The man does not appear to have made statements to the police regarding the allegations, and it is unclear what his side of the story is. At his arraignment on September 3rd, however, he pled not guilty and was released on $1500 bail. He is due back in court on October 17th for a pre-trial conference.
To convict the man of indecent assault and battery, the Commonwealth would have to prove three things beyond a reasonable doubt. First, the Commonwealth would have to prove that the man touched the woman without any justification or excuse – in other words, that there was no legitimate reason for the man to have touched the woman. Second, the Commonwealth would have to prove that the man intentionally touched her and that it was not an accident or inadvertent. Third, the Commonwealth would have to prove that the touching was “indecent.” This means that the Commonwealth would have to prove that the man touched the woman in a place that is “commonly understood” to be private, such as a person’s genital area, buttocks, or a woman’s breast(s). G.L. c. 265, § 13H.
The defendant may claim that the alleged incident didn’t happen at all. Whether there is any additional evidence beyond the woman’s allegations remains to be seen. Physical evidence, such as the man’s DNA on the woman’s skirt or underwear, could support her claim. Likewise, whether anyone else witnessed the alleged incident, and whether there were other people in the vicinity at the time the incident allegedly occurred will also likely be a factor in the strength of the Commonwealth’s case. Without physical evidence, other eyewitnesses, or video surveillance, the woman’s allegations might be the only evidence against the man. Whether the prosecution could prove its case could then come down to whether the woman seems credible, or whether she might have had some reason to make up the allegations.
The man may also claim that he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or in an altered mental state at the time of the alleged incident. The presence of mental illness and/or intoxication could have resulted in a lack of awareness as to what he was doing, or a lack of ability to control his behavior.
Whatever potential defense(s) the man may raise, his situation will undoubtedly be anxiety provoking, as a conviction for this charge has serious consequences, including up to five years in state prison. Further, a conviction would require the man to register as a sex offender.
If you or a loved one is facing criminal charges like those in this case you will need an experienced and skilled attorney to achieve the best results possible. Contact Attorney Cappetta today for a free consultation.