c. 265, § 13B

Indecent assault and battery on child under age of 14; penalties

Up to 10 years Sex Crimes & Exploitation Ch. 265 · Crimes Against the Person

Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term

Whoever commits an indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14 shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years, or by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2½ years. A prosecution commenced under this section shall neither be continued without a finding nor placed on file.

In a prosecution under this section, a child under the age of 14 years shall be deemed incapable of consenting to any conduct of the defendant for which such defendant is being prosecuted.

Simplified explanation

Indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 is punishable by up to 10 years in state prison or up to 2½ years in a house of correction.