Repeat domestic abuser sentenced to more than 5 years in prison

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III said Thursday that a New Bedford man with a long history of domestic violence was sentenced to serve more than five in prison.

Anthony Medeiros pled guilty Monday to 14 charges including two counts of domestic assault and battery, one count of kidnapping, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.

Quinn said that in February the 48-year-old defendant took the victim’s phone, looked through it, accused her of cheating, and subsequently smashed the phone.

“He then punched the victim in the head, grabbed the victim by the back of her neck, and pinned her against a wall mirror,” he said.

Medeiros then took the keys to two of the victim’s vehicles, held her at her home, then drove her to his former place of employment and threatened to kill her in a wooded area.

Quinn said that Medeiros then drove the victim back to her home, but took both of her vehicles as well as jewelry he had given her with him when he left.

The victim later told police that Medeiros was in possession of multiple firearms.

A subsequent search of his home found a Norinco 5.56 Assault Rifle, a Bushmaster 22 Assault Rifle, both of which accept high capacity magazines, and over 900 rounds of ammunition.

Quinn said that Medeiros did not have a license to carry firearms.

Quinn said Medeiros had a 13 page criminal record, which includes convictions for threats, witness intimidation, restraining order violations, assaults, and gun crimes.

“It appears that 11 separate restraining orders have been filed against him locally,” he added.

Medeiros was sentenced to serve five to seven years in state prison, to be followed by two years of supervised probation.