Legal Opinion

State v. Yanez

Supreme Court of Rhode Island

Decided August 4, 1998No. 97-110-C.APublishedCited by 19 opinions

1Opinion of the Court

OPINION

GOLDBERG, Justice.

The principal issue presented by this ease is whether a reasonable mistake of fact concerning a complainant’s age may be asserted as a defense to a charge of statutory-rape. For the reasons articulated in this opinion, we hold that with respect to the age requirement first-degree child-molestation sexual assault is a strict-liability offense. Consequently a defendant charged with this offense may not introduce evidence that he or she was mistaken regarding the child’s age, nor is a defendant entitled to a jury instruction regarding the same. A recitation of the facts…

2Cases cited37 opinions

  1. Morissette v. United StatesSupreme Court of the United States · 1952
  2. Snyder v. MassachusettsSupreme Court of the United States · 1934
  3. Dennis v. United StatesSupreme Court of the United States · 1951
  4. Lambert v. CaliforniaSupreme Court of the United States · 1958
  5. United States v. BalintSupreme Court of the United States · 1922

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3Cited by19 opinions

  1. Harris v. StateCourt of Appeals of Maryland · 1999
  2. United States v. WilsonCourt of Appeals for the Armed Forces · 2008
  3. Brown v. StateSupreme Court of Rhode Island · 2004
  4. State v. AponteSupreme Court of Rhode Island · 2002
  5. Lee N. Mortenson v. National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa.Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 2001

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