Cruz v. Commonwealth
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The case involves Roberto Cruz, who was convicted of two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of fourteen. The incidents occurred when Cruz, nearly sixty years old, hugged and kissed a thirteen-year-old girl, Jane, without her consent. Cruz was also charged with child enticement and simple assault and battery, but the latter charge was dismissed by the Commonwealth before the trial. The jury acquitted Cruz of child enticement and one count of indecent assault and battery but convicted him of the other two counts.
Cruz appealed his convictions, arguing that the evidence was insufficient to prove the assaults were indecent. The Massachusetts Appeals Court agreed, reversing his convictions on the grounds that the conduct did not meet the statutory definition of indecent assault and battery. Following this reversal, Cruz filed a civil lawsuit seeking compensation for wrongful conviction under G. L. c. 258D. The Commonwealth moved for summary judgment, arguing that the reversal did not establish Cruz's innocence of the simple assault and battery charge, which had been dismissed earlier.
The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts reviewed the case. The court held that the eligibility for compensation under G. L. c. 258D is limited to felony convictions and does not include misdemeanors like simple assault and battery. Therefore, the court affirmed the Superior Court's denial of the Commonwealth's motion for summary judgment and remanded the case for further proceedings. The court concluded that Cruz met the eligibility requirements for compensation as the reversal of his felony convictions tended to establish his innocence of those charges.
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