SPINA, J.
In this case, we are asked to examine whether the term "intellectual disability" in G. L. c. 265, § 13F (indecent assault and battery on a person with an intellectual disability), renders the statute unconstitutionally vague. On the effective date of November 2, 2010, the Legislature amended the statute substituting the term "mentally retarded person" with "person with an intellectual disability" as well as the words "be mentally retarded" with "have an intellectual disability." St. 2010, c. 239, §§ 71-72. These amendments were part of a broad legislative scheme that purged the term "mentally retarded" from the General Laws. St. 2010, c. 239 ("An Act eliminating the word `retardation' from the General Laws"). As a result, G. L. c. 265, § 13F, now states: "Whoever commits an indecent assault and battery on a person with an intellectual disability knowing such person to have an intellectual disability shall . . . be punished. . . ." The term "intellectual disability" is not defined by the statute.
The defendant was convicted on four indictments alleging indecent assault and battery on a person with an intellectual
At the close of the Commonwealth's evidence, the defendant moved for required findings of not guilty on all charges. A judge in the Superior Court entered a required finding of not guilty on an indictment alleging intimidation of a witness but denied the motion as to the remaining charges.
At the close of all the evidence, the defendant renewed his motion for required findings of not guilty on the remaining charges, which was denied. Appellate proceedings were stayed to allow the defendant to file postconviction motions. The defendant filed postconviction motions for a new trial under Mass. R. Crim. P. 30 (b), as appearing in 435 Mass. 1501 (2001),
On appeal, the defendant asserts (1) that the term "intellectual disability" renders G. L. c. 265, § 13F, unconstitutionally vague; (2) that he was convicted under an ex post facto law; (3) that the judge erred by denying certain of his motions for a required finding of not guilty; and (4) that the judge erred by denying his motion for a new trial. For the following reasons, we conclude that G. L. c. 265, § 13F, is constitutional, and we affirm the judge's rulings.
The jury could have found the following facts. In 2013, at the time of trial, Amy
At the time of trial, the defendant was seventy-two years old. He is a retired boat builder, which he had done for forty-six years, but he continued to work part time doing fiberglass work. His hobbies included hunting and fishing. He and a friend used to hunt in western Massachusetts. The friend introduced him to Amy's great grandmother. In the early 1980s, he began to hunt on the property where Amy and her family live. The defendant and Amy's grandfather forged a friendship and grew close over the years. The defendant would visit the family two to three times a year and hunt on the property. He typically would stay for one or two weeks at a time in his camper, which he parked behind the farmhouse. The defendant came to know Amy, and he described her as behaving "like a child more or less."
On September 11, 2011, Amy and the defendant were sitting side by side, alone on the porch. The boy friend of Amy's mother was folding laundry in front of a window overlooking the porch. While sitting next to the defendant, Amy dropped her hand to his leg and slowly moved her hand up toward the defendant's crotch area. Amy began to "rub" and "pet" the defendant's penis over his pants. Amy testified that the defendant did not ask her to do this but that it was "his idea." Amy's mother's boy friend watched
Amy went inside, and her mother took her upstairs to talk to her. Once they were upstairs, Amy began to tell her mother about various incidents when the defendant touched her inappropriately. Amy's mother made written notes of Amy's account of the incidents.
After the September 11 incident, Amy was not allowed to go outside the house while the defendant was still on the property, and the defendant was not allowed in the home. The defendant stayed for about another week on the property. A few days after Amy made these disclosures, her mother reported the incidents to the police, who then began an investigation.
The defendant argues that the term "intellectual disability" renders § 13F unconstitutionally vague on its face under the State and Federal Constitutions because the term is a "neologism" that does not
The void-for-vagueness doctrine is well established in our jurisprudence. "It is a basic principle of due process that an enactment is void for vagueness if its prohibitions are not clearly defined." Grayned v. Rockford, 408 U.S. 104, 108 (1972). A criminal statute must define the offense "in terms that are sufficiently clear to permit a person of average intelligence to comprehend what conduct is prohibited." Commonwealth v. Spano, 414 Mass. 178, 180 (1993). See Kolender v. Lawson, 461 U.S. 352, 357 (1983); Commonwealth v. Bohmer, 374 Mass. 368, 371-372 (1978). "When a statute does not define its words we give them their usual and accepted meanings, as long as these meanings are consistent with the statutory purpose. . . . We derive the words' usual and accepted meanings from sources presumably known to the statute's enactors, such as their use in other legal contexts and dictionary definitions" (citations omitted). Commonwealth v. Bell, 442 Mass. 118, 124 (2004). A criminal statute must not be so vague that it opens itself up to arbitrary enforcement and prosecution. See Grayned, supra at 108-109; Commonwealth v. Freiberg, 405 Mass. 282, 289, cert. denied, 493 U.S. 940 (1989). "[A] vague statute offends by its lack of reasonably clear guidelines for law enforcement and its consequent encouragement of arbitrary and erratic arrests and prosecutions." Commonwealth v. Sefranka, 382 Mass. 108, 110 (1980).
