A Bristol man who robbed and assaulted three food delivery men last summer was sentenced Wednesday to serve five and a half to 11 years in state prison.
Ronald Smith III, 24, pleaded guilty February 16 to three felony counts of aggravated assault and three felony counts of robbery in whivh serious bodily injury was inflicted.
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According to court record, Smith placed a food delivery order on July 29 by calling the Carnival Pizza Restaurant in Bristol and giving an address at the Green Lane Apartments in Bristol Township. When the food was delivered, Smith pointed a gun to the man’s face and demanded money. Smith, who had his face covered, beat the driver in the head with his fun and fist, calling the man to fall to ground. It was then that Smith kicked him in the face, rendering the man unconscious and causing multiple injuries, allowing Smith to escape with $340.
Smith struck again on August 10, when he attacked a driver making a food delivery from the Italian Family Restaurant to a separate residence on Spring Street in the borough. Smith struck that man in the head with a rock, knocking him unconscious and allowing him to take more than $100. The victim in the attack was taken to the hospital with head wounds which required 16 staples.
Smith attacked once more on August 23, when he called in an order to the Xin Rong Chinese Restaurant for delivery to the Green Lane Apartments. After entering the apartment building, the driver was attacked by Smith in a hallway with a tire iron. The man began running from Smith but Smith ran after him, beating him three more times and breaking the victim’s kneecap.
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Bucks County President Judge Jeffrey L. Finley, who called the incidents “extremely violent crimes” did not accept Smith’s excuse of a longstanding heroin addiction. “I was in a real bad spot in life,” Smith told the judge.
Finley, who responded that few heroin-related crimes involve such violence, said Smith’s crimes were not spontaneous acts but rather required a measure of planning and intent.
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In addition to his prison sentencing, Smith was given a concurrent 10 year probation sentence and ordered to pay the victims a total of $7,237.42 in restitution.
“It is a pleasure to work with Bristol Township and Bristol Borough’s finest,” Deputy District Attorney Christopher Rees said in a statement. “I’d like to especially single out the diligence and tenacity of Detective Doug Slemmer, who refused to give up on this case and ultimately arrested the man responsible.”
