Taunton man sentenced to prison in Fall River court due to 2020 stabbing

A 43-year-old Taunton man arrested last year in New Bedford for stabbing another man was sentenced to serve three to five years in state prison earlier this week, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Charles Summers pleaded guilty on Tuesday in Fall River Superior Court to an indictment charging him with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The defendant pleaded guilty just after a jury was selected and a trial was about to begin.

On August 9th, 2020, New Bedford Police officers driving by 116 County Street at 1:35 a.m. were flagged down by people on the sidewalk. Once stopped, officers saw a victim with a large stab wound to his thigh and bleeding heavily. The victim was transported to Rhode Island Hospital for his wounds. He was stabbed in the shoulder, the leg, and had a cut on his lip. Officers subsequently learned that the stabbing occurred inside the hallway stairwell of a rooming house of 116 County Street. One resident of the rooming house overheard arguing on the floor down from her, and recognized the defendant leaving the building. She then helped the victim by giving him a towel for his stab wound to his leg to apply pressure.

A review of surveillance cameras showed the defendant entering the building at 12:30 a.m. About an hour later, two people were seen chasing the defendant and engaging in an animated conversation. The defendant was seen having an object in his hand that was a few inches long. Police recognized the defendant from another case and a BOLO was put out to local law enforcement. About 50 Minutes later, a Bristol County Sheriff’s deputy located the defendant not far from the scene. He had blood on his shirt and shoes and was identified as Summers.

The victim in the case refused to cooperate with the prosecution, attempting to change his story multiple times, feigned memory loss and disappeared for six to seven months while the district attorney’s office went forward with the prosecution. On October 19th, 2021 Superior Court Judge Raffi Yessayan ruled he would allow the Commonwealth’s motions to admit jail calls the defendant made where he made incriminating statements about the stabbing. The defendant then, just before opening statements were about to begin in his trial, decided to plead guilty.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Shawn Guilderson.

“I am pleased that the defendant was convicted despite the victim’s lack of cooperation and his attempts to undermine the case. The efforts of investigators and the prosecutor were important in obtaining a conviction and keeping a career criminal off the streets,” District Attorney Quinn said.