Assault of child; intent to commit rape; weapons; punishment
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever assaults a child under sixteen with intent to commit a rape, as defined in section thirty-nine of chapter two hundred and seventy-seven, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of years; and whoever over the age of eighteen commits a subsequent such offense shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of years but not less than five years.
Whoever commits any offense described in this section while being armed with a firearm, as defined in section 121 of chapter 140, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of years, but not less than ten years. Whoever over the age of 18 commits a second or subsequent such offense shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of years, but not less than 15 years.
Simplified explanation
Assaulting a child under 16 with intent to commit rape is punishable by up to life in state prison, with mandatory minimums for repeat offenses by adults and for being armed with a firearm.