People v. Carrier

254 N.W.2d 35, 74 Mich. App. 161, 1977 Mich. App. LEXIS 711
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 3, 1977
DocketDocket 26001
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 254 N.W.2d 35 (People v. Carrier) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Carrier, 254 N.W.2d 35, 74 Mich. App. 161, 1977 Mich. App. LEXIS 711 (Mich. Ct. App. 1977).

Opinion

Per Curiam.

The appellant was convicted by a jury of two counts of felonious assault, MCLA 750.82; MSA 28.277, and aiding and abetting in the commission of a crime against nature, MCLA 750.158; MSA 28.355. He appeals as of right.

The complainant became involved with Patricia Welch. He eventually purchased an automobile which he permitted her to use exclusively. Subsequently, she was involved in an automobile collision. The complainant became apprehensive about her retaining the car. He decided that after the car was repaired, he would resell it.

Ms. Welch attempted to pick up the car after it had been repaired at a dealership. She was informed that the complainant had placed a "hold” on the automobile.

*163 Ms. Welsh called the complainant in an effort to recover the car. After the attempt appeared fruitless, Ms. Welch suggested the complainant come over to her residence to discuss the situation.

Upon entering Ms. Welch’s residence, the complainant was approached by Kenneth Wojnicz, a codefendant. Wojnicz was armed with a gun and pointed it at the complainant. The complainant was instructed to kneel, and his hands were tied behind his back. When he attempted to rise, he was struck on the head with the gun by Mr. Wojnicz.

Wojnicz ordered the complainant to remove his clothes. Ms. Welch and Mr. Wojnicz left the room with the complainant’s clothes. The complainant heard them going through his pockets and counting his money, which was approximately $215.

A few minutes later three men, one of whom was the appellant, joined Ms. Welch and Mr. Wojnicz at the scene. The appellant informed the complainant that "nobody treats his old lady that way”. The complainant was repeatedly kicked and beaten by all four men.

One of the individuals brought in battery booster cables from the complainant’s automobile and attached one of the clamps to his penis. Someone threatened to attach the other end of the booster cable to "something that would give [the complainant] a real shock”. The clamp on the. battery booster cable was removed a few minutes later.

The complainant was then dragged down to the basement by all four men. He was threatened that his parents and girl friend were also going to be brought there. They requested the name and address of the complainant’s girl friend. He responded with a false name and address. Where *164 upon, three of the men left leaving the complainant with Wojnicz.

Subsequently, he was approached by the appellant who held a gun on the complainant and led him upstairs to the bathroom. The appellant ordered the complainant to sit in the bath tub. He hit the complainant a number of times. Then the appellant and Mr. Wojnicz urinated on the complainant.

The appellant returned to the bathroom a short time later with a gun and fired at the complainant. The bullet hit the wall above the complainant’s head. The appellant then gave the gun to Wojnicz, who also fired at the complainant. The complainant testified that the shots were 5 to 12 inches above his head.

Later, the appellant returned with a small pair of shears and threatened to cut off the complainant’s penis.

Finally, the appellant returned with Ms. Welch’s German shepherd. The appellant unsuccessfully attempted to get the dog to attack the complainant. The appellant, while holding a gun on the complainant, ordered him to "suck off the dog”. The complainant lowered his mouth to the dog’s genitals. From that point on, the record is not ^entirely clear as to what occurred. However, the evidence appears to show that complainant’s mouth was directly touching the dog’s penis.

The first issue raised by the appellant is that the coerced act with the dog is outside the purview of MCLA 750.158; MSA 28.355. Appellant relies upon People v Schmitt, 275 Mich 575; 267 NW 741 (1936), and People v Dexter, 6 Mich App 247; 148 NW2d 915 (1967), for the contention that the statute merely prohibits common-law sodomy, which is only copulation per anum.

*165 We are of the opinion that the cases cited by the appellant are inapplicable. They deal only with situations involving acts between human beings.

MCLA 750.158; MSA 28.355 provides:

"Any person who shall commit the abominable and detestable crime against nature either with mankind or with any animal shall be guilty of a felony.”

We have been unable to discover any case law in this state dealing with sexual acts between human beings and animals, consequently we may look to other states and sources for guidance.

At common law a "crime against nature” embraced both sodomy and bestiality. Ausman v Veal, 10 Ind 355, 356; 1 Am D 331 (1858), State v Johnson, 44 Utah 18, 21-22; 137 P 632, 633 (1913), State v Poole, 59 Ariz 44, 47; 122 P2d 415, 416 (1942). In Sanders v State, 216 Ind 663, 664-665; 25 NE2d 995 (1940), the Indiana Supreme Court construed a provision similar to our statute. The Court said:

"The statute in this state defines the crime as 'the abominable and detestable crime against nature with mankind or beast.’ This court has held in common with the courts of other jurisdictions under similar statutes that the statutory definition includes both common-law sodomy and acts of a bestial character whereby degraded and perverted sexual desires are sought to be gratified contrary to nature.” (Emphasis supplied.)

There is some doubt as to whether bestiality and sodomy meant the same thing at common law. Miller, Criminal Law, § 141, p 437. This is due to the fact that commentators failed to describe these distasteful acts, but merely characterized them as sodomy or crimes against nature. In any event it *166 has developed, although possibly incorrectly, that sodomy includes acts of bestiality. 2 Wharton’s Criminal Law & Procedure § 756, p 578; Miller, Criminal Law, supra.

Acts of bestiality have been found to occur in a broader range of conduct than that of common-law sodomy. See People v Smith, 117 Cal App 2d 698; 256 P2d 586 (1953), State v Tarrant, 83 Ohio App 199; 80 NE2d 509 (1948), Ausman v Veal, supra. In other words an act of bestiality is not strictly limited to copulation per anum.

We have been referred to numerous definitions of bestiality, but adopt the following as the clearest and most concise. An act of bestiality is a sexual connection between a man or a woman and an animal. Clark & Marshall, Crimes (6th ed), § 11.07, p 689.

We hold that acts of bestiality are expressly prohibited by MCLA 750.158; MSA 28.355. Bestiality is encompassed within the meaning of a "crime against nature” and "sodomy”. An act of bestiality is not limited to copulation per anum, but includes an act of sexual connection between a human being and an animal, such as that alleged to have occurred here.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
254 N.W.2d 35, 74 Mich. App. 161, 1977 Mich. App. LEXIS 711, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-carrier-michctapp-1977.