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""  22   YYY FILED2XNovember3,1997CecilW.CrowsonAppellateCourtClerk    !#d#+           #d#.   $       AggravatedrapeisdefinedinTenn.CodeAnn.3913502(a)(4)asthe unlawfulsexualpenetrationofavictimbythedefendant...[when][t]hevictimislessthanthirteen(13)yearsofage.  !#d#+           #d#.   $       Theterms mentalstate, culpablementalstate,and mensreaareusedinterchangeably. s !#d#+           #d#.   $       Duetotheageofthevictimandthenatureoftheoffense,weidentifythevictimbyinitialonly.  !#d#+           #d#.   $       Anyconfusionmaybedue,atleastinpart,tothelooseusageofthephrase essentialelements,whichcanmeantheelementsnecessaryforconvictionortheelementsnecessarytoinformtheaccusedofthecharge.  !#d#+           #d#.   $       Thisstatutehasnowbeenamendedsothatrapeofachildlessthanthirteenyearsofageisaseparateoffense.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.3913522.  !#d#+           #d#.   $       Thisistruebecauseevenwhilevoluntarilyintoxicated,adefendantmayrecklesslyrapeavictimorrecklesslydisregardtheageofavictim.SeeStatev.Jones,889S.W.2d225,22829(Tenn.Crim.App.1994).PtPtHH(FG(HH(d'`Styl{WP}01  HH  2$HH  Geneva  <Px443!#4$*$$*$ KK  Geneva  Geneva .,6 Geneva   ion-F Geneva  ion-F Geneva ! . +           #,,Xd##,,Xd#.  ݛ` XX7 XXdXXd7\RA'\  @ INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE@ ATNASHVILLE̜@ (HEARDATJACKSON)STATEOFTENNESSEE  )FORPUBLICATIOǸ    )     )FILED:NOVEMBER3,1997 Appellant   )     )WAYNECOUNTYv.     )     )HON.JAMESL.WEATHERFORD,ROGERDALEHILL,SR.  ) JUDGÈ  )̀ Appellee   )NO.01S019701CC00005̜!R130A1-j| ` - `@RߛForAppellee:     ForAppellant:SHARAANNFLACY    JOHNKNOXWALKUPDistrictPublicDefender   AttorneyGeneralandReporterWILLIAMC.BRIGHT   KATHYMORANTEAssistantPublicDefender  DeputyAttorneyGeneralPulaski,TN     Nashville,TN      T.MICHAELBOTTOMS      DistrictAttorneyGeneral      RICHARDH.DUNAVANT      AssistantDistrictAttorney      General      Pulaski,TN@ OPINIONREVERSED          BIRCH,J. WeacceptedtheStatesapplicationforreviewinthiscauseinordertodeterminethevalidityofanindictmentwhichchargedaggravatedrape. 4   ׀TheCourtofCriminalAppealsheldtheindictmentvoidandthesubsequentconvictioninvalidbecausethelanguageoftheindictmentfailedtoallegeaculpablementalstate. 5    ThisissuearisesbecausetheSentencingReformActof1989providesthataculpablementalstateisrequiredtoestablishanoffenseunlessthedefinitionoftheoffense plainlydispenseswithamentalelement.Tenn.CodeAnn.3911301(b)(1991).Further,whenastatuteomitsreferencetoaspecificmensrea,butdoesnotplainlydispensewithamensrearequirement,thenproofof intent, knowledge,or recklessnesswillsufficetoestablishaculpablementalstate.Tenn.CodeAnn.3911301(c).Thestatutedefiningaggravatedrapedoesnotexpresslyrequireaculpablementalstate,neitherdoesitplainlystatethatnosuchmentalstateisrequired.Thus,proofofintent,knowledgeorrecklessnessisrequiredtosustainaconvictionforthatoffense. SinceaplainreadingofTenn.CodeAnn.3911301(b)and(c)leadsustoconcludethattheLegislatureintendedthataculpablemensreabeanelementoftheoffenseofaggravatedrape,thequestionhereiswhetherfailuretoallegesuchmensreainanindictmentchargingthatoffenseconstitutesafataldefectrenderingtheindictmentvoid.Weholdthatforoffenseswhichneitherexpresslyrequirenorplainlydispensewiththerequirementforaculpablementalstate,anindictmentwhichfailstoallegesuchmentalstatewillbesufficienttosupportprosecutionandconvictionforthatoffensesolongas8 8 (1)thelanguageoftheindictmentissufficienttomeettheconstitutionalrequirementsofnoticetotheaccusedofthechargeagainstwhichtheaccusedmustdefend,adequatebasisforentryofaproperjudgment,andprotectionfromdoublejeopardy;8 8 (2)theformoftheindictmentmeetstherequirementsofTenn.CodeAnn.4013202;and8 8 (3)thementalstatecanbelogicallyinferredfromtheconductalleged.