count III: [Potts] did knowingly have sexual intercourse with [L.B.] when such person was compelled by force or the imminent threat of force.
Count IV: [Potts] did knowingly cause [L.B.] to perform o[r] submit to other sexual conduct when such person was compelled by force or the imminent threat of force.
Appellant’s App. Vol. II pp. 13-14.
[7] A jury trial was held in July 2024. Potts admitted to engaging in sexual activity
with L.B. but claimed it was all consensual. The jury disagreed and found Potts
guilty as charged. When the court ordered Potts remanded into custody
pending sentencing, he tried to run out of the courtroom and had to be subdued
by court security.
[8] At the sentencing hearing, the court and the parties agreed that four rape
convictions would constitute double jeopardy but that two convictions—one for
sexual intercourse and one for “other sexual conduct” (oral sex)—would not.
The court entered convictions on Count I and Count IV.
[9] In sentencing Potts on those two counts, the trial court found his criminal
history to be an aggravating circumstance. Potts has prior misdemeanor
convictions for criminal mischief, possession of marijuana, and possession of
paraphernalia. L.B. was the victim of the criminal mischief, and Potts was on
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 24A-CR-2072 | July 11, 2025 Page 5 of 10 probation for the marijuana and paraphernalia convictions when he committed
these offenses. The court also found the nature and circumstances of the
offenses to be aggravating, including Potts “gaslighting [L.B.] and attempting to
emotionally manipulate her, through the children, to not report his criminal
conduct.” Id. at 179. The court found several mitigating circumstances: Potts’s
young age (he was 21 at the time of sentencing); “the many character letters
submitted by [his] friends and family which indicate a strong support system”;
his employment history; and “all other statements offered by defense counsel
and [Potts] himself.” Id.
[10] Finding the aggravators to outweigh the mitigators, the court sentenced Potts to
11 years, with 2 years suspended to probation, for each count. The court
ordered the sentences to run consecutively, for a total sentence of 22 years, with
18 years to be served in the Department of Correction and 4 years suspended to
probation.
[11] Potts now appeals.
Discussion and Decision I. Potts’s convictions do not constitute double jeopardy [12] Potts first contends that his two rape convictions constitute double jeopardy
under Indiana law. As noted above, he told the trial court the opposite. The
State argues that Potts therefore invited any error and cannot now be heard to
complain. We don’t need to reach this issue because there is clearly no double-
jeopardy violation.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 24A-CR-2072 | July 11, 2025 Page 6 of 10 [13] Under Count I, Potts was charged with and convicted of rape by sexual
intercourse. Under Count IV, Potts was charged with and convicted of rape by
“other sexual conduct” (for forcing L.B. to perform oral sex on him). Because
the convictions are for two forms of rape under the rape statute, we determine
whether there is double jeopardy by applying the three-step test established in
Wadle v. State, 151 N.E.3d 227 (Ind. 2020), and modified in A.W. v. State, 229
N.E.3d 1060 (Ind. 2024). But we need only address the second step, at which
Potts must show that one of his offenses was “included” in the other, either
“inherently” or “as charged,” or at least that the charging information was
ambiguous as to whether one offense was included in the other. A.W., 229
N.E.3d at 1066-71. Sexual intercourse can never be included in “other sexual
conduct,” or vice versa, either inherently or as charged. “Sexual intercourse” is
defined as “an act that includes any penetration of the female sex organ by the
male sex organ.” Ind. Code § 35-31.5-2-302. “Other sexual conduct,” on the
other hand, is defined as “an act involving: (1) a sex organ of one (1) person
and the mouth or anus of another person; or (2) the penetration of the sex organ
or anus of a person by an object.” I.C. § 35-31.5-2-221.5. Therefore, “sexual
intercourse and other sexual conduct are mutually exclusive material elements
of rape[.]” Stone v. State, 226 N.E.3d 829, 834 (Ind. Ct. App. 2024), trans. denied.
