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A 28-year-old New Bedford man was convicted yesterday in Fall River Superior Court after a four day trial of forcing his way into a home, holding a gun to the victim’s head and firing two shots at the victim as he fled to safety, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.
Orlando Perez-Calderon was convicted by a jury of his peers of indictments charging him with armed assault in a dwelling, armed assault with intent to rob, attempted assault and battery by discharge of a firearm and carrying an illegal firearm.
On January 11, 2017 at noon, the defendant knocked on the front door of a Clara Street home. When the male victim opened the door, the defendant pointed a firearm at him and forced his way inside. The defendant demanded money and forced the victim into his bedroom where he began to rifle through the victim’s property and the victim’s wife’s jewelry. At one point the defendant told the victim to get on his knees and put a pillowcase on his head. The victim was able to distract the defendant for a moment, push him, and run out of his home wearing only a t-shirt, shorts and socks. The defendant chased the victim outside and shot the revolver at the victim twice.
After an extensive investigation into the incident by New Bedford Police, the defendant was identified as the prime suspect and an arrest warrant was issued in February 2017. However, the defendant eluded capture until October 2018 when he was finally taken into custody in Springfield.
Superior Court Judge Debra Squires-Lee scheduled sentencing in this case for October 31 at 2 pm in Fall River Superior Court. The trial was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Sylvia.
“I’m very pleased the jury convicted the defendant of this outrageous act of violence. This very easily could have been a homicide,” District Attorney Quinn said.
