Taunton man sentenced in 2023 attack of neighbor, told police victim was a ‘monster’

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — A Level 3 sex offender from Taunton has been convicted and sentenced on multiple charges stemming from a 2023 incident where he kidnapped his neighbor and attempted to rape her.

Patrick Pesante, 49, was convicted of assault with intent to rape, indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 and kidnapping, according to Jennifer Sowa, Deputy District Attorney with the Bristol County DA’s office.

Pesante was later sentenced to serve 13-15 years in state prison with five years of supervised probation upon release.

The incident occurred in Taunton on August 22, 2023 when Pesante lured his 45-year-old neighbor into his apartment under the pretense of needing to book a hotel room.

The defendant told the victim that his mother had just died.

The victim eventually entered the apartment at which time Pesante placed her in a bearhug and attempted to remove her clothes, according to Sowa.

The victim struggled and screamed for help and her 17-year-old daughter and other neighbors ran to help.

Pesante released her, and arriving officers noted that the defendant was sweating heavily and exhibiting odd behavior, stating that the victim was a monster.

Cocaine and alcohol were later found in Pesante’s system.

Pesante defense presented an expert witness at trial claiming that Pesante might have been experiencing a cocaine-induced hallucination during the incident.

The prosecution responded with the record of a 2004 incident where Pesante asked a male to assist him in translating a call and then attacked him once he entered the defendant’s home.