However, "[i]t is not infrequent that prescribed conduct is incapable of precise legal definition." Jaquith v. Commonwealth, 331 Mass. 439, 442 (1954). "[L]egislative language need not be afforded `mathematical precision' in order to pass constitutional muster." Commonwealth v. Reyes, 464 Mass. 245, 249 (2013), quoting Bohmer, 374 Mass. at 372. A statute will be deemed
In this case, we conclude that the term "intellectual disability" is sufficiently clear and definite and is therefore not unconstitutionally vague. The legislative history of § 13F, as amended through St. 2010, c. 239, §§ 71-72, makes it clear that the Legislature's intent was merely to change the nomenclature and not the substance of the statute.
Section § 13F was amended in 2010 in conjunction with numerous other laws by an act entitled, "An Act eliminating the word `retardation' from the General Laws." St. 2010, c. 239. The only revision made to § 13F was a substitution of the term "person with an intellectual disability" for the term "mentally retarded person" and the words "have an intellectual disability" for "be mentally retarded." No substantive changes to § 13F were made by these amendments. This change in language was part of a larger legislative scheme to eradicate the pejorative term "mentally retarded" from the General Laws.
The term "intellectual disability" is not defined by § 13F. In such cases we apply the familiar rule of statutory construction that guides us to give the words "their usual and accepted meanings, as long as these meanings are consistent with the statutory purpose." Bell, 442 Mass. at 124, quoting Commonwealth v. Zone Book, Inc., 372 Mass. 366, 369 (1977). As has been discussed, "intellectual disability" has become the accepted term for someone who would have been described as mentally retarded prior to the various statutory and regulatory amendments. The definition of "mentally retarded" in 115 Code Mass. Regs. § 2.01 prior to the 2010 statutory amendments was identical to the definition given to the term "intellectual disability" in the regulations after the statutory amendments. See note 9, supra.
Prior to the 2010 amendments, Massachusetts courts had
In addition to the regulatory definition, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines "intellectual disability" as "a disorder with onset during the developmental period that includes both intellectual and adaptive functioning deficits in
The defendant also argues the judge's instructions defined the term "intellectual disability" in a manner that was erroneous.
The erroneous jury instruction did not create a substantial risk of a miscarriage of justice because the disability that was the focus of the evidence at trial was an intellectual disability. Amy's condition met the definition from § 13K that the judge used to instruct the jury, and it is highly unlikely that the jury would have based its verdict on any other disability, such as Alzheimer's disease. We conclude that the defendant has failed to show the existence of a substantial risk of a miscarriage of justice. In future trials under § 13F, it would be appropriate to instruct a jury with the definition of "intellectual disability" as used in the regulations of the department. That definition is consistent with other organizations' definition of "intellectual disability" and is well understood.
The defendant argues that his trial and posttrial motions for required findings of not guilty should have been granted as to the indictment under G. L. c. 265, § 13F, concerning the incident on September 11, 2011, because the Commonwealth presented insufficient evidence of lack of consent. The Commonwealth argues that the judge correctly denied the defendant's motions because there was sufficient evidence that the defendant intended for Amy to touch his penis and that the combination of her intellectual disability and the significant age difference between them is sufficient to prove Amy did not consent to the touching on that date. When deciding a motion for a required finding of not guilty, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth. Commonwealth v. Latimore, 378 Mass. 671, 676-677 (1979). We must determine whether "any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt." Commonwealth v. Cohen (No. 1), 456 Mass. 94, 120 (2010), quoting Latimore, supra at 677.
