Contact: Beth Stone- (508) 584-8120
BROCKTON – A Brockton man has been sentenced to serve Life in Prison, plus additional time for his role in the stabbing death of a teen in Brockton, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz announced today.
After an eight-day trial, a Plymouth County jury found Joel Quiles (DOB: 01/22/93) of Brockton, guilty of one count each of First Degree Murder, Armed Home Invasion and Armed Assault with Intent to Rob. Brockton Superior Court Judge Richard Chin sentenced Quiles to serve Life in State Prison without the possibility of parole, 20 years to 20 years and one day to run concurrent for the Armed Home Invasion charge and 5-7 years on the Armed Assault with Intent to Rob to run concurrent.
In August, 2016, co-defendants Vladimir Verdieu (DOB: 09/05/95) and Eric Claudio (DOB: 02/06/95), both of Brockton, pleaded guilty to Murder and other charges. Each was sentenced to serve Life in Prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years.
“The victim’s father told the courtroom today at sentencing that there were no winners in this case and he was absolutely right,” DA Cruz said. “Mr. Semedo’s life was cut short at 18. I am hopeful that with this trial behind them, this family can move on and begin to heal.”
At approximately 3:42 am on May 4, 2013, Brockton Police responded to 517 Summer Street for a report of a home invasion with a possible person stabbed. Upon arrival, they found two men suffering from stab wounds. One of the victims, 18-year-old Jonathan Semedo of Taunton, was transported to Brockton Hospital where he was pronounced dead from multiple stab wounds. The other victim was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital and treated and released for a wound to his neck.
The investigation found and the jury heard evidence that Quiles participated in an armed home invasion at a third floor apartment at 517 Summer Street. Once inside the apartment, the people inside were held up at gunpoint and Quiles and his co-defendants demanded the people hand over their phones, jewelry and money. The people inside complied with the robbers. As victim Jonathan Semedo entered the room, Quiles demanded Semedo hand over his property, he refused and reached for the gun that was being held to his head by co-defendant Vladimir Verdieu. A fight between Jonathan Semedo and the three co-defendants ensued. During the fight, victim, Jonathan Semedo was stabbed thirteen times. Also during the fight, a gun discharged into the apartment ceiling. After hearing the gunshot, the occupants in the apartment fled the scene and Semedo collapsed to the ground. Brockton Police arrived on scene shortly thereafter.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jeremy Beth Kusmin and Keara Kelley, and was investigated by State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and Brockton Police.
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