State v. Snavely

(on reassignment) .

The defendant was charged with taking indecent liberties with the person of an individual under the age of eighteen years. The complaining witness gave the state’s attorney an unsworn written statement which declared that, on the occasion in question, the defendant had committed acts which, if true, would make him guilty of the crime of taking indecent liberties with her person. On the strength of this un-sworn written statement, the defendant was charged and brought to trial.

Both sides waived trial by jury and the defendant was thereafter tried to the court. The transcript…