Commonwealth v. Provencher

The defendant appeals from his conviction on a complaint charging him with unreasonably neglecting to provide for the support of his two minor children while having the ability to do so. G. L. c. 273, § 1.

1. We need make no comment on the defendant’s contention that G. L. c. 273, § 1, applies only to a spouse and not to a former spouse because the complaint was brought under that portion of the statute which pertains to the support of minor children.

2. Equally without merit is the defendant’s contention that as a recipient of welfare funds, the complainant, his former wife, had assigned her…