Inmate at Dartmouth and New Bedford Jails Sentenced for Assaulting Officers

FALL RIVER (WBSM) — A man who assaulted three different correctional officers on three separate occasions was sentenced to state prison today.

According to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, Kevin Branco, 37, pleaded guilty to indictments charging him with two counts of assault and battery on a correctional officer, two counts of assault and battery on a correctional officer with bodily substance, and one count of a civil rights violation.

Branco, who has no known address, was sentenced to serve 18 to 36 months in state prison.

Get our free mobile app

The charges date back to March 12, 2018, when Branco – an inmate at the Bristol County House of Correction in Dartmouth – told a correctional officer, “You’re going to die in this jail” followed by a racial epithet. Branco then spit in the officer’s face before violently attacking him.

During the altercation, the officer suffered a serious injury to his shoulder; D.A. Quinn said it led to him leaving the field of law enforcement.

On December 24, 2018, Branco was still at the House of Correction when he spat in the face of another correctional officer while the officer was moving Branco from one cell to another because Branco defecated on the floor of his own cell.

Then on March 11, 2019, Branco was an inmate at the Ash Street Jail in New Bedford when he charged at the officer, grabbing him by the neck and shoulders.

All three incidents were captured on video surveillance.

Quinn said Branco has already served time for arson, assault and battery on a correctional officer, and assault and battery on a child.

“This defendant engaged in outrageous behavior while being held in custody awaiting trial. He injured one officer who had to then leave law enforcement,” Quinn said. “This behavior is uncivilized conduct. He can’t even control himself while in jail and is a clear danger to the community.”