Taunton Repeat Illegal Firearm Offender Sentenced to Prison

FALL RIVER — A 42-year-old Taunton man who unlawfully possessed a host of illegal firearms, including a machine gun, was sentenced last week to serve five to seven years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

John Bettencourt pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to indictments charging him with possession of a machine gun, possession of a large capacity feeding device, possession of a shotgun, possession of ammunition without an FID Card, possession of a class B drug, and possession of a large-capacity firearm.

On October 19, 2019, at around 9:30 am, Taunton Police responded to a Glebe Court home for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival at the home, police found Bettencourt's sister and her husband hiding in their basement. They informed police that Bettencourt had come down from his apartment with a firearm and that he accidentally discharged the weapon.

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A protective sweep of the apartment was performed. An AK-47 rifle and a Mossberg shotgun were observed on the bed; both were determined to be loaded. Detectives then obtained a search warrant for the apartment and the defendant's car. A magazine for the AK-47 contained 29 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, four 12-gauge shotgun shells, various other assorted rounds of ammunition and three Suboxone strips were all located in Bettencourt's bedroom.

Bettencourt has previously been convicted of illegal firearm charges and did not have an active license to carry a firearm.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Cahillane and the state prison sentence was imposed by Judge Raffi Yessayan.

"It is very concerning that the defendant is illegally in possession of an assault rifle, shotgun and a significant amount of ammunition,” District Attorney Quinn said. “He has a prior gun conviction and has no business possessing these weapons. As the facts demonstrate, nothing good will come from it. He is a danger to the community and belongs off the street.”