Braintree Man Sentenced for Armed Robberies of Area Donut Shops

FALL RIVER — A Braintree man who, on consecutive days in September 2017, robbed three donut shop clerks at gun point has been sentenced to serve ten to 13 years in state prison.

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III says 34-year-old 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.

“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.

On September 26, 2017, Curtis entered a Dunkin’ Donuts in Berkley, threatened two clerks with a gun and jumped over the counter.  After stealing cash from two registers, he then fled the store.  On the next day, Curtis entered 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 Curtis 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 Curtis would return to the car.  Later that day, Curtis 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 Curtis.

Curtis 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.