Commonwealth v. Ruffen

Ruffen was indicted (in May, 1982) and convicted (on January 6, 1983) of indecent assault and battery on a child under fourteen (G. L. c. 265, § 13B); rape of a child with force (G. L. c. 265, § 22A); and unnatural and lascivious acts with a child under sixteen (G. L. c. 272, § 35A).1 The Commonwealth presented only the testimony of (a) the victim; *91(b) her slightly older friend, who had advised her to report Ruffen’s action to her mother; (c) the victim’s mother; and (d) Detective Frank Biancardi of the Lawrence police department. Ruffen’s counsel rested at the close of the Commonwealth’s…