Fall River Man Sentenced for Assaulting Girlfriend

A 39-year-old Fall River man who violently assaulted his girlfriend just after midnight on New Year’s Day was sentenced to serve three to five years in state prison this week in Fall River Superior Court.

Jason Brum pleaded guilty to a two-count indictment charging him with aggravated assault and battery, and assault and battery.

The defendant got into an argument with his girlfriend as they were walking back to their apartment after attending a New Year’s Eve event. When they got to the front door, he suddenly pushed her down and began to stomp on her head and face. She called out for help during the assault and a neighbor came down with a baseball bat. The neighbor armed with the bat was able to get the defendant to pause his attack long enough for police to arrive and take the defendant into custody. Police found the victim unconscious, bleeding from the eyes, nose, head, and face. She suffered a fractured nose as well as bruising all over her body. The victim was transported to Rhode Island Hospital. She has since undergone surgeries for her injuries.

During a sentencing hearing before Judge Raffi Yessayan, Assistant District Attorney Carolyn Morrissette argued that based on the severity and brutality of the beating, the defendant should serve five to six years in state prison. The defense, however, recommend a more lenient 15 month jail sentence with probation.

After hearing from both sides and the victim herself, Judge Yessayan sentenced the defendant to serve three to five years in state prison, to be followed by five years of supervised probation with mandatory domestic batterers counseling.

“This is another brutal case of domestic violence that simply cannot be tolerated in a civilized society. My office will continue to  forcefully prosecute these violent domestic batterers,” District Attorney Quinn said. “This type of violence inflicted on a women is very disturbing. I want to commend the victim for coming to court and telling the court how she was impacted by this vicious assault. I am sure this was not easy for her.”

--Bristol County District Attorney's Office