DA: Taunton man convicted of raping his coworker will serve 6-10 years

A Taunton man was sentenced for rape and intimidating a witness Friday, according to a statement from Bristol County District Attorney.  

Dino Balanca, 50, of Taunton, was convicted earlier this month following a jury trial. He was sentenced Friday afternoon to six to 10 years in prison and three years of probation.  

On Feb. 8, 2018, Balanca offered the victim, who was 27 at the time and a coworker, a ride home after he went to Bobby’s Pub, which was nearby, for a drink. 

At the pub, the victim ordered one drink and later went to the restroom, according to the statement.

When she returned, Balanca offered her a second drink she hadn’t ordered. She did not see this drink as it was poured. She drank a portion of it and went outside for a cigarette and that is the last thing the victim remembers from that night, according to officials. 

At approximately 2 a.m. on Feb. 9, the victim’s boyfriend received panicked calls from the victim. She said she was outside and didn’t know where she was. It was 17 degrees. The victim’s boyfriend drove to the Taunton area to look for the victim and found her an hour and 40 minutes later, according to officials. 

When the victim’s boyfriend found her, she had a bleeding gash above her right eye and an injury to her leg and foot, according to the statement. The victim was disoriented and not responsive to the boyfriend’s questions. She also didn’t have her purse, according to officials.

Via text the next morning, Balanca confirmed he had the victim’s purse in his car. He told the victim he had no idea what happened to her and said she left the pub on her own, according to officials.

The victim, out of concern for what happened to her, went to Morton Hospital, where she was treated for her injuries and a sexual assault kit was performed. When tested, male sperm cells that matched the defendant’s DNA were found, according to officials. 

The victim later stated during her testimony at trial that she had a boyfriend at the time of the incident and would never have consented to sex with Balanca, according to the statement.

The Balanca initially said the victim left on her own when he went to the restroom at Bobb’y Pub. He said an employee of the bar found her purse and gave it to him, according to the statement.

Surveillance video from the Sandbar Grill and Bobby’s Pub showed the defendant and victim walking towards his car at 1 a.m. on Feb. 9. 

The defendant then told police that he and the victim got into his car together, but he was not sure where he dropped her off. Then he told police he dropped her off at home, according to officials.

During the trial, Balanca said he had consensual sex with the victim after leaving Bobby’s Pub together, according to officials. He then said he previously lied to the police.  

“I am pleased that the jury held the defendant accountable for taking advantage of the victim whom he knew. The defendant purchased a drink for the victim when she was not present, and after consuming some of the drink, she became extremely impaired. The DNA evidence was critical in the case as the defendant lied to the police during the investigation. I hope the conviction will give the victim closure and allow her to move forward with her life. I commend her perseverance from the time of the assault to the end of the court process,” District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III said.

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