New Bedford Armed Assault Defendant to Serve Up To A Decade In Prison
Bristol County District Attorney’s Office
Thomas M. Quinn III
District Attorney
Press Release
October 31, 2019
A 28-year-old New Bedford man convicted after a four-day trial last week in Fall River Superior Court of forcing his way into a home, holding a gun to the victim’s head and firing two shots at the victim as he fled to safety was sentenced to serve up to a decade in state prison today, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.
Orlando Perez-Calderon was convicted by a jury of his peers on indictments charging him with armed assault in a dwelling, armed assault with intent to rob, attempted assault and battery by discharge of a firearm and carrying an illegal firearm.
On January 11, 2017 at noon, the defendant knocked on the front door of a Clara Street home. When the male victim opened the door, the defendant pointed a firearm at him and forced his way inside. The defendant demanded money, and forced the victim into his bedroom where he began to rifle through the victim’s property and the victim’s wife’s jewelry. At one point the defendant told the victim to get on his knees and put a pillow case on his head. The victim was able to distract the defendant for a moment, push him, and run out of his home wearing only a t-shirt, shorts and socks. The defendant chased the victim outside and shot the revolver at the victim twice.
After an extensive investigation into the incident by New Bedford Police, the defendant was identified as the prime suspect and an arrest warrant was issued in February 2017. However, the defendant eluded capture until October 2018 when he was finally taken into custody in Springfield.
Superior Court Judge Debra Squires-Lee today sentenced the defendant to serve seven to ten years in state prison, to be followed by two years of supervised probation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Sylvia, who argued for a 15 to 20 year state prison term.
“This is an outrageous act of violence in broad daylight committed by a defendant who has a serious record, including two prior firearm-related convictions. By the grace of god, the victim was not killed or seriously injured. Based on the gravity of the crime and the defendant’s record he should have received a lengthier prison sentence. This defendant is an extreme danger to the community,” District Attorney Quinn said.
Contact:
Gregg Miliote
Director of Communications
508-997-0711
774-292-9576–cell