State v. Lizotte

RSA 579:3 provides in part: “If any person shall be guilty of gross lewdness or lascivious behavior such person shall be imprisoned not more than six months or fined not more than two hundred dollars, or both . ” The nature of the offense with which the respondent is charged was recently considered and defined in State v. Smith, 98 N. H. 149. “The gist of the offense is lustful conduct, tending by its probable disclosure and shamefulness to debase the standard of public morals.” Id., 150. It is an offense “against chastity” (RSA ch. 579, supra), consisting of behavior which goes beyond…