Taunton man sentenced to jail after strangulating, intimidating, pregnant girlfriend

A 38-year-old Taunton man who assaulted his pregnant girlfriend and then successfully intimidated her into not cooperating with the prosecution of the case against him was sentenced last week in Taunton District Court to 18 months in the county jail, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn announced.

Kayvon Ashton pleaded guilty to district court charges of strangulation of a pregnant victim, assault and battery of a pregnant victim, intimidation of a witness and assault and battery on a family or household member.  He was sentenced by Judge Gloriann Moroney to serve 18 months in the house of correction and an additional 18 months of probation.

On November 26, 2023, at 2:46 a.m., a neighbor of Ashton and the victim called Taunton Police stating he could hear what sounded like a domestic assault occurring and that he knew Taunton Police responded to that same address two weeks prior.  The caller heard thrashing and someone yelling “get off me” and “stop touching me.”  Police arrived and spoke with Ashton and the victim.  Although the victim appeared visibly upset, she denied any violence had taken place.

At approximately 4:00 a.m. that same morning, the victim appeared at the Taunton Police Department.  The victim appeared nervous and scared and stated that her appearing at the police department will have consequences. She reported that she was terrified to say anything when police were at her home earlier. She told police that Ashton threw her to the ground, open hand slapped her in the face, and held her down on the bed with his hands around her neck making it difficult to breathe. The victim said she tried to call 911, but Ashton threw the phone, damaging the screen.  Police observed the damaged phone. She further stated Ashton has threatened her and her family in the past about calling the police regarding prior instances of domestic violence. The victim was three months pregnant with Ashton’s child at the time. 

As the case proceeded towards trial, the victim made it clear she would no longer cooperate with the prosecution and evaded attempts to serve her with a summons to appear at a scheduled trial last week.  Despite these difficulties, Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hamilton was able to obtain phone calls Ashton made from the jail to the victim.  During these nearly 300 phone calls, Ashton constantly told the victim to not show up to court, that the district attorney’s office was bluffing about issuing a summons and that there would be no consequences for her not appearing in court.  Ashton continued to make these calls even after another district court judge had ordered him not to on January 16, 2024.

Armed with these phone records, ADA Hamilton was prepared to go to trial with evidence obtained in the calls, along with other evidence.  Ashton then decided to plead guilty.

“I’m very pleased the defendant was held accountable for the violent assault against his pregnant girlfriend.  The victim had reported a pattern of abuse and threatening behavior prior to this assault,” District Attorney Quinn said. “While in custody the defendant made hundreds of calls to the victim, encouraging her not to testify.  Unfortunately, the victim would not cooperate with the prosecution and evaded a summons. However, I want to thank the efforts of ADA Meghan Hamilton, who was still able to convict the defendant by the use of other evidence in the case.”