Commonwealth v. Esteves

A grand jury indicted the defendant on a charge of rape of a child by force, in violation of G. L. c. 265, § 22A, in October, 1994. On September 14, 1995, he was convicted by a jury, and sentenced to a term of imprisonment. The Appeals Court affirmed his conviction. Commonwealth v. Esteves, 46 Mass. App. Ct. 339 (1999). We granted the defendant’s application for further appellate review. Because the erroneous admission of certain hearsay testimony was prejudicial to the defendant, we reverse the defendant’s conviction and remand the case to the Superior Court for a new trial.

1. Background.…