Man convicted of murder sentenced to additional prison time for stabbing at Bristol County House of Correction

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III has announced that a 28-year-old man pled guilty last week in the Fall River Superior Court and was sentenced to serve 3 to 5 years in the State Prison by the Honorable Thomas Perrino for an assault on another inmate while both were housed at the Bristol County House of Correction in December of 2022.

On 12/19/22, Ivan Fontanez of New Bedford and a male victim were both housed at the Bristol County House of Correction in Dartmouth.  Fontanez was held awaiting trial for murder, for which he was subsequently found guilty, after a jury trial for second degree murder along with firearm charges.  At approximately 5:26 p.m. on 12/19/22, the victim engaged in a physical altercation with another inmate.  Fontanez joined the fight with a makeshift knife, also known as a shank, and proceeded to punch the victim and stab him in the back.  Correctional officers responded and began to separate the parties involved in the altercation.  While the victim was handcuffed, Fontanez began punching and kicking the victim with a shod foot.  The defendant was identified as the assailant by House of Correction staff. 

The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries that included a fractured nose and minor puncture wounds. 

The incident was captured on video surveillance and the shank was located by a maintenance worker days later as it had been disposed of by another inmate in a toilet. 

The victim was not cooperative with the investigation or prosecution of the case. 

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Victoria Bendza and Patrick Driscoll.

“Despite being held on murder charges, the defendant “shanked” another inmate.  Fortunately, the incident was captured on video surveillance because the other inmate was not cooperative.  I am pleased the defendant was held accountable for this “lawless” behavior in the jail.  This defendant is serving a life sentence for murder,” District Attorney Tom Quinn said.