The elements of an indecent assault and battery on a person with an intellectual disability include lack of consent, and the Commonwealth bears the burden of production and persuasion on
The evidence of Amy's intellectual disability was prevalent. Amy's mother testified that she was diagnosed with "slow learning, special needs" when she was eight months old. She also revealed that Amy was missing the left half of her cerebellum. Amy read at a third or fourth grade level and her mother described her age range relative to over-all mental capacity as spanning from that of a young age to that of a teenager in regards to her moods. State police Trooper Dale Gero, the officer who investigated the incidents, testified that Amy appeared to act like a five to seven year old child.
There was evidence from which the jury could have found that Amy perceived that the defendant had authority over her because of his friendship with her family, "the considerable age disparity between [them,] . . . and an obvious disparity in experience and sophistication." Commonwealth v. Shore, 65 Mass.App.Ct. 430, 432 (2006), quoting Commonwealth v. Castillo, 55 Mass.App.Ct. 563, 567 (2002). There was evidence of prior unwanted sexual touching. With respect to the incidents before September 11, 2011, Amy testified that she felt uncomfortable, and that the defendant told her to keep these incidents secret because he could get in trouble. The jury reasonably could have found that, in the totality of the circumstances, including Amy's intellectual disability, she did not consent to the sexual touching.
The fact that the defendant did not do the touching on this occasion did not preclude the jury from convicting him of indecent assault and battery on a person with an intellectual disability. See Portonova, 69 Mass. App. Ct. at 905-906 (reiterating our case law does not require defendant to do touching); Commonwealth v. Davidson, 68 Mass.App.Ct. 72, 73, 75-76 (2007) (defendant convicted of indecent assault and battery on child under age of fourteen, G. L. c. 265, § 13B, when victim touched his penis and rubbed his "private" with her nose). "The gravity of the conduct rises to the level which the[] statute[] [was] designed to prohibit." Davidson, supra at 75-76, quoting Commonwealth v. Nuby, 32 Mass.App.Ct. 360, 362 (1992).
The defendant further argues that his motions for required findings of not guilty as to the four remaining indictments charging him with violations of § 13F should have been allowed because the Commonwealth presented insufficient evidence that these acts occurred after the 2010 amendments to § 13F. He further contends that as a result, his convictions violate the prohibitions against ex post facto laws under art. I, § 10, of the United States Constitution and art. 24 of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights. Specifically, he asserts that as a matter of law he could not have been convicted under § 13F, based on conduct that occurred prior to November 2, 2010, when the statutory amendments took effect. As discussed above, the substitution of the term "intellectual disability" for "mental retardation" did not change the substance of the statute. The two terms are synonymous. Therefore, the defendant's conduct was
The defendant argues that the judge erred in the denial of his motion for a new trial, which claimed that the defendant received ineffective assistance of counsel. Specifically, the defendant asserts that counsel failed to move to dismiss the complaint on the grounds that G. L. c. 265, § 13F, was void for vagueness, failed to argue effectively that the Commonwealth's evidence was insufficient, and failed to request jury instructions that the defendant could not be convicted based on acts occurring prior to November 2, 2010, the effective date of the statutory amendments. We conclude that the defendant's counsel was not ineffective because such motions and arguments would not have succeeded.
When analyzing an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, a defendant must first show that "there has been serious incompetency, inefficiency, or inattention of counsel" and behavior that falls "measurably below that which might be expected from an ordinary fallible lawyer." Commonwealth v. Saferian, 366 Mass. 89, 96 (1974). If the first prong is satisfied, then a defendant must show "whether it has likely deprived the defendant of an otherwise available, substantial ground of defence." Id.
For the reasons stated above, the defendant's trial counsel would not have been successful on a motion to dismiss on the ground that G. L. c. 265, § 13F, is void for vagueness. Commonwealth v. Conceicao, 388 Mass. 255, 264 (1983) ("It is not ineffective assistance of counsel when trial counsel declines to file a motion with a minimal chance of success"). For the reasons stated above, the defendant's other arguments also would not have been successful.
