State v. Dern

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Stegall, J.:

Justin G. Dern appeals from two convictions of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and two convictions of aggravated criminal sodomy involving his 3-year-old twin daugh*386ters. The States case rested largely on Derns admissions to others, including law enforcement, that he had committed these offenses. This aspect of the case requires application of our long-standing common-law corpus delicti rule. In so doing, we clarify how the rule applies to crimes that produce no tangible harm or injury.

Dern advances six claims of reversible error:…