R.I. man lands prison sentence after detouring first date into bank robbery
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PROVIDENCE,R.I. (WLNE)- Christopher Castillo, 33, of Chepachet, Rhode Island, pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to armed robbery and three counts of assault and battery on a police officer, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III announced today.
According to a police statement, Castillo had arranged a date with a woman he met on a dating app in December 2016.
After she picked him up at his parent’s home in Rhode Island, Castillo drank wine in the passenger seat and directed her to the Bristol County Savings Bank in North Attleboro.
According to court testimony, Castillo demanded $1,000, telling a cashier he was “hurting”, and “really needed the money.”
He returned to the car after a few minutes, carrying sunglasses and a hat, along with a gun and cash.
Using an expletive, Castillo ordered the woman to drive away from the scene. Police caught up with the car shortly afterward, and the panicked woman pulled into a Dunkin’ parking lot and promptly fled the car.
The woman was not charged in connection with the incident.
Police found Castillo ducking inside the car. After a struggle, during which Castillo spat at officers, he was taken into custody.
Weapons charges were dropped after the gun was found to be an antique belonging to Castillo’s step-father.
Castillo was sentenced to serve three years in state prison for the armed robbery, followed by two years in the Bristol County House of Corrections for the assault charges.
©WLNE-TV/ABC 6 2020
