Commonwealth v. Rezendes

This case requires us to consider the meaning of “violent crime” as used in the Massachusetts Armed Career Criminal Act (Massachusetts ACCA or statute), G. L. c. 269, § 10G, inserted by St. 1998, c. 180, § 71. Specifically, we must interpret the term “deadly weapon,” as used in the definition of violent crime in G. L. c. 140, § 121, as amended by St. 1998, c. 180, § 8. The defendant, Dominic Rezendes, appeals from a conviction under § 10G(c) of the Massachusetts ACCA, which was based, in part, on a juvenile adjudication for assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon (a pen).

We first…