Convicted murderer serving life sentenced in 2022 prison stabbing

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — A convicted murderer has been sentenced for stabbing another inmate at the Bristol House of Correction in 2022.

Ivan Fontanez, 28, of New Bedford, pleaded guilty to charges related to the assault on July 18, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s office.

He was sentenced to serve three to five years in state prison.

At the time of assault, Fontanez was being held on a second-degree murder charge of which he was later found guilty.

The stabbing incident occurred on December 19, 2022, when the victim and another inmate got into a physical altercation at the North Dartmouth facility.

Fontanez joined the fight and stabbed the victim in the back multiple times with a makeshift knife or “shank.”

Correctional officers intervened in the fight and handcuffed the victim, who was then kicked and punched by Fontanez.

The victim was transported to an area hospital and treated for a broken nose and multiple puncture wounds.

The fight and the stabbing were captured on surveillance video and the knife was found several days later in a toilet after it was placed there by another inmate.

The victim did not cooperate with the investigation.

Fontanez is serving life in prison for his murder conviction.