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278 S.C. 497

State v. Burgess

Supreme Court of South Carolina

Decided January 3, 1983

Supreme Court of South Carolina · decided 1983-01-03

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently October 2000

2 state decisions

Key passage — most relied on by later courts

“We conclude that the offense of criminal sexual conduct in the second and third degrees are lesser included offenses to a charge of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree and, if the facts warrant, the lesser degrees of the offense may be submitted to the jury under a charge of the first degree.”

quoted by 1 later decision, including State v. McFadden

Relies on State v. Foxworth · State v. Summers

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1983-01-03

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

Per Curiam:

¶1Appellant was convicted of first degree criminal conduct and sentenced to twenty-five years inprisonment. Appellant asserts the trial court erred by failing to charge the lesser included offenses of second and third degree criminal conduct. We agree, but affirm on other grounds.

¶2Appellant requested that the trial judge instruct the jury on the lesser included offenses of second and third degree criminal sexual conduct. The trial judge denied the request, ruling that second and third degree criminal sexual conduct were not lesser included offenses of first degree criminal sexual conduct.

¶3This court has held that the offenses of criminal sexual conduct in the second and third degrees are lesser included offenses of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree. State v. Summers, 276 S. C. 11, 274 S. E. (2d) 427 (1981). We conclude the trial judge was in error in his ruling. However, we sustain his ruling on other grounds contained in the record. See Supreme Court Rule 4, § 8 and State v. Goodstein, S. C. 292 5. E. (2d) 791 (1982).

¶4Refusal to submit a lesser included offense is not error unless there is testimony tending to show that the defendant is guilty only of the lesser offense. State v. *499Foxworth, 269 S. C. 496, 238 S. E. (2d) 172 (1977). Under a charge of first degree criminal sexual conduct, the trial judge should submit the lesser included offenses of second and third degree if the facts warrant such instructions. State v. Summers, 274 S. E. (2d) 427, 429.

¶5The evidence presented by the State did not support a conviction of second or third degree criminal sexual conduct. Appellant asserted the defense of consent. The facts as presented did not warrant instructions on second or third degree criminal sexual conduct.

¶6Based on the testimony and the evidence presented, the trial judge gave the proper jury instructions.

¶7Accordingly, we affirm.

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