People v. Brandt

171 N.W.2d 59, 18 Mich. App. 267, 1969 Mich. App. LEXIS 1057

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: June 26, 1969
• Docket: Docket 6,057
• Status: Published

Opinions

Levin, J.

Defendant was convicted by a judge, sitting without a jury, of taking indecent and improper liberties with a girl under the age of 16 years. MCLA § 750.336 (Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28-.568). At the time the alleged offense was committed, the girl was ten years of age and the defendant was an invited guest in her home. The child’s parents were also- at home. The testimony showed that the defendant entered the child’s bedroom, sat on the edge of the bed, kissed her several times on the mouth and neck and put his tongue in her mouth. The trial judge found that there was no attempt or request to take other liberties.

Kissing can be sexual or nonsexual. In our culture, kissing, unaccompanied by other sexual overtones, is not generally regarded as indecent even if the person kissed or, in the case of a young child, the parents of that child, regard the kissing as objectionable. Thus, the defendant’s action in kissing the young girl on her lips and on her neck which might well be regarded, under the circumstances, as indiscreet, was not indecent within the meaning of this statute.

Tlie people stress tire testimony which, showed that additionally the defendant while kissing the girl inserted his tongue in her mouth. This was not such a variation from permissible, uoncriminal conduct to justify characterization of the defendant’s action as violative of this statute at least where, as here, there is no claim or evidence that the defendant solicited or otherwise touched the child sexually.¹ "We are convinced that the defendant’s conduct was not the kind the legislature had in mind when it made the taking of indecent and improper liberties a crime for which a man may be sentenced to up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

The question of what constitutes the lowest threshold of criminal conduct under this statute is one of law to be decided by the court; the minimum standard is not a question of fact. Undoubtedly there are those who would regard the defendant’s actions as indecent, but we cannot say that their evaluation is so universally held that it can properly be termed the “common sense of society.” People v. Hicks (1893), 98 Mich 86, 90.²

Beversed. The defendant is discharged.

Bronson, J., concurred.

1 There is nothing in the agreed statement of facts upon which this appeal was submitted to sujjport a determination that the defendant's actions, even if thought to be indecent and improper liberties, were motivated by a desire to gratify himself sexually or by an immoral intent or purpose. Compare People v. Lakin (1938), 286 Mich 282, People v. Szymanski (1948), 321 Mich 248, 251, 252, and People v. Healy (1933), 265 Mich 317, 319, with People v. Visel (1936), 275 Mich 77, 78, 79. Also cf. State v. Mathews (Mo, 1959), 328 SW2d 642, 644; Boles v. State (1946), 158 Fla 220 (27 So 2d 293) and Koch v. Commonwealth (Ky App, 1955), 290 SW2d 783, requiring proof of such intent under statutes, such as Michigan’s, not expressly requiring such proof. See, also, State v. Richmond (1966), 266 NC 357 (145 SE2d 915) and Martin v. State (1963), 245 Ind 224 (194 NE2d 721), construing statutes expressly requiring proof of such intent.

2 In this connection we note that in the cases relied on by the people the meritorious issue was decided by a jury and not by a trial judge. As we observed in Humphrey v. Swan (1968), 14 Mich App 683, 686:

“Appellate courts traditionally exercise a broader review of judges’ decisions than of jury verdicts.

“ ‘A jury’s verdict-view of facts is entitled to an even higher degree of appellate respect than is a judge’s verdict-view of the same facts, learned through the judge may be in law. For reasons known well to students of American history, a finding of fact by “the twelvers” is more apt to be sound than that of one man.’ Schneider v. Pomerville (1957), 348 Mich 49, 54.”