Somerset man who spit blood at police, violently assaulted his girlfriend in Fall River, sentenced to three years in prison

A 34-year-old Somerset man was convicted of violently assaulting his girlfriend in Fall River and sentenced to serve three years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

According to Gregg Miliote of the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, Deandre Ross pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court last week to indictments charging him with assault and battery causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery of a police officer, kidnapping and witness intimidation.

On April 14, 2018, Fall River Police responded to the parking lot of Mickey Doyle’s at 5:34 AM. Upon arrival, officers observed the victim standing with the defendant in the parking lot. Officers noted extreme swelling to the victim’s eye, along with scratches to her neck and face. Officers attempted to ask the victim what had happened, but the defendant continually interrupted, claiming that the victim was drunk and didn’t remember anything, and suggesting that she was jumped by another party.

Once placed in an ambulance and separated from the defendant, the victim disclosed that she had been drinking with the defendant at a storage container he rents, and he became angry and began punching her in the face and torso. In the course of the beating, he tied a rag around the handle to keep the door closed and physically prevented her from leaving. At this point, the defendant struck her several more times. The injuries the victim sustained included broken ribs, a broken orbital, and a broken nose. The victim further stated she was in great fear of the defendant.

Once taken into custody, the defendant lashed out violently, repeatedly kicking the arresting officers. In the course of the struggle, the defendant’s mouth was cut, and he proceeded to spit blood at the officers attempting to bring him to the cruiser.

The defendant was held without bail since the date of the incident after dangerousness hearings were conducted both in the District and Superior Court.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Zach Mercer and Kyle McPherson, and the three-year state prison term was imposed by Judge Raffi Yessayan. Upon his release from prison, the defendant will immediately be placed on supervised probation for an additional two years.

“The defendant brutally beat the victim, causing several bad injuries. The investigation revealed a history of the defendant beating the victim. This is simply unacceptable,” District Attorney Quinn said. “He needs to be imprisoned to protect her from further abuse.”