The defendant asserts error in the denial of his motion for a required finding on not guilty as to the indictment alleging indecent exposure. Specifically, he argues that the Commonwealth presented insufficient evidence that he intentionally exposed his genitals to Amy and that Amy was offended by the
Indecent exposure requires proof of an "intentional act of lewd exposure, offensive to one or more persons." Commonwealth v. Swan, 73 Mass.App.Ct. 258, 261 (2008), quoting Commonwealth v. Broadland, 315 Mass. 20, 21-22 (1943). The exposure of one's genitalia is a necessary element to indecent exposure. Commonwealth v. Arthur, 420 Mass. 535, 540-541 (1995). Offensive behavior are acts "that cause `displeasure, anger or resentment'" and are "repugnant to the prevailing sense of what is decent or moral." Commonwealth v. Sullivan, 469 Mass. 621, 625 (2014), quoting Commonwealth v. Cahill, 446 Mass. 778, 781 (2006). Amy testified that one night near the defendant's camper, the defendant put his hand behind her head and forced it down toward his "private part." When asked whether "boys pee from their private part," Amy answered, "Yes." Amy first testified that it was so dark out that she could not even see his "private part." However, when asked whether his "private part" was inside or outside of his pants, she responded that it was outside of his pants. She could not remember what his "private part" looked like. Amy testified that the defendant wanted her to put her mouth on his "private part" but she told him no and that she wanted to go inside.
The defendant argues that there is insufficient evidence that he intentionally exposed his genitals to Amy. He argues that Amy unambiguously testified that it was too dark out to see the defendant's penis. Although Amy did testify that it was so dark out that she could not even see his "private parts," she also testified that his "private part" was outside of his pants. Conflicting inferences that can be drawn from the evidence are for the jury to resolve. Commonwealth v. Miranda, 458 Mass. 100, 113
The defendant further argues that Amy never testified that she was offended any of the times that she saw the defendant's penis.
The defendant contends that the judge erred by not granting his motion for a required finding as to the indictment alleging accosting or annoying a person of the opposite sex. Specifically, he argues that the Commonwealth presented insufficient evidence to establish that the defendant's conduct was disorderly. The Commonwealth responds that the defendant's act of forcing Amy's head toward his penis for the purpose of oral sex was offensive and disorderly conduct.
General Laws c. 272, § 53, states that "persons who with offensive and disorderly acts or language accost or annoy another person . . . shall be punished." The statute requires proof beyond
Offensive acts, as discussed above "cause a complainant to feel displeasure, anger, resentment, or the like, and such acts or language would be considered indecent or immoral by a reasonable person." Sullivan, 469 Mass. at 625. Offensive acts also require "proof of sexual conduct or language, either explicit or implicit." Id. at 626. We have determined that explicit sexual conduct is self-explanatory and implicit sexual conduct or language means conduct or language, "which a reasonable person would construe as having sexual connotations." Id.
Disorderly conduct is distinct from offensive conduct. Lombard, 321 Mass. at 296. Disorderly acts "are those that involve fighting or threatening, violent or tumultuous behavior, or that create a hazardous or physically offensive condition for no legitimate purpose of the actor, whether the resulting harm is suffered in public by the public or in private by an individual." Chou, 433 Mass. at 233. To be physically offensive, a defendant must act in such a way that a reasonable person would fear "imminent physical harm." Sullivan, 469 Mass. at 627. Context is taken into account when analyzing whether acts are physically offensive or threatening. Id. at 628, quoting Commonwealth v. Ramirez, 69 Mass.App.Ct. 9, 16 (2007) ("context is critical"). The jury could have found that the defendant's act of forcing Amy's head down toward his penis caused her to fear imminent physical harm.
The incident in question here is, again, the defendant's act of forcing Amy's head down toward his penis. The defendant argues that the evidence the Commonwealth presented demonstrates that the defendant's actions were brief and minimal and fall outside the spectrum of that which is offensive. We disagree. As discussed above, the defendant's act of forcing Amy's head down for the purpose of engaging in oral sex was offensive. As the defendant was forcing her head down, Amy told him no and that she wanted to go back inside. A reasonable person would infer from Amy's inclination to go back inside that at the very least she felt "displeasure," and in fact was offended by the conduct. Sullivan, 469 Mass. at 625. The act of forcing Amy's head down
For the foregoing reasons, we determine G. L. c. 265, § 13F, as amended through St. 2010, c. 239, §§ 71-72, to be constitutional, and we affirm the defendant's convictions of indecent assault and battery on a person with an intellectual disability, indecent exposure, and accosting or annoying a person of the opposite sex. We also affirm the orders denying the defendant's motions for a new trial and for required findings of not guilty.
So ordered.
Additionally, Governor Deval Patrick issued an executive order to rename the Governor's Commission on Mental Retardation as the Governor's Commission on Intellectual Disability. Executive Order No. 521 (Mar. 31, 2010). In support of renaming the commission, the executive order referenced the widespread movement in using "intellectual disability," stating, "[Whereas], there is a strong trend, nationally and internationally, to use the term `intellectual disability' rather than mental retardation. . . ." Id.