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Daniel Ray Bowlsby v. The State of Wyoming
2013 WY 72
| Wyo. | 2013
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Background

  • Bowlsby pled guilty to (1) first-degree sexual abuse of a minor and (2) incest, under a plea agreement dismissing seven counts.
  • Both offenses arose from a single sexual incident involving Bowlsby and his stepdaughter.
  • Court accepted pleas, imposed concurrent sentences; incest sentence 13–15 years, sexual abuse 35–40 years.
  • Bowlsby argues incest is a lesser included offense of first-degree sexual abuse and should be vacated under double jeopardy.
  • Court agrees incest is a lesser included offense and reverses/incest conviction, remanding to address the plea and remaining first-degree sexual abuse conviction.
  • Guilty pleas were unconditional; double jeopardy review proceeds as plain-error since not preserved below.

Issues

Issue Plaintiff's Argument Defendant's Argument Held
Is incest a lesser included offense of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor? Bowlsby: incest includes no extra elements beyond sex abuse. State: incest requires knowledge of familial relationship only as element; not included in sex abuse. Incest is a lesser included offense; conviction for incest violates double jeopardy.

Key Cases Cited

  • Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299 (1932) (two offenses, one act, test: whether each requires proof of a fact the other does not)
  • James v. State, 271 P.3d 1016 (Wyo. 2012) (double jeopardy; equivalence of state and federal prohibitions)
  • Daniel v. State, 189 P.3d 859 (Wyo. 2008) (double jeopardy; three protections; lesser included offenses)
  • Owen v. State, 902 P.2d 190 (Wyo. 1995) (multiple punishments; double jeopardy analysis)
Read the full case

Case Details

Case Name: Daniel Ray Bowlsby v. The State of Wyoming
Court Name: Wyoming Supreme Court
Date Published: Jun 12, 2013
Citation: 2013 WY 72
Docket Number: S-12-0078
Court Abbreviation: Wyo.