Opinion · Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Commonwealth v. Franks

372 Mass. 866

Type
Opinion
Court
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction
Massachusetts
Date
1977-04-28
Topic
general

How later courts describe this case

  • decided after the trial in this case
  • seven untried indictments for sex-related offenses

Citator

UpLaw has not yet analyzed Commonwealth v. Franks. The absence of a flag is not a finding that it is good law.

Authority status
pending
Cited by
14 opinions

For the third time the defendant has been sentenced to imprisonment for not less than forty nor more than fifty years for the same “statutory rape” in violation of G. L. c. 265, § 23. Twice we set the sentence aside. Commonwealth v. Franks, 365 Mass. 74 (1974). Commonwealth v. Franks, 369 Mass. 608 (1976). The judge who imposed the third sentence, now *867 before us, wrote a memorandum on disposition, making it clear that he was sentencing the defendant for statutory rape, not forcible rape, and that he took into account both a prior conviction for rape of a female child and seven untried indictments for sex-related offenses. He also made it clear that he did not pass on guilt or innocence on the untried charges, and that he was not imposing punishment for those charges. The resulting sentence is within statutory limits, and there is no basis in the record for apprehension of “vindictiveness” or “retaliatory motivation” in violation of the principles laid down in North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711, 723-726 (1969). Contrary to the defendant’s contention, “the existence of pending criminal charges may be disclosed to the sentencing judge and considered by him.” Commonwealth v. LeBlanc, 370 Mass. 217, 224 (1976). See United States v. Metz, 470 F.2d 1140, 1142 (3d Cir. 1972), cert. denied, 411 U.S. 919 (1973). We therefore affirm the judgment. But the defendant is allowed sixty days from the entry of this rescript in which to file a motion in the Appellate Division of the Superior Court for a late appeal of his sentence. That motion, if filed, may be allowed in the discretion of the judges of the Appellate Division. Commonwealth v. Morrow, 363 Mass. 601, 612 (1973).

Albert L. Hutton, Jr., for the defendant. Kathleen M. Curry, Assistant District Attorney, for the Commonwealth.

So ordered.