State v. DeAnthony Allen

OPINION

Justice ROBINSON,

for the Court.

On November 10, 2011, a Providence County Superior Court jury found the defendant, DeAnthony Allen, guilty of first degree child abuse for inflicting serious bodily injury on his infant son in violation of G.L.1956 § ll-9-5.3(b)(l). The trial justice imposed upon the defendant the maximum sentence allowed under that law — twenty years to serve.

On appeal, defendant contends that the charge against him should have been dismissed because the child abuse statute (viz., § 11-9-5.3) is unconstitutionally vague. He also argues that the trial justice erred when…