Bristol DA Quinn: Somerset man sent back to prison on probation violations in Fall River court after violent assault on girlfriend

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III has announced that a 50-year-old man was found in violation of his probation in the Fall River Superior Court and sentenced to serve an additional State Prison Sentence of two to four years. 

Rodney Johnson of Somerset had previously plead guilty in Essex Superior Court on June 13, 2023, to Intimidation of a Witness, Assault and Battery causing Serious Bodily Injury, Assault and Battery on a Family/Household Member, Strangulation, Resisting Arrest and 2 Counts of Assault and Battery and received a State Prison sentence of 3 years followed by 2 years of supervised probation with several conditions.  That case involved a violent assault against his then girlfriend, which left the victim with serious injuries. The supervision of Johnson’s probation was transferred to Bristol County Superior Court.  Once on probation, he failed to appear at multiple appointments and failed to engage in counselling as directed.  The Court found, after a hearing, that Johnson had violated the conditions of his probation and imposed the additional State Prison Sentence of 2 to 4 years.  

 The probation matter was handled by the Superior Court Chief Probation Officer Ryan Blackburn and Assistant District Attorney Christine Parent. 

“I am pleased the court recommended that the defendant’s repeated defiance of probation conditions warranted the additional State Prison sentence.,” District Attorney Tom Quinn said