Man Who Assaulted Correctional Officers on Numerous Occasions Sentenced to State Prison Term
District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced that a former New Bedford man convicted of multiple incidences of spitting, biting and assaulting correctional officers at the Dartmouth House of Corrections, was sentenced to serve six to 10 years in state prison.
Frankie Chano, 44, formerly of 7 Shawnee Court, was convicted by a jury of his peers after a three-day trial in Fall River Superior Court on Thursday, September 3rd. He was sentenced to the state prison term by Judge Robert T. Kane on Friday afternoon. The charges he was convicted of include five counts of assault and battery on a correctional officer and one count of assault and battery.
Mr. Chano was serving a two-and-a-half year sentence at the House of Corrections when the incidents of violence against correctional officers occurred.
On August 28, 2013, Mr. Chano was taken to the jail’s health unit for blood work. On the way back to his cell he became extremely belligerent and resisted returning to his cell. During this resistance, he spit on two correctional officers while they were attempting to return him to his cell.
On January 8, 2014, Mr. Chano became belligerent with correctional officers and threatened violence. He once again spit on a correctional officer and punched him in the forehead.
On January 30, 2014, Mr. Chano had covered a window which allowed correctional officers to visually check on his well-being. Mr. Chano refused to remove the obstruction. The correctional officer was forced to manually open the window. As soon as the window was opened, Mr. Chano flailed out and attempted to strike the correctional officer. Mr. Chano then put his face in the window and spit at the correctional officer.
On February 14, 2014, Mr. Chano was taken from his cell to to the showers. While walking the defendant to the shower, the defendant became belligerent. The correctional officer lost control of the defendant, who pulled away and entered a fighting stance. While the officer was attempting to get Mr. Chano back into his cell, the defendant turned his head and bit the arm of the officer. After eventually getting the defendant back into his cell, Mr. Chano faced the officer and spit at him, striking him on the side of his head.
“Correctional officers have a difficult job to begin with. To be subjected to these types of assaults is unacceptable. Violence against correctional officers will not be tolerated by this office. This is a defendant who could not obey the laws of society, nor could he abide by the rules inside a jail,” District Attorney Quinn said. “A harsh sentence was warranted and I applaud Judge Kane for imposing such a sentence. I want to thank the Bristol County Sheriff’s Department for assisting us in this investigation and prosecution. I would also like to thank Assistant District Attorney Brian Griffin for his effort in this case.”
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Gregg Miliote
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