Fall River Justice: Woman Gets 8 Years For Cutting Off 'Debtor's' Finger

FALL RIVER, MA — It was a "barbaric act of violence that is simply not acceptable in a civilized society."

A Fall River woman was sentenced to eight to 10 years in state prison for slicing off a man's finger over supposedly missing money, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn announced Thursday. Donna Silvia, 51, was convicted of mayhem, witness intimidation, and assault in connection with the March 2012 incident.

Fall River Superior Court Judge Susan Garsh also sentenced Silvia to two years of probation following her release and fined her $5,000. Prosecutors had argued for a 10- to 15-year sentence.

“This case represents a premeditated and barbaric act of violence that is simply not acceptable in a civilized society” Quinn said in a statement.

Silvia, a boss at Columbia Towing in Fall River, confronted a worker on March 28, 2012 and accused him of stealing money, Quinn said. Silvia and three accomplices proceeded to hold him down and cut off his finger with pipe cutters, Quinn said.

One accomplice, John Soares, 43, of Fall River, was sentenced in September to 10 to 15 years. He was the person who actually cut off the victim's finger, Quinn said.

The two other accomplices, Dennis Silvia, 47, of Fall River (the wife of Donna Silvia), and James Connors, 50, of Fall River, are awaiting trials.

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