Fall River Man Who Attempted Convenience Store Robbery Via the use of a Dirty Syringe Sentenced to Prison
Bristol County District Attorney’s Office
Thomas M. Quinn III
District Attorney
Press Release
March 23, 2016
Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced today that a 28-year-old Fall River man who attempted to rob a convenience store clerk by utilizing a dirty syringe was sentenced yesterday to serve five to seven years in state prison.
Jeffrey Munroe, previously of 3548 North Main Street, pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to a one count indictment charging him with armed assault with intent to rob.
On November 21, 2015, an individual wearing a clown mask entered Sunny’s Convenience Store, held a hypodermic needle at the store clerk and demanded money. The store clerk refused to comply and chased the masked man, later identified as Mr. Munroe, out of the store with a baseball bat. The masked man was unable to get behind the counter and unable to open the register. The defendant was detained by Fall River Police in a nearby alleyway. A clown mask and needle were found discarded near where the defendant was found. The defendant later confessed to the crime.
During a plea hearing yesterday before Judge Gregg Pasquale, Assistant District Attorney Patrick Driscoll argued that based on the facts of the case and the fact that the defendant had previously served a five year jail sentence in Florida for an armed robbery, the defendant should serve seven to 10 years in state prison. Mr. Munroe’s defense argued for, and received, a five to seven year sentence.
“Robbing or attempting to rob convenience store clerks with a syringe cannot be tolerated. Anyone would be terrified if someone tried to rob them with a syringe,” District Attorney Quinn said. “The defendant has a prior history and was on probation at the time of the offense. The five to seven year sentence imposed was less than we requested, but will hopefully protect the community from this repeat offender.”
Contact:
Gregg Miliote
Director of Communications
508-997-0711
774-292-9576—cell