Rite Aid robbery leads to prison sentence Friday for repeat offender

A 48-year-old Newport, RI man who robbed two Swansea pharmacy clerks was sentenced to serve six to 10 years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Anthony Orr pleaded guilty today in Fall River Superior Court to a single count indictment charging him with Unarmed Robbery.

On September 19, 2017, a black male with a blue poncho, black gloves, and a mask entered Rite-Aid in Swansea. The man approached the register with his hand under the poncho and demanded the clerks open the register. The suspect took the cash from the register and demanded to see the safe. The suspect was brought upstairs by the cashiers to the money counting room. The safe was then opened and the suspect took the cash and ordered the clerks to get on the floor. The suspect fled the store with about $2,000 in stolen cash.

A Swansea Police Officer heard of the robbery on his radio and moments later, observed a car speeding down the road. The officer pulled the car over and saw black gloves in driver’s pocket. A blue poncho was also found in the car, along with around $2,000 in cash found in defendant’s pocket.

The defendant has served significant prison time in the past in the state of Maryland.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Daniel Walsh and the state prison term was imposed by Judge Renee Dupuis.

“The defendant has a prior out of state conviction for robbery, but continues to engage in the same violent conduct. Fortunately he was held without bail as a danger to the community until the case was resolved. The sentence imposed by the court is appropriate and necessary to protect the public,” District Attorney Quinn said.