Fall River Auto Theft Results in State Prison Term
Bristol County District Attorney’s Office
Thomas M. Quinn III
District Attorney
Press Release
August 7, 2017
A 35-year-old Fall River man with an extensive criminal record was sentenced to serve four to six years in state prison after pleading guilty last week to a litany of charges related to the theft of a motor vehicle in Fall River last May, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.
Sean Lane pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to a multi-count indictment charging him with two counts of a larceny of a firearm, two counts of carrying an illegal firearm, two counts of carrying a loaded illegal firearm, and one count each of larceny of a motor vehicle, vandalism, breaking into a motor vehicle to commit a felony, and larceny over $250.
On May 4, 2016, at approximately 11:03 PM, Fall River Police responded to the Super Stop & Shop on Rodman Street to meet with the victim. Upon exiting the Stop & Shop, the victim found his car stolen. Inside of the car was approximately $700 and two loaded legal firearms.
The next morning, the victim’s car was recovered with the front passenger window smashed and bleach poured in the vehicle. Video surveillance captured a male dumping the car.
On May 10, 2016, while investigating other car breaks, a Fall River Police officer recognized the defendant from the flyer and brought the defendant in for questioning.
The defendant admitted to police that he stole the vehicle. He also admitted that he searched the car before he dumped it and found a couple hundred bucks in the console along with two guns (silver .38 revolver & black semi-auto) that he sold to a man in New Bedford for $400 and crack-cocaine.
The alleged buyer of the guns in New Bedford, Jorge Duarte, 23, was subsequently arrested and his case remains open and pending at this time.
During a plea hearing before Judge Thomas McGuire, Assistant District Attorney Michael Cahillane argued for a six to eight year state prison term based in part on the fact that the defendant has been convicted during the past two decades of larceny, assault & battery, drug offenses, ID fraud, malicious destruction to a motor vehicle, breaking and entering, uttering, forgery, 209A violations, shoplifting and receiving stolen property.
The defendant requested a three to four year prison term.
“This defendant has a lengthy history of criminal activity and committed these offenses while on probation,” District Attorney Quinn said. “Hopefully, the sentence imposed by the court will protect the public from the defendant for up to 6 years.”
Contact:
Gregg Miliote
Director of Communications
508-997-0711
774-292-9576–cell