Commonwealth v. Belcher

The defendant was tried on three indictments charging rape, two indictments charging indecent assault and battery on a person over fourteen years of age, one indictment charging incest, and one indictment charging dissemination of matter harmful to a minor.1 A Superior Court jury acquitted him of all charges except the dissemination of matter harmful to a minor. G. L. c. 272, § 28. The defendant appealed, arguing that the trial judge erred in failing to instruct the jury that the dissemination must be the result of purposeful, intentional conduct. The Appeals Court affirmed the conviction in…