Taunton man who assaulted pregnant girlfriend sentenced

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — A Taunton man who assaulted his pregnant girlfriend and then intimidated her into not cooperating with the prosecution of the case against him was sentenced last week.

Kayvon Ashton, 38, pleaded guilty to charges of strangulation of a pregnant victim, assault and battery of a pregnant victim, intimidation of a witness and assault and battery on a family or household member.

Ashton was sentenced to 18 months in a house of correction and 18 months of probation.

The incident occurred on November 26, 2023 when a neighbor alerted Taunton police of a potential domestic assault.

Taunton police had responded to this same address two weeks earlier.

The caller heard someone yelling “get off me” and “stop touching me.”

Police arrived and spoke with both the defendant and victim, and the latter denied any violence took place.

Later that night, the victim appeared at the Taunton Police Department.

She seemed nervous and stated that her appearance at the police department would have consequences.

She told police that Ashton threw her to the ground and slapped her in the face and held her down on the bed with his hands around her neck.

The victim attempted to call 911, but Ashton threw the phone damaging it, which police were able to observe.

She then told police that the defendant had threatened her and her family in the past about calling the police regarding prior instances of domestic violence.

As the trial grew closer, the victim said she would no longer cooperate with the prosecution and evaded attempts to serve her with a summons to appear at a scheduled trial.

Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hamilton obtained phone calls the defendant made to the victim from jail.

300 of these calls were obtained, many of which contained Ashton constantly telling the victim not to show up in court and that the DA was only bluffing with summons.

These calls were still made despite a judge ordering Ashton to discontinue calling the victim in January.

“I’m very pleased the defendant was held accountable for the violent assault against his pregnant girlfriend.  The victim had reported a pattern of abuse and threatening behavior prior to this assault,” District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III said.