GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — Turners Falls man, 29 year old Raymond Lopez, was convicted by a jury last Friday of three counts of armed and masked robbery of a Turners Falls convenience store that occurred between December 2023 and January 2024. Franklin Superior Court Judge Tracy Duncan sentenced Lopez to five to seven years in state prison.
From the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office:
GREENFIELD – Franklin Superior Court Judge Tracy Duncan sentenced a Turners Falls man to 5 to 7 years in state prison in connection with three armed robberies he committed at a Turners Falls convenience store where he had formerly worked.
Raymond Lopez, 29, was convicted by a jury last Friday of three counts of armed and masked robbery following a five-day trial. The jury deliberated for 2.5 hours before delivering the verdicts.
Lopez was indicted for robbing the store three times in three weeks last winter: on December 28, 2023; January 12, 2024 and January 15, 2024. In the first robbery, Lopez brandished what appeared to be a shotgun at the clerk. In the second and third robberies, Lopez waved two large kitchen knives at the clerks. One of the clerks recognized Lopez’s voice from when the two worked together. In total, Lopez made off with $635 and a pack of cigarettes.
At a sentencing hearing in court Tuesday, Northwestern First Assistant District Attorney Steven E. Gagne requested a state prison sentence of 12-15 years on each offense, citing the defendant’s lengthy criminal record, including crimes of violence.
Defense attorney Nora Leovich recommended a sentence of three years on probation. Lopez will receive credit for the 13 months he was held without bail pending trial.
“We thank the jury for holding the defendant accountable for these brazen crimes,” said Gagne. “These crimes victimized three clerks who were just doing their jobs, and put the entire community on edge.”
Montague Detective Sergeant Joshua Hoffman was the lead investigator on the case.