31-year-old Bristol County homeless man sentenced to prison in Fall River for violently assaulting, strangling girlfriend

A 31-year-old homeless man who was living in a tent in the woods at the time of his August 2020 arrest for violently assaulting and strangling his girlfriend, was sentenced to prison last week in Fall River Superior Court, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Adam Furtado pleaded guilty to indictments charging him with aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation and two counts of domestic assault and battery. In addition to the state prison sentence, Judge Thomas McGuire also placed the defendant on an additional year of probation. He was sentenced to serve three to five years in prison.

On August 20, 2020, at around 7:00 a.m., the victim traveled barefoot to a Taber Street home seeking help. The victim was staying in the tent with Furtado in Fairhaven after leaving her sober house program in New Bedford. On the second day in the tent, Furtado returned from a trip to the Market Basket in New Bedford in an intoxicated state, picked up a rock and struck the victim with it. After trying to flee from him, Furtado dragged her back to the tent, strangled her and further assaulted her.

Medica transported the victim to the hospital, where she was found to have bruising on her face, neck, arms, legs, abdomen, chest, back, buttocks and breasts. X-Rays showed she has also sustained two displaced broken ribs.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jose Vazquez.

“The defendant brutally assaulted the victim, causing serious injury,” District Attorney Quinn said. “This sentence holds him accountable and protects the victim and the public from him.”