Case Name: Commonwealth vs. Ernest Z. Skalberg (and two companion cases against the same defendant)
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1955-11-29
Citations: 333 Mass. 255
Docket Number: 
Parties: Commonwealth vs. Ernest Z. Skalberg (and two companion cases against the same defendant).
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 333
Pages: 255–256

Head Matter:
Commonwealth vs. Ernest Z. Skalberg (and two companion cases against the same defendant).
Middlesex.
November 7,1955.
November 29, 1955.
Present: Qua, C.J., Honan, Wilkins, Williams, & Whittemobe, JJ.
Ernest Z. Skalberg, pro se, submitted a brief.
John P. Forte, Assistant District Attorney, for the Commonwealth.

Opinion:
Wilkins, J.
The defendant originally pleaded not guilty to three indictments. One (No. 47282) charged robbery of a wallet from the person of Ronald Rader. G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 265, § 19. The second (No. 47283) alleged that the defendant entered the dwelling house of George A. Rader in the nighttime with intent to commit larceny, and that, after so entering with such intent, he assaulted Ronald Rader and Donna Craddock. G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 266, § 14. The third (No. 47284) alleged that the defendant, with intent to commit larceny, confined and put in fear Ronald Rader and Donna Craddock for the purpose of stealing in the dwelling house of George A. Rader. G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 265, § 21. The defendant, while represented by counsel, retracted his pleas and pleaded guilty to the three indictments. He was sentenced to the State prison for three concurrent terms not exceeding twelve years or less than ten years, and was notified in open court of bis right to appeal to the appellate division of the Superior Corut for a review of the sentences under G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 278, § 28A-28D, inserted by St. 1943, c. 558, § 1, as amended. He did not so appeal. He did, however, file these appeals under G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 278, § 33B, as appearing in St. 1954, c. 187, § 1. The punishment for the offence charged in the second indictment (No. 47283) is "imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of not less than ten years." The punishment for the other two offences is "imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of years. " As the defendant could not be sentenced for a term of less than ten years on the second indictment, there could be shown no error in the sentence. The defendant's plea of guilty admitted all facts well charged in the indictment. Commonwealth v. Mahoney, 115 Mass. 151. Commonwealth v. Crapo, 212 Mass. 209. Morrissey v. Powell, 304 Mass. 268, 270. Further, he made no objection and took no exception of any kind. Accordingly, no question of law is presented for our consideration. If the defendant has any complaint, he cannot raise a question of law for the first time in a brief filed in this court.
Judgments affirmed.