Brockton Man Found Guilty of Rape, Assault with Intent to Murder

Originally published Oct. 5, 2016.

BROCKTON, MA — A Brockton man has been convicted of raping and seriously injuring a woman.

Following a three-day trial and 12 hours of deliberation, a Plymouth County jury has found Tony Bunton, 53, guilty of rape (subsequent offense), armed assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to rape, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery with serious bodily injury and as a habitual offender, according to the Plymouth County District Attorney's office.

On Dec. 10, 2014 at approximately 9 p.m., Brockton Police received a 911 call from an ambulance driving in the vicinity of North Montello Street who reported a female victim staggering in the street, bleeding heavily from her head. The woman was dressed only in a shirt and told emergency medical personnel that she had been raped and struck with a baseball bat by a man she had known as “Tony.”

Brockton Police and State Police detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office began their investigation. They discovered a reddish brown fluid stain, later found to be positive for human blood, on the front porch at #283 and #282 North Montello Street. A Brockton Police K-9 tracked to a lot near Brockton Tire at #311 North Montello Street where police discovered a pair of women’s black pants turned inside out, a pair of black women’s shoes, a black knit men’s winter hat and some keys.

As part of their investigation, police viewed video surveillance from Brockton Tire that showed the victim and a man, later positively identified as Tony Bunton, walk behind the tire company building. Shortly after, the victim appeared running out of the parking lot without pants on and Bunton emerged carrying an object consistent with a baseball bat.

Badly beaten, the victim approached two homes next door to Brockton Tire for help before flagging down and collapsing in front of an ambulance operator who was driving down the street. The victim was transported to Brockton Hospital before being transferred to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. She required multiple brain surgeries and lengthy hospital treatment for her injuries.

On Dec. 13, 2014, after police conducted several interviews, including one with the victim from her hospital bed in which she identified Bunton as her attacker, Bunton was arrested at his Brockton apartment.

After the trial concluded today, Bunton was tried on a Habitual Offender indictment and subsequent rape charge, subjecting him to criminal penalty enhancements on the rape charge he was found guilty of earlier today. The same jury presided over this trial, where four witnesses testified that Bunton was the same person previously convicted of Rape. The jury found Bunton guilty on those charges.

Sentencing has been scheduled for Oct. 28.

Image via Shutterstock

Information in this article was provided by the Plymouth County District Attorney's office.