Hernandez v. Texas (original by judge keel)
Annotate this CaseAt his trial for aggravated sexual assault of a child, Appellant Roberto Hernandez unsuccessfully sought jury instructions on lesser offenses of indecency with a child. The court of appeals reversed the trial court’s ruling and ordered a new trial. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals reversed the court of appeals because a separate offense, even if it is a lesser offense, is not an included offense. More specifically, an allegation that a defendant penetrated a child’s mouth with his penis does not include claims that he touched the child’s torso with his penis or touched her vagina with his hand. “Although they are lesser, those are not included offenses because they are separate crimes for which the defendant could be prosecuted in addition to the greater, charged offense.”
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