And we have consistently held that rape by sexual intercourse and rape by
“other sexual conduct” are two separately punishable acts, even when
perpetrated close in time. See id.; see also Thompson v. State, 246 N.E.3d 1251,
1254-56 (Ind. Ct. App. 2024). Potts has not shown a double-jeopardy violation.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 24A-CR-2072 | July 11, 2025 Page 7 of 10 II. Potts’s sentence is not inappropriate [14] Potts also asks us to reduce his sentence under Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B),
which provides that an appellate court “may revise a sentence authorized by
statute if, after due consideration of the trial court’s decision, the court finds
that the sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and the
character of the offender.” The court’s role under Rule 7(B) is to “leaven the
outliers,” and “we reserve our 7(B) authority for exceptional cases.” Faith v.
State, 131 N.E.3d 158, 160 (Ind. 2019). “Whether a sentence is inappropriate
ultimately turns on the culpability of the defendant, the severity of the crime,
the damage done to others, and a myriad of other factors that come to light in a
given case.” Thompson v. State, 5 N.E.3d 383, 391 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014) (citing
Cardwell v. State, 895 N.E.2d 1219, 1224 (Ind. 2008)). Because we generally
defer to the judgment of trial courts in sentencing matters, defendants must
persuade us that their sentences are inappropriate. Schaaf v. State, 54 N.E.3d
1041, 1044-45 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016).
[15] Potts was convicted of two counts of Level 3 felony rape. The sentencing range
for a Level 3 felony is 3 to 16 years, with an advisory sentence of 9 years. I.C. §
35-50-2-5(b). And because rape is a crime of violence, Potts could have received
consecutive maximum sentences, totaling 32 years. See I.C. § 35-50-1-2. The
trial court sentenced him to 22 years, with 18 years to serve and 4 years
suspended to probation.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 24A-CR-2072 | July 11, 2025 Page 8 of 10 [16] As to the nature of the offenses, Potts argues that he “has been punished
multiple times for what is essentially the same criminal act.” Appellant’s Br. p.
18. But as discussed above, rape by sexual intercourse and rape by “other sexual
conduct” are separate criminal acts even when committed during a single
episode. To treat the two acts as one would depreciate the seriousness of each.
See Cardwell, 895 N.E.2d at 1225 (noting that “additional criminal activity
directed to the same victim should not be free of consequences”). And there are
other troubling facts. Potts’s victim is the mother of his young children. He
apparently raped her merely because she was trying to move on from their
relationship. Before the assault, Potts sent her threatening text messages and
demanded to see her despite her resistance. After the assault, Potts demeaned
her as she cried and then tried to persuade her not to report the assault by
invoking the potential impact on their children. Nothing about the nature of the
offenses makes Potts’s sentence inappropriate.
[17] As for his character, Potts notes that he was “a hardworking, dedicated, and
loyal employee in his plumbing apprenticeship,” he was only 20 years old at the
time of the offenses, he has two young children, and his only prior convictions
were misdemeanors. Appellant’s Br. p. 19. But several facts reflect poorly on his
character. L.B. testified that Potts wasn’t providing any financial support for the
children. Also, while Potts has no prior felony convictions, L.B. was the victim
of one of his misdemeanors (criminal mischief), and Potts was on probation for
the other misdemeanors when he committed these offenses. Finally, when Potts
was ordered into custody pending sentencing, he tried to flee the courtroom.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 24A-CR-2072 | July 11, 2025 Page 9 of 10 (He has since pled guilty to Level 5 felony attempted escape for that act. See
Cause No. 71D03-2407-F4-37.)
[18] Potts has failed to persuade us that his sentence is an outlier in need of revision.
[19] Affirmed.
Bailey, J., and DeBoer, J., concur.
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT James H. Voyles, Jr. Tyler D. Helmond Voyles Vaiana Lukemeyer Baldwin & Webb Indianapolis, Indiana
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE Theodore E. Rokita Attorney General Ellen Meilaender Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 24A-CR-2072 | July 11, 2025 Page 10 of 10