State v. Aronhalt

526 P.2d 463, 18 Or. App. 577, 1974 Ore. App. LEXIS 1004
Court of Appeals of Oregon·Decided September 9, 1974·No. No. 14-931·Published·Cited by 1 cases

Opinion

FOET, J.

Defendant was convicted on charges of kidnapping in the second degree (ORS 163.225), forcible rape in the first degree (ORS 163.375), and sodomy in the first degree (ORS 163.405), and he appeals therefrom. They arose out of one transaction. His plea of not guilty was accompanied by a notice of intent to show he was suffering from a mental disease or defect at the time of the acts charged, pursuant to OES 161.300 and ORS 161.309.

The evidence of his guilt was overwhelming. His principal defense of mental disease or defect was fully presented. No error is assigned arising out of that aspect of the case.

He contends that it was error to overrule his demurrer to the indictment because it did not affirmatively allege that the victim, who was correctly named in the indictment, was not his wife. Defendant at the time here involved was married. His own wife testified [579] at the trial, called by him as a witness in his own behalf.

The indictment fully informed the defendant concerning the crimes charged and complied with ORS 132.540 and ORS 132.550. Defendant points to ORS 163.305 (2) in support of his contention that the indictment is insufficient as a matter of law because it [580] does not affirmatively allege the victim named therein was not his wife. OES 163.305 (2) defines “female,” as used in the portion of the code relating to sexual offenses, as follows:

“As used in chapter 743, Oregon Laws 1971, unless the context requires otherwise:
ÍÍ# # * # *
“(2) ‘Female’ means a female person who is not married to the actor. Spouses living apart under [581] a decree of separation from bed and board are not married to one another for purposes of this definition.

We are not here dealing with a victim who, though the wife of the defendant, was living apart from him under a decree of separation from bed and board. No such claim is made. Defendant relies rather on the following statement found in the Commentary to the Proposed Oregon Criminal Code 115, Art 13, § 111 (1970), relating to rape:

* * The proposed draft, because of the definition of ‘female,’ would require that such an allegation be stated in the indictment.”

We disagree. In State v. Shadley/Spencer/Rowe, 653-54, 16 Or App 113, 517 P2d 324 (1973), we discussed the purposes of indictments:

“* * * Twenty-five years ago these purposes were stated to be:
“ * * (1) to inform the accused of the nature and character of the criminal offense with which he is charged with sufficient particularity to enable him to make his defense * * *’
More recent statutory changes reduce the importance of each of these purposes of an indictment. With reference to informing the accused so that he can prepare his defense, this can now be accom[582] plished by way of the new criminal discovery statutes. * * *
“In light of these statutory changes, it would appear that Oregon criminal procedure has been and is now evolving toward the concept that an indictment is merely a formal method of initiating criminal proceedings and identifyng the name of the crime that the accused is alleged to have committed. All other purposes served by indictments under older statutes 25 years ago are now served as well or better by newer statutory schemes. * * *”

The general rule in Oregon is that:

“* * * [A]n indictment in the language of a statute is good on demurrer. * * *” State v. Nussbaum, 261 Or 87, 91, 491 P2d 1013 (1971).

The indictment in the present case is in the language of the statute. ORS 163.375 (1) (a) provides:

“(1) A person who has sexual intercourse with a female commits the crime of rape in the first degree if:
“(a) The female is subjected to forcible compulsion by the male * *

Moreover, ORS 163.305 (2) adds no new element to the crime of first degree rape. It merely defines the term “female” as used in ORS 163.375 (1) (a). Cf. State v. Jim/White, 13 Or App 201, 219, 508 P2d 462, Sup Ct review denied (1973). The indictment contains all the elements of first degree rape: (1) “sexual intercourse with a female” and (2) the “female * * * [was] subjected to forcible compulsion * *

Defendant’s contention in the present ease is similar to the contention of the defendants in Jim/White, who were indicted for “theft.” The theft statute contains various sections which describe acts of theft and which refer to other statutes for the definitions of [583] terms. In holding that the indictment properly charged the defendants with “theft,” this court said:

“[T]he statute in question here fully defines the meaning of the word ‘theft’ and the defendants need look no further to discover what act and crime is being charged. Where the words used in the indictment necessarily imply other words those words need not he used in the indictment. State v. Reynolds, 229 Or 167, 366 P2d 524 (1961). Where the words used in the indictment are sufficiently defined in the statute the definitions need not he included in the indictment. People v. Kamsler, 67 Ill App 2d 33, 214 NE2d 562 (1966).” (Emphasis supplied.) 13 Or App at 220-21.

It is significant that defendant does not contend he was misled by the absence of an allegation that the woman he raped was not his wife. Cf. State v. Oregon City Elks, 17 Or App 124, 520 P2d 900 (1974).

The defendants in State v. Cannon/Clark/Green/Donnelly, 17 Or App 379, 521 P2d 1326, Sup Ct review denied (1974), claimed that the indictments did not state crimes, and this court said:

“* * * The indictments do inform the defendants of the charges against them * * *. The state is not required to repeat statutory definitions of terms used in the indictment * * *.”• 17 Or App at 387.

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State v. Aronhalt, 526 P.2d 463, 18 Or. App. 577, 1974 Ore. App. LEXIS 1004 (Or. Ct. App. 1974).

526 P.2d 463 (State v. Aronhalt) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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