New Bedford Armed Robber Sentenced to Prison

A 26-year-old New Bedford man with a substantial criminal record who committed an armed robbery at a local convenience store to apparently fuel his drug habit was sentenced last week to serve up to six-and-a-half years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

David Norman pleaded guilty last Friday in Fall River Superior Court to a single count indictment, charging him with armed robbery. He was sentenced to serve four to six-and-a-half years in state prison by Judge Raffi Yessayan.

On January 15, 2018, the defendant entered the Rite Aid on Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford. He asked the cashier to get cash for a money order. When the cashier opened the register he pulled a knife and demanded cash. The cashier refused, at which point the defendant grabbed the cash out of the register and fled.

The cashier, who happened to be the defendant’s cousin, recognized him and was able to identify him to police.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Melissa Hendrie and Daniel Walsh. The defendant has previously served jail time in connection with an illegal firearm case and has several convictions for various other crimes during the past decade.

“It is rather discouraging that his defendant, who has a criminal record robbed his own cousin because of an apparent drug problem,” District Attorney Quinn lamented.