27-year-old Attleboro man sentenced in Fall River Superior Court for stabbing outside sober house

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III has announced that a 27-year-old man pled guilty and was sentenced in the Fall River Superior Court. 

Justin Perez of North Attleboro was sentenced to serve three to five years in the State Prison for an Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon causing Serious Bodily Injury followed by two years of supervised probation for Intimidation of a Witness. 

On December 2, 2023, Perez and the 58-year-old male victim both resided in sober homes located at 174 and 180 North Washington Street in North Attleboro.  Although the victim and defendant resided in adjacent properties, the two had not previously interacted.  Residents indicated that Perez appeared in the early evening hours of December 2, 2023, in a common area with a knife, a cut on his arm and was observed by residents to be under the effects of some type of drug.  He was acting and speaking strangely.  The victim, who did not interact with the defendant, left his residence on foot towards North Washington Street intending to walk to a Cumberland Farms.  Perez, as seen on video surveillance, pursued the victim on foot.  The victim indicated to police that as he was on the sidewalk he could hear footsteps behind him and then felt a punch to his back.  When the victim turned around, he observed an individual that matched the description of Perez.  The victim collapsed inside of Cumberland Farms.  The defendant fled back to the sober home and was seen on surveillance camera in a common area hiding the knife in a gas grill where it was later recovered by police.  Perez stated to other residents not to call 911.  The victim suffered serious injuries from the stab wound to his back. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Catherine Sauter.

“This was a senseless act of violence committed by the defendant who was living in a sober house yet acting in an altered state of mind apparently fueled by drug use.,” District Attorney Tom Quinn said.