Fall River man sentenced to prison after multiple assaults against girlfriend, correctional officer

A 36-year-old Fall River man who strangled and repeatedly assaulted the mother of his children before then violently assaulting a correctional officer will spend the next four years in state prison after pleading guilty to a number of indictments last Friday, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Taurian Rogers pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to indictments charging him with two counts of aggravated assault and battery, and one count each of strangulation, assault to maim, assault and battery of a correctional officer, and assault and battery on a public employee with intent to disarm.

On August 19, 2017 the victim was in her Fall River apartment with her infant child, who was not feeling well. During an argument with the victim, the defendant pushed her to the ground and began strangling her. Although the victim did not lose consciousness, she did report seeing stars while being strangled. Once the couple’s older teenage child entered into the room where the assault was happening, the defendant immediately stopped the attack, and the victim ran out of the house with her infant. An electrician called the police after seeing the victim in a frantic state, with injuries to her neck. The defendant was apprehended by Fall River Police as he was driving away from the apartment.

During the subsequent investigation, the victim disclosed prior abuse at the hands of the defendant and signed a medical release from St. Anne’s Hospital, where she had received treatment for prior injuries. Based on the records, it was determined that on June 21, 2017, the defendant punched the victim in the face, breaking her orbital bone, which needed reconstructive surgery. It was also determined that on May 18, 2017, the defendant threw the victim to the ground and kicked her repeatedly, causing bruised ribs and a broken elbow.

While being held in jail at New Bedford’s Ash Street facility on October 27, 2017, the defendant was reprimanded by a correctional officer for creating a disturbance in his cell that was preventing visitations from occurring. The defendant punched the officer in the face, knocked him to the ground and attempted to grab the officer’s pepper spray.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Patrick Driscoll and the four year state prison term was imposed by Judge William Sullivan. The defendant was also placed on probation for an additional two years.

“The defendant continued his history of assaultive behavior by punching a correctional officer who was just trying to do his job, and violently beating his girlfriend on multiple occasions. This conduct is simply not acceptable. The defendant is a clear danger to the community and needs to be kept off the street, and monitored upon his release,” District Attorney Quinn said.