@   I   OnoraboutJune22,1991,thevictim,M.H., 6   ׀andheroldersisterwerespendingthenightwiththeirpaternalgrandmother.M.H.wasabouteightyearsold.Thevictimsfather,defendantRogerDaleHill,alsospentthenightatthehouse.M.H.,hersister,andHillwenttosleeponthefloorwhilehergrandmothersleptonacouchnearby.AccordingtoM.H.,afterhersisterandgrandmotherwenttosleep,Hillpulleduphernightgown,pulledherpantiesover,andput [h]isfingerinmyprivate,andthen gotontopofmeand...startedputtinghisprivatepartintomine.Hillthenbegantomove [u]panddown.WhenM.H.toldHilltostop,hedid. Afewdayslater,M.H.relatedthenightseventstohermother.Subsequently,Hillwasarrestedandchargedwithaggravatedrape.ThejuryconvictedHillofaggravatedsexualbattery.Thetrialcourtsentencedhimtoatermoftwelveyearsandimposedafineintheamountof$25,000.Atthehearingonmotionfornewtrial,Hillcontended,fortheveryfirsttime,thattheindictmentwasdefectivebecauseitfailedtospecifyaculpablementalstateforthecrimecharged.Thetrialcourtrejectedthiscontentionandapprovedtheverdict.Onappeal,theintermediateappellatecourtruledthattheindictmentwasindeedvoidforfailuretoallegemensrea,andthetrialcourtwasthereforewithoutjurisdiction.@ II Becausetheissuesbeforeusarequestionsoflaw,ourreviewisdenovo.Statev.Davis,940S.W.2d558,561(Tenn.1997). TheStatecontendsthattheindictmentisvalidbecauseanindictmentneednotspecifytheculpablementalstatewhenthelanguagethereinisotherwisesufficienttoinformtheaccusedofthecharge. Theindictmentinquestioncontainssixcounts,eachinthefollowinglanguage:8 8 [thedefendant]didunlawfullysexuallypenetrate[thevictim]apersonlessthanthirteen(13)yearsofage,inviolationofTennesseeCodeAnnotated3913502,allofwhichisagainstthepeaceanddignityoftheStateofTennessee. Asforconstitutionalrequirements,theSixthandFourteenthAmendmentstotheUnitedStatesConstitutionandArticleI,Section9oftheTennesseeConstitutionguaranteetotheaccusedtherighttobeinformedofthenatureandcauseoftheaccusation.Generallystated,anindictmentisvalidifitprovidessufficientinformation(1)toenabletheaccusedtoknowtheaccusationtowhichanswerisrequired,(2)tofurnishthecourtadequatebasisfortheentryofaproperjudgment,and(3)toprotecttheaccusedfromdoublejeopardy.Statev.Byrd,820S.W.2d739,741(Tenn.1991);VanArsdallv.State,919S.W.2d626,630(Tenn.Crim.App.1995);Statev.Smith,612S.W.2d493,497(Tenn.Crim.App.1980). Werecognize,however,thatanindictmentneednotconformtotraditionallystrictpleadingrequirements.Rather,astheCourtnotedinStatev.Pearce,8 8 thestrictnessrequiredinindictmentshadgrowntobeablemishandinconvenienceinthelawandtheadministrationthereof.Thatmoreoffendersescapedbytheovereasyeargiventoexceptionstoindictments,thanbythemanifestationoftheirinnocence;andthatthegrossestcrimeshadgoneunpunishedbyreasonoftheseunseemlyniceties....[W]hiletendernessoughtalwaystoprevailincriminalcases,yet,thatitdoesnotrequiresuchaconstructionofwordsaswouldtendtorenderthelawnugatoryandineffectual,nordoesitrequireofustogiveintosuchniceandstrainedcriticalobjectionsasarecontrarytoitstruemeaningandspirit....[I]ncriminalcases,wherethepublicsecurityissodeeplyinterestedinthepromptexecutionofjustice,itseemstheminorconsiderationshouldgivewaytothegreater,andtechnicalobjectionsbeoverlooked,ratherthantheendsofsocietybedefeated.7Tenn.(Peck)6667(1823).Overtheyears,thisCourthasmadereferenceto thegrowinginclinationofthiscourttoescapefromtheembarrassmentoftechnicalitiesthatareemptyandwithoutreason,andtendtodefeatlawandright.Statev.Cornellison,166Tenn.106,59S.W.2d514,515(Tenn.1933).Indeed,thepurposeforthetraditionallystrictpleadingrequirementwastheexistenceofcommonlawoffenseswhoseelementswerenoteasilyascertainedbyreferencetoastatute.Suchcommonlawoffensesnolongerexist.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.3911102(a)(1991).Thus,wenowapproach attacksuponindictments,especiallyofthiskind,fromthebroadandenlightenedstandpointofcommonsenseandrightreasonratherthanfromthenarrowstandpointofpettypreciosity,pettifogging,technicalityorhairsplittingfaultfinding.UnitedStatesv.Purvis,580F.2d853,857(5thCir.1978)(citingParsonv.UnitedStates,189F.2d252,253(5thCir.1951)). Theformofanindictmentissubjecttostatutoryprescriptionalso.TennesseeCodeAnnotated4013202(1990)providesthatanindictmentmust:8 8 statethefactsconstitutingtheoffenseinordinaryandconciselanguage,withoutprolixityorrepetition,insuchamannerastoenableapersonofcommonunderstandingtoknowwhatisintended,andwiththatdegreeofcertaintywhichwillenablethecourt,onconviction,topronouncetheproperjudgment.... Thisstatute,proceduralinnature,wasoriginallyenactedin1858,onehundredandthirtyoneyearspriortotheenactmentoftheSentencingReformActof1989,whichexpresslyabolishedcommonlawoffensesandstatutorilyspecifiedtheconductnecessarytosupportacriminalprosecutioninTennessee.