Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 265, § 20 (2026)

Simple assault; intent to rob or steal; punishment

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 20. Whoever, not being armed with a dangerous weapon, assaults another with force and violence and with intent to rob or steal shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than ten years.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 18 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1972–2025 · leading case: Police Comm'r v. Mun. Court of Dorchester Dist., 374 N.E.2d 272 (Mass. 1978).

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Police Comm'r v. Mun. Court of Dorchester Dist., 374 N.E.2d 272 (Mass. 1978). · cites it 2× “119, § 54, by reason of assault with force and intent to rob, G. L. c. 265, § 20. That matter came on for hearing in a delinquency proceeding in the juvenile session of the Municipal Court of the Dorchester District on February 7, 1975.”

United States v. Abdulaziz, 998 F.3d 519 (1st Cir. 2021). “" The District Court noted at the hearing, however, that the government was "not arguing" that the other conviction that Abdulaziz sustained prior to committing the § 922(g) offense and that the PSR had determined qualified as a "felony conviction[]" of "a crime of violence" --…”

Commonwealth v. McGhee, 25 N.E.3d 251 (Mass. 2015). “1 The defendant was tried separately on charges of assault with intent to rob, G. L. c. 265, § 20, and assault and battery, G.”

Commonwealth v. Gauthier, 488 N.E.2d 806 (Mass. App. Ct. 1986). · cites it 2× “Sufficient force to produce a reasonable apprehension of bodily injury without necessarily touching the victim has been held to satisfy the statutory crime, G. L. c. 265, § 20: “Whoever, not being armed with a dangerous weapon, assaults another with force and violence and with…”

Commonwealth v. Rivera, 923 N.E.2d 1086 (Mass. App. Ct. 2010). “268, § 13B, and assault with intent to rob, G. L. c. 265, § 20. The defendant was tried before a jury on a joint venture theory.”

Commonwealth v. Jones, 283 N.E.2d 840 (Mass. 1972). “125, § 16 (now G. L. c. 265, § 20). The evidence was that the defendants “suddenly snatched” two bank bills from the hand of one Buzzell “without any force.”

Commonwealth v. Drewnowski, 694 N.E.2d 1301 (Mass. App. Ct. 1998). “266, § 25(6), and assault with intent to rob, G. L. c. 265, § 20; and (2) in not allowing his motion for a required finding of not guilty of unarmed robbery.”

Commonwealth v. Ramos, 383 N.E.2d 526 (Mass. App. Ct. 1978). · cites it 2× “The defendant was found guilty of assault with force and violence and with intent to rob, under G. L. c. 265, § 20, at a jury waived trial in the Superior Court.”

Commonwealth v. Correia, 457 N.E.2d 648 (Mass. App. Ct. 1983). “”) 8 The defendant also claims that because the other victim was not touched there was no force and violence as required by G. L. c. 265, § 20. However, the jury could find that the threat made by the defendant, combined with the assault and battery on the first victim, was…”

Commonwealth v. Bassett, 490 N.E.2d 459 (Mass. App. Ct. 1986). “265, § 14), assault with intent to rob (G. L. c. 265, § 20), and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (G.”

Commonwealth v. Jenner, 513 N.E.2d 1290 (Mass. App. Ct. 1987). “G. L. c. 265, § 20. The defendant admitted that while he was straddling the victim he did rob him.”

Commonwealth v. Berendson, 897 N.E.2d 1276 (Mass. App. Ct. 2008). “The defendant was also convicted of assault with intent to rob, G. L. c. 265, § 20; assault with intent to rape, G.”

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