Fall River man sentenced for stalking and beating his girlfriend, damaging her vehicle

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III announced that a 46-year-old Fall River man pled guilty yesterday in the Fall River Superior Court to charges of Stalking, Domestic Assault and Battery and Malicious Damage to a Motor Vehicle.

Damien Gouse was sentenced by the Honorable Thomas McGuire to serve a State Prison sentence of 3 1/2 years followed by 1 year of supervised probation. 

On January 10, 2022, Fall River Police were dispatched for a report of a domestic assault.  Upon arrival, police met with the female victim who had apparent injuries to her face, bruising and swelling to her left eye and a mark on her neck.  The victim reported that Gouse, her boyfriend, had assaulted her multiple times earlier that evening when they were in a car.  While Gouse was driving and the victim was a passenger, he struck her with a closed fist multiple times in the back of the head.  When the victim exited the vehicle, Gouse chased her and forcefully brought her back to the vehicle along with taking her phone and keys.  He continued to assault and threaten the victim in the vehicle.  She ran to an unknown vehicle asking for help and got into the backseat.  The driver of that vehicle returned the victim to her residence, and the police were summoned.  The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries. 

In February of 2022, Fall River police were dispatched for a report of damage to a motor vehicle.  The victim reported that on 2/4/22 Gouse contacted her and requested that she meet up with him.  When the victim declined, he proceeded to call the victim over 75 times. During the calls, the defendant threatened the victim and indicated he would cut the tires on her vehicle.  When the victim awoke on 2/7/22, she found all 4 of her tires slashed.  Fall River Police were summoned again on 2/9/22 by the victim’s neighbor who reported to police that he observed Gouse actively slicing the victim’s tires and that he attempted to smash the victim’s front windshield with a rock. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Courtney Cahill and Nicole Cheney.

“The defendant has a history of committing serious crimes.  I am pleased that the defendant pled guilty and accepted responsibility for assaulting the victim and damaging her property without her having to testify.,” District Attorney Tom Quinn said.