Commonwealth v. Franks, 341 N.E.2d 660

Braucher, J.

On April 8, 1974, we held that the defendant had been properly convicted of “statutory rape,” a violation of G. L. c. 265, § 23, but that he had been sentenced for “forcible rape,” a violation of G. L. c. 265, § 22A, notwithstanding an implied finding by the jury that he was not guilty of forcible rape. We therefore set aside the sentence and remanded the case “for the sentencing of the defendant for his violation of G. L. c. 265, § 23.” Commonwealth v. Franks, 365 Mass. 74, 78, 82 (1974). On remand the same judge resentenced the defendant to the same sentence, saying, “My assessment of the gravity of the crime and the circumstances is precisely now what it was then.” We now hold that the resent-encing did not comply with our rescript, and again vacate the sentence. We remand the case for the resentencing of the defendant by a different Superior Court judge.

The indictment charged that the defendant “did ravish and carnally know ... a female child under the age of sixteen years, by force and against her will.” The evidence is sufficiently summarized in our prior opinion. It would have permitted the jury to find that the defendant had committed the crime of forcible rape in violation of G. L. c. 265, § 22A; it therefore permitted a finding that he had committed the lesser included crime of statutory rape in violation of G. L. c. 265, § 23. But the jury could not be required to believe the testimony presented by the Commonwealth, and the judge charged the jury that the victim’s consent was “of no consequence.” We held that the resulting doubt as to consent must be resolved in favor of the defendant, and that the verdict therefore must be treated “impliedly as a finding that he was not guilty of forcible rape under G. L. c. 265, § 22A.” Commonwealth v. Franks, supra at 80.

In resentencing the defendant after remand, the same judge said he had “great difficulty in following the reasoning” of our opinion. He could not, he said, “go through the mental gymnastics of this situation.” He then imposed the same sentence he had imposed before, not less than forty nor more than fifty years, to be served from and after the sentence then being served.

We do not think the record fairly justifies apprehension of “vindictiveness” or “retaliatory motivation” in the re-sentencing, in violation of the principles laid down in North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711, 723-726 (1969). Nor do we consider whether there was a violation of some broader constitutional principle. Compare Townsend v. Burke, 334 U.S. 736, 740 (1948) (“facetiousness” in sentencing), and McHoul v. Commonwealth, 365 Mass. 465, 470-472 (1974), with Gavin v. Commonwealth, 367 Mass. 331, 339-343 (1975). It is apparent that the judge is unable to comply with our rescript, and we think justice will best be served if the defendant is sentenced again. Cf. Gilchrest v. Commonwealth, 364 Mass. 278, 281 (1973).

The sentence appealed from is vacated, and the case is remanded to the Superior Court for the resentencing of the defendant by a different judge.

So ordered.

Case Details

Case Name: Commonwealth v. Franks

Court Name: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Date Published: Jan 29, 1976

Citations: 341 N.E.2d 660; 369 Mass. 608; 1976 Mass. LEXIS 868

Court Abbreviation: Mass.