Degren v. State

CATHELL, Judge.

In this case we must determine whether a person with responsibility for a minor child who fails to prevent that child from being raped while the child is in her presence may be convicted of sexual abuse under the child abuse statute. In addition, we must ascertain whether the trial court erred in denying motions with respect to comments made by the State’s Attorney during closing arguments that implied the defendant, by virtue of her status as a criminal defendant, had a motive to lie. We shall affirm.

I. Procedural History

Sharon Degren, 1 petitioner, was charged in the Circuit…