Man sentenced to 4 years for assaulting pregnant girlfriend

May 20, 2016 2:54 pm

By: News Staff

news@abc6.com

New Bedford man has been sentenced to 4 years in state prison for assaulting his pregnant girlfriend.

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced the sentence today for 29-year-old Luis Cirino. Cirino assaulted his pregnant girlfriend on a busy highway in 2014.

Cirino was convicted of strangulation, intimidation and aggravated assault and battery after a three-day jury trial. After his conviction. Judge E. Susan Garsh sentenced the defendant to serve 4 to 5 years in state prison, to be followed by two years of supervised probation.

The incident happened on December 4, 2014 on the side of route 24 southbound near Exit 8. Troopers responded to the area and heard a female screaming. The female victim was frantic and half nude. She was covered in mud, and her neck had red marks consistent with strangulation. Part of her hair was also ripped out.

The victim told police that Cirino and her had a verbal argument while driving home. During the argument the Cirino tried to push her out of the car, and during the struggle, the door handle and glove box were broken.

Cirino eventually pulled the car over, and the victim tried to run away, but he grabbed her and threw her to the ground. He held her down, pulled her hair, and began strangling her. During the assault, Cirino also ripped her shirt off and tore her pants.

District Attorney Quinn said, “This inhumane behavior cannot be tolerated. I am very satisfied the judge imposed a significant state prison sentence in this case.”