New Bedford Child Rapist Sentenced to Prison
FALL RIVER A 62-year-old New Bedford man was sentenced to serve up to 15 years in state prison last week after pleading guilty to raping his former girlfriend s young daughter, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.
Michael Avellar pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court last Friday to indictments charging him with aggravated rape of a child under the age of 12, aggravated rape of a child over the age of 12, assault with intent to rape a child, indecent assault and battery on a person under 14 years of age, possession of child pornography, assault and battery, assault with a dangerous weapon, violation of a restraining order, and assault and battery on a family or household member.
Repeat Offender Who Robbed New Bedford Woman Sentenced
FALL RIVER A 40-year-old Whitman man with a lengthy history of assaultive behavior who robbed and assaulted his former girlfriend in her New Bedford apartment two years ago was sentenced to serve two years in state prison last week, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.
John Howe pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court last Monday to indictments charging him with two counts of assault and battery on a family or household member-subsequent offense, malicious destruction of property, armed robbery and intimidation of a witness.
On February 18, 2019, the female victim called New Bedford Police to report that Howe had broken her windows and robbed her. When the police arrived, the victim showed them her broken windows and two knives on the ground. She explained that earlier that same day, Howe had come over to give her some money he owed to her.
Taunton Repeat Illegal Firearm Offender Sentenced to Prison
FALL RIVER A 42-year-old Taunton man who unlawfully possessed a host of illegal firearms, including a machine gun, was sentenced last week to serve five to seven years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.
John Bettencourt pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to indictments charging him with possession of a machine gun, possession of a large capacity feeding device, possession of a shotgun, possession of ammunition without an FID Card, possession of a class B drug, and possession of a large-capacity firearm.
On October 19, 2019, at around 9:30 am, Taunton Police responded to a Glebe Court home for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival at the home, police found Bettencourt s sister and her husband hiding in their basement. They informed police that Bettencourt had come down from his apartment with a firearm and that he accidentally discharged the weapon.