32-year-old Fall River man sentenced to prison for armed robbery of two teens

A 32-year-old Fall River man was convicted Tuesday in Fall River Superior Court by a jury of his peers of robbing two teenage victims at knifepoint in early July of 2022, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn announced.

Ronald DeCosta was convicted after a one-day trial of Armed Robbery and was sentenced to serve 12 to 15 years in state prison. The trial was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Dan Walsh and Troy Murphy.

On July 5, 2022, Fall River Police were dispatched to the Quequechan Rail Trail for a reported armed robbery.  Upon arrival, Officer Tristan Costa met with the victims, a 17-year-old boy and his 17-year-old girlfriend.  At the trial, they both testified that they were riding a moped/scooter down the trail when they stopped and got off to look at a broken-down moped on the side of the trail.  Two men unknown to them approached them.  One male, later identified as DeCosta, came up to the male victim and tried to shake his hand and said his name was “Ronnie.” He then pulled a knife and said, “run your pockets”.  The other man had a knife out as well.  The two victims dropped the moped/scooter and took off running down the trail. Both males then got onto the victim’s moped and left the area.

When the police arrived, the victims gave the police a description of “Ronnie” as a light tan skinned, 5’9, 30s, wearing a red shirt, long shorts, and a black crossbody bag around his chest.  Less than an hour later, the police were dispatched to a male walking a moped down Rodman Street.  The male matched the reported description given by the victims.   Officer Costa responded to that location and observed a light skin male, wearing a hat, a red shirt, long shorts, and a black crossbody bag around his chest. This was the defendant.  Officer Costa also observed that the moped DeCosta was in possession of was the same moped reported stolen by the victim. The police conducted a show up ID with victim and his girlfriend, both of whom positively identified DeCosta as the one who had a knife and stole the moped.

DeCosta has previously been convicted of various offenses and having served two previous state prison sentences.

“The defendant has a significant criminal history and robbed a 17-year-old male of his moped in broad daylight. I am pleased the jury held him accountable for this violent act. He clearly is a danger to the community and needs to be kept off the street to protect the public,” District Attorney Quinn said.