Carl E. Hightower v. State Indiana

This is an appeal from a conviction of statutory rape (IC 1971, 35-5-3, being Burns § 10-4201), after a trial by jury in the Owen Circuit Court, Judge William T. Sharp presiding. Appellant was originally charged with three offenses: a statutory rape of one Rebecca Gentry on August 1, 1969, an assault and battery with intent to gratify sexual desires on Rebecca Gentry on January 30, 1970, and a statutory rape of one Brenda Gentry on January 31, 1970. All three of these causes were consolidated for trial by agreement of the parties and were submitted to a trial by jury. The jury acquitted appellant on the two offenses alleged to have taken place in January of 1970, and returned a verdict of guilty on the statutory rape of Rebecca Gentry alleged to