Commonwealth v. McDonagh

**132 In 2014, William McDonagh was convicted on two indictments charging aggravated statutory rape, in violation of G. L. c. 265, § 23A, and three indictments charging indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of fourteen, in violation of G. L. c. 265, § 13B, arising out of instances of sexual abuse the defendant committed against his minor son.

At issue in this appeal is whether the prosecutor, with permission from the trial judge, made improper remarks in her closing argument. The comment at issue concerned the purposes for which the jury could consider other bad act evidence…