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.3911102(1991)andtheSentencingCommissionCommentsthereto. WhentheGeneralAssemblyenactedtheSentencingReformActof1989,itincludedsignificantreferencestotherequirementforaculpablementalstate.OnesuchreferenceisfoundinTenn.CodeAnn.3911301(1991):8 8  (a)(1)Apersoncommitsanoffensewhoactsintentionally,knowingly,recklesslyorwithcriminalnegligence,asthedefinitionoftheoffenserequires,withrespecttoeachelementoftheoffense.8 8  ...8 8  (b)Aculpablementalstateisrequiredwithinthistitleunlessthedefinitionofanoffenseplainlydispenseswithamentalelement.8 8  (c)Ifthedefinitionofanoffensewithinthistitledoesnotplainlydispensewithamentalelement,intent,knowledgeorrecklessnesssufficestoestablishtheculpablementalstate. AnotherreferenceisfoundinTenn.CodeAnn.3911201(1991),whichcodifiedtheprinciplesregardingburdenofproof:8 8  (a)Nopersonmaybeconvictedofanoffenseunlesseachofthefollowingisprovenbeyondareasonabledoubt:   ...8 8  (2)Theculpablementalstaterequired.YetanotherreferenceisfoundinTenn.CodeAnn.3911101(1991):8 8 Thegeneralobjectivesofthecriminalcodeareto...8 8 (2)Givefairwarningofwhatconductisprohibited,andguidetheexerciseofofficialdirectioninlawenforcement,bydefiningtheactandtheculpablementalstatewhichtogetherconstituteanoffense. Arguably,thefirsttwoofthesereferencespertainprimarilytotheevidencenecessarytosustainaconviction.Theirpertinence,then,totherequirementsofavalidindictmentistangentialandsecondaryatbest.Obviously,thedescriptionoftheproofnecessarytosustainaconvictionmustbebothmoreinclusiveandconclusivethanthelanguageofanindictment. 7    Generally,anindictmentmustallegethematerialelementsofanoffense.Torcia,WhartonsCrim.Pro.235at59(1990).Again,thetouchstoneforconstitutionalityisadequatenoticetotheaccused.   8  TheauthorsoftheModelPenalCodesuggestthatculpabilityisnotamaterialelementofanoffense,althoughatcommonlaw, scienterwasanecessaryelementandhadtobeallegedineveryindictment.Thecommonlawrule,however,hasbeenmodifiedastostatutoryoffenses.Inmodernpractice,itisunnecessarytochargeguiltyknowledgeunlessitisincludedinthestatutorydefinitionoftheoffense.41Am.Jur.2dIndictmentsandInformation126(1995). Theoffenseallegedintheindictmentunderconsiderationisaggravatedrape.TennesseeCodeAnnotated3913502(a)(4) 8   definestheapplicablecategoryofaggravatedrapeasthe unlawfulsexualpenetrationofavictimbythedefendant,...[when]thevictimislessthanthirteen(13)yearsofage.Thisstatutedoesnotspecifyamentalstate.Thus,pursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.3911301(c),thementalelementissatisfiediftheindictmentallegesthatthedefendantcommittedtheproscribedactwithintent,knowledge,orrecklessness.Obviously,theactforwhichthedefendantisindicted, unlawfullysexualpenetrat[ing]apersonundertheageofthirteen,iscommittableonlyiftheprincipalactorsmensreaisintentional,knowing,orreckless. 9   ׀Thus,therequiredmentalstatemaybeinferredfromthenatureofthecriminalconductalleged.Clearly,thelanguageofthisindictmentprovidesadequatenoticetoboththedefendantandthetrialcourt  oftheoffenseallegedprotectsthedefendantfromsubsequentreprosecutionforthissameoffense.TheformoftheindictmentcomplieswiththerequirementsofTenn.CodeAnn.4013202. Inconclusion,weholdthattheindictmentinthiscasechargingthedefendantwiththeoffenseofaggravatedrape,inviolationofTenn.CodeAnn.3913502,meetsconstitutionalandstatutoryrequirementsofnoticeandformandis,therefore,valid.Accordingly,thejudgmentoftheCourtofCriminalAppealsisreversed,andtheappealisdismissed.CostsofthisappealaretaxedtoHill;letexecutionissueifnecessary.     ____________________________________     ADOLPHOA.BIRCH,JR.,JusticeCONCUR:Anderson,C.J.Drowota,Reid,Holder,JJ.