N.L. man sentenced for assault, confinement

A western Newfoundland man, convicted in connection with the beating of woman in August, has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Matthew Francis O'Quinn, 34, was recently convicted of forcible confinement, two counts of assault, uttering threats and breaching a court order.

O'Quinn was arrested Aug. 9 in Flat Bay Brook after a woman, 18, reported she'd been assaulted near Stephenville Crossing. The woman told police she had been beaten, held hostage, and had her life threatened.

In a Gander courtroom on Thursday, O'Quinn was given a two year sentence — close to the same amount of jail time requested by the Crown, which was between two and 2½ years. His lawyer was asking for 22 months.

O'Quinn has a lengthy record — 41 prior convictions. He's also been involved in at least two cases involving violence and women. He was convicted in 2004 of confinement after a woman was held in a tent for 30 days.