Govan v. State

OPINION

VAIDIK, Judge.

Case Summary

Morgan K. Govan appeals his convictions for Class C felony battery and Class A misdemeanor battery for branding his long-term girlfriend with a hot knife and hitting her with a cord. Specifically, he contends that the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions because the charges arose out of sadomasochistic sexual practices to which his girlfriend consented. In Indiana, consent is not a defense to battery in most cireumstances. Because the activities in this case involved a deadly weapon, consent is not available as a defense. Furthermore, because…