Taunton man who assaulted girlfriend at gunpoint, sentenced to prison in Fall River court

A 34-year-old Taunton man who assaulted his girlfriend at gun-point in January of 2017 was convicted in Superior Court this week on several indictments and sentenced to serve three to five years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Preston Jackson pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to charges of assault and battery of a family or household member, assault with a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, kidnapping, unlawful possession of a loaded firearm, violation of a restraining order and witness intimidation.

According to Gregg Miliote of the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, on January 17, 2017 at around 1:30 a.m., the defendant broke into his girlfriend’s apartment while brandishing a firearm. The defendant apparently believed another man was in the apartment with his girlfriend. After breaking in, the defendant woke the victim by physically dragging her out of bed. He then began searching the house while pointing a gun at her head. The defendant fired one shot behind the bed, erroneously believing someone was hiding there. The defendant then forced the victim into his car and drove to Brockton. During the ride, he stated numerous times that he was going to kill her. While stopped for gas, the victim was able to escape from the vehicle, flee the area and contact police.

During the pendency of the case, while the defendant was held as a danger to the community, he called the victim on the phone numerous times and screamed at her to contact the prosecutor in the case and tell the prosecutor that she lied and made the whole story up.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Melissa Hendrie and the state prison sentence was imposed by Judge William Sullivan.

“This is another example of senseless violence that endangers the lives of the victim and the community at large,” District Attorney Quinn said. “This case also highlights the importance of detaining dangerous defendants without bail prior to trial, and not releasing them back into the community to commit more crimes.”