Seekonk, Berkley armed donut shop robber sentenced to prison in Fall River court

A 34-year-old Braintree man who, on consecutive days in September 2017, robbed three donut shop clerks at gun point was sentenced to serve ten to 13 years in state prison last week, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

According to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, Paul Curtis pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to indictments charging him with two counts of armed robbery and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.

On September 26, 2017, the defendant entered into a Dunkin’ Donuts in Berkley, threatened two clerks with a gun and jumped over the counter. After stealing cash from two registers, the defendant fled the store. On the next day, the defendant entered into a Honey Dew Donut shop in Seekonk, pointed a gun at the clerk and jumped over the counter. After stealing cash from two cash registers, the defendant fled. Nearby surveillance video showed the defendant fled in a Nissan Altima.

On September 28, 2017, police located the Altima parked in a motel parking lot in North Attleboro and waited to see if the defendant would return to the car. Later in the day, the defendant was arrested as he approached the vehicle. During subsequent searches of his motel room and the vehicle, police found clothing and footwear worn during the commission of both robberies. Police also recovered a replica handgun and a palm print on the store counter in Seekonk was individualized to this defendant.

The defendant has an extensive history of convictions throughout the state for crimes such as bank robbery, larceny, armed assault, breaking and entering, and other crimes.

The case was prosecuted by Stephen Nadeau and the state prison sentence was imposed by Judge Thomas McGuire.

“This is a violent career criminal who needs to be taken off the streets for as long as possible. He has committed armed robberies in multiple communities and clearly poses an ongoing danger to the public.,” District Attorney Quinn said.