State v. Baxter

¶1 Edwin Bruce Baxter appeals his conviction for second degree assault of a child, which arose from his attempt to circumcise his eight-year-old son at home. He argues that the trial court erred by including his son’s birth date in the elements instruction because the State had to prove as an element of the crime that his son was under the age of 13 at the time of the assault. He also contends that the trial court violated his due process right by excluding evidence of his religious motive and his son’s consent to the procedure. Finally, he asserts that his trial counsel was ineffective for…