Com. v. Franks

Decision Date28 April 1977
Citation372 Mass. 866,362 N.E.2d 895
PartiesCOMMONWEALTH v. Clemis FRANKS, Jr. Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, Suffolk
CourtUnited States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court

Albert L. Hutton, Jr., Boston, for defendant.

Kathleen M. Curry, Asst. Dist. Atty., for the Com.

Before HENNESSEY, C.J., and QUIRICO, BRAUCHER, WILKINS and ABRAMS, JJ.

RESCRIPT.

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, 309 N.E.2d 879 (1974). Commonwealth v. Franks, --- Mass. --- a, 341 N.E.2d 660 (1976). The judge who imposed the third sentence, now 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, 89 S.Ct. 2072, 23 L.Ed.2d 656 (1969). Contrary to the defendant's contention, 'the existence of pending criminal charges may be disclosed to the setencing judge and considered by him.' Commonwealth v. LeBlanc, --- Mass. ---, --- b, 346 N.E.2d 874, 878 (1976). See United States v. Metz, 470 F.2d 1140, 1142 (3d Cir. 1972), cert. denied, 411 U.S. 919, 93 S.Ct. 1558, 36 L.Ed.2d 311 (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, 296 N.E.2d 468 (1973).

So ordered.

a. Mass.Adv.Sh. (1976) 285.

b. Mass.Adv.Sh. (1976) 1148, 1157.

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11 cases
  • Com. v. Coleman
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court
    • January 23, 1984
    ...conduct if it is relevant in assessing the defendant's character and propensity for rehabilitation. See Commonwealth v. Franks, 372 Mass. 866, 867, 362 N.E.2d 895 (1977) (Franks II ); Commonwealth v. LeBlanc, 370 Mass. 217, 224, 346 N.E.2d 874 (1976). Although such information may be helpfu......
  • Osborne v. Com.
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court
    • May 15, 1979
    ...judge to take into account a defendant's misconduct subsequent to the crime or crimes for which he is being sentenced (see Commonwealth v. Franks, 372 Mass. 866 (Mass.Adv.Sh. (1977) 858), 362 N.E.2d 895 (1977); Commonwealth v. LeBlanc, 370 Mass. 217, 220-221, 225 n. 8, 346 N.E.2d 874 (1976)......
  • People v. Devin, 53175
    • United States
    • Illinois Supreme Court
    • October 22, 1982
    ...conversations with jailmates, gloating over his misdeeds); Lottie v. State (1980), Ind., 406 N.E.2d 632; Commonwealth v. Franks (1977), 372 Mass. 866, 362 N.E.2d 895; Williamson v. State (Miss.1980), 388 So.2d 168; State v. Aby (1980), 205 Neb. 267, 287 N.W.2d 68; Lucas v. State (1980), 96 ......
  • Com. v. Souza
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court
    • January 23, 1984
    ...740, 748, 448 N.E.2d 1137 (1983), citing Commonwealth v. LeBlanc, supra 370 Mass. at 219, 346 N.E.2d 874. Commonwealth v. Franks, 372 Mass. 866, 867, 362 N.E.2d 895 (1977) (Franks II ). Commonwealth v. Sitko, supra. See United States v. Eberhardt, 417 F.2d 1009 (4th Cir.1969), cert. denied ......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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