Commonwealth v. Nieves
Commonwealth v. Nieves
Opinion of the Court
The defendant, Francisco Nieves, Jr., appeals from the denial of his second motion for new trial. The defendant claims that his two convictions and consecutive sentences are duplicative and violate the double jeopardy clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution because both arose from the same criminal act. As a result, he asserts, he is entitled to a new trial. We affirm.
Background. We briefly summarize the facts of the case. In December, 2005, a van slowly approached the victim while he was on the sidewalk, walking home from the store. The defendant, who was driving the van, lowered his window and accused the victim of withholding information about an earlier attack on the defendant. After saying "[f]ucking do it" to the front passenger, the defendant "slammed" himself back in his seat. The front passenger then raised a gun and fired it across the defendant, hitting the victim several times. One of the individuals in the van then exited the vehicle and kicked the fallen victim between the legs. The van then drove off.
Following a jury trial in 2007, the defendant was convicted as a joint venturer for armed assault with intent to murder under G. L. c. 265, § 18 (b ), and assault by means of a dangerous weapon under G. L. c. 265, § 15B.
The defendant's first motion for new trial, filed in February, 2010, raised claims of ineffective assistance of counsel and challenged the admission of certain evidence. The trial judge denied the motion on the papers. On June 15, 2011, this court affirmed the two convictions and the denial of the motion for new trial. See Commonwealth v. Nieves,
On July 14, 2017, the defendant filed his second motion for new trial, which is before this court on appeal. In that motion, the defendant claimed that his convictions and consecutive sentences ran afoul of double jeopardy principles because both charges arose from "the same, single [criminal] act."
Discussion. The denial of a motion for new trial is reviewed "only to determine whether there has been a significant error of law or other abuse of discretion." Commonwealth v. DiBenedetto,
Here, the motion judge did not abuse his discretion in denying the second motion for new trial. The motion judge properly determined that the double jeopardy claims were waived, since the defendant failed to raise the issues at trial, in his first motion for new trial, or on direct appeal. See Mass. R. Crim. P. 30 (c) (2), as appearing in
The motion judge denied the second motion for new trial based on the understanding that the defendant had been convicted of the crimes of assault with intent to murder and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, and cited to Commonwealth v. Vick,
Order entered December 4, 2017, denying motion for new trial affirmed.
Based on the lower court's docket, the defendant states in his brief that he was convicted of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, under G. L. c. 265, § 15A (c ) (i). However, as the Commonwealth notes, the trial transcripts, which were provided in the direct appeal, state that the defendant was tried and convicted of assault by means of a dangerous weapon under G. L. c. 265, § 15B. In addition, this court affirmed the conviction of assault by means of a dangerous weapon on direct appeal. See Commonwealth v. Nieves,
The double jeopardy clause of the Fifth Amendment protects against a defendant receiving multiple punishments for the same offense. See Luk v. Commonwealth,
"If a defendant fails to raise a claim that is generally known and available at the time of trial or direct appeal or in the first motion for postconviction relief, the claim is waived." Rodwell v. Commonwealth,
The defendant also claims for the first time on appeal that the jury instruction for the assault with intent to murder charge was defective. Because the claim was not included in the second motion for new trial, it is "not properly before this court and we need not consider it." Commonwealth v. Stokes,
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.