Commonwealth v. Lawton

After a jury trial, the defendant was found guilty of three counts of rape of a child under the age of sixteen in violation of G. L. c. 265, § 23, and three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under fourteen in violation of G. L. c. 265, § 13B. On appeal, the defendant raises a variety of arguments that question the validity of his convictions. Because none merits relief, we affirm.

1. Background. The Commonwealth’s evidence was as follows. The victim was bom in 1999. The defendant is his biological father. The victim lived with his mother, Vivian (a pseudonym), in a two-bedroom…