Prison cells

By Josh Lanier From Daily Voice

A Western Massachusetts man found guilty of nearly two dozen charges, including rape, sexual battery, kidnapping, strangulation, and stalking, will spend up to 20 years behind bars, authorities announced. 

Mathieu J. Tebo, of Southampton, was sentenced on Wednesday, Nov. 20, after a jury found him guilty of 22 violent crimes against former girlfriends, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. He was convicted following a three-week trial last week. 

Prosecutors said the attacks happened in Southampton in 2022, Northampton in 2017, and Orange in 2016-2017. Three of his former girlfriends testified that he had sexually assaulted and abused them during the trial. 

All of the victims shared many things in common. They were single mothers who found Tebo sweet and kind before he turned on them and became abusive and controlling, prosecutors said. His abuse would lead to horrific sexual acts on them, and, despite their pleas, he would not stop.  

Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Sandra Staub pushed for a much longer sentence. She urged the court to issue three consecutive terms that would run up to 35 years. She argued Tebo was “using love as a weapon” against the women.

Defense attorney Aliki Recklitis said the sentences should run concurrently, letting him leave prison in 10 to 15 years, the prosecutor said. 

Judge James M. Manitsas settled on the 16- to 20-year term.