Fall River Man Sentenced for Assaulting Infant Son

FALL RIVER — A 28-year-old Fall River man, who was charged in connection with a 2013 case in Seekonk where the defendant caused substantial injury to his then 12-week-old son, was sentenced last week in Fall River Superior Court to serve two and a half years in the House of Correction, followed by five years of probation, Bristol County District Attoney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Andrew Gregory was convicted last week by Judge William Sullivan after a jury waived trial for the crimes of assault and battery on a child causing substantial injury, and reckless endangerment of a child.

On June 23, 2013, the defendant was the sole caretaker of his 12-week-old infant son. The infant child was in good overall health. As the mother of the child returned home from work, the defendant exited their home in Seekonk holding the child, who was limp, non-responsive and breathing poorly. The defendant initially stated that the infant had fallen off of the couch.

The couple drove the child to Sturdy Memorial Hospital, where staff determined that the infant had brain bleeding. The child was then transported to Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence. After further testing doctors at Hasbro concluded that injuries to the infant, including petechial hemorrhages on the torso, and bruises on the head, limbs and trunk, were the result of abuse, and the head injury was the result of shaking or abusive head trauma.

As a result, members of the Seekonk Police Department and Massachusetts State Police were notified. The defendant was interviewed at the Seekonk Police Station where he again indicated that his infant son had fallen off of the couch. After further questioning, the defendant ultimately admitted to shaking and squeezing his infant son.

During a sentencing hearing held before Judge Sullivan, Assistant District Attorneys Patrick Bomberg and Carolyn Morrissette argued for a four-to-seven-year state prison term followed by probation. The defense recommended a more lenient alternative of either probation or a House of Correction sentence.

Judge Sullivan eventually sentenced the defendant to serve two and a half years in the House of Correction, to be followed by five years of probation.

“A case involving injury to a child is always very disturbing,” District Attorney Quinn said. “I am pleased the judge held the defendant accountable and sent him to jail.”

The special conditions of probation include:

-No contact with the victim.

-No contact with the victim’s family.

-Undergo a substance abuse evaluation and complete any recommended treatment.

-Undergo a mental health evaluation and complete any recommended treatment.

-Enter and complete an anger management program.

--Bristol County District Attorney's Office