Legal Question in Military Law in Washington

Indecent Act with Another

What does the word indecent mean in relation to the UCMJ? Is there a layed out definiton or is it open to interpritation?


Asked on 10/28/08, 8:51 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Patrick Tracy Patrick J. Tracy, Esq, P.E.,

Re: Indecent Act with Another

There are many ways to interpret the word. Most judges will start with a standard dictionary definition and then if there is any expansiveness based on case law or other judicial interpretation. Thus there is no cut and dried manner to answer this.

However, if you look at the definition in a standard Webster's dictionary and what you did is covered there, you have an issue to deal with. In many cases an indecent act with another is a lesser included offense to sodomy or rape or something similar.

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Answered on 10/29/08, 5:36 am


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