25-year-old Taunton man with multiple priors sentenced to prison in Fall River court for stabbing

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III has announced the conviction and sentencing of a Taunton man for an Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon. 

25-year-old Cye Key was convicted on Monday, after a jury trial in the Fall River Superior Court before the Honorable Sharon Donatelle and was sentenced to serve 3.5 to 8 years in the State Prison. 

Key was acquitted of Armed Assault in a Dwelling and a second count of Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon charge. 

On July 2, 2024, Taunton Police were dispatched to the area of the Paul Bunker Housing Development at approximately 12:45 p.m. for reports of a disturbance. Through investigation the police learned that there was a fight the night prior in the same area.  Key and another male engaged in a physical fight regarding that male’s use of the defendant’s bicycle.  Once the fight began, the male victim entered the physical altercation against Key. 

The next day, Key went to an apartment and confronted the victim, Issiah Cruz, with a knife and sliced the victim’s hand. The victim fled the apartment. 

After Key sliced the victim’s hand, a physical altercation took place between Key, the victim, and the victim’s brother.  When police encountered Key, he had a knife sheath in his waistband.  Police also located a broken knife blade inside of the apartment. The victim identified a photo of the broken knife as the one Key used.  

Key had previously served a state prison sentence of 5 to 7 years as a Youthful Offender that stemmed from a 2017 failed robbery and shooting at a Taunton liquor store.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Daniel Walsh.

“This is another act of senseless violence committed by the defendant who was previously convicted for a very serious robbery. I am pleased the jury convicted the defendant despite the lack of cooperation from the victim and witnesses. The defendant clearly is a danger to the community and needs to be kept off the street to protect the public,” District Attorney Tom Quinn said.