Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that on May 27, 2015, Travis Lesperance, age 25, of Attleboro, was sentenced to 20 years, with 12 years to serve and the remainder suspended with probation for the May 2013 robbery and assault of a Providence College senior. Lesperance had pleaded guilty on April 8, 2015 before Superior Court Justice Robert D. Krause to multiple charges including first degree robbery, felony assault, conspiracy to commit robbery, and assault with the intent to commit robbery.
Had the case proceed to trial, the State was prepared to prove that on May 5, 2013, Lesperance and his co-defendants Reginald Ransom Dore (age 23), Devin Harrison (age 21) and Juan Echeverria (age 19) were drinking and partying in their hometown of Attleboro, when Lesperance suggested the group go "bum-hunting" in Providence, meaning rob and assault random individuals.
Early in the hours of May 6, 2013, the four individuals drove from Attleboro to the area near Providence College with the intent to rob people. Near the front gates of Providence College, Lesperance and Echeverria exited the vehicle, approached an individual, and demanded he "run your pockets," meaning for the individual to give them his money and valuables. The individual was able to run away without incident.
A short time later, Lesperance and Echeverria exited the vehicle again and approached Douglas Biancur on Eaton Street, who was leaving the Providence College campus after studying for finals. Lesperance and Echeverria both assaulted Biancur, knocking him to the ground and rummaging through his pockets. At this point, Dore exited the vehicle and repeatedly stomped on Biancur's head, rendering him unconscious. The defendants fled the scene with the victim's cell phone.
A neighbor heard the commotion and called e-911. Biancur was transported to Rhode Island Hospital. He suffered significant head and facial injuries.
Witnesses provided Providence Police with a description of the motor vehicle and partial license plate, which was traced back to Devin Harrison. Police were eventually able to identify the other three as suspects in the assault.
Echeverria, who was a juvenile at the time of the incident, was previously waived out of Family Court to be tried as an adult. On January 30, 2015, he pled nolo contendere to first degree robbery, assault with intent to commit robbery, and one count of conspiracy. He is currently being held without bail pending sentencing. Harrison pleaded guilty on April 8, 2015 before Justice Krause for his role in the assault and is awaiting sentencing. Dore is awaiting trial, currently scheduled for September 8, 2015. Lesperance, Dore and Harrison were arrested on February 23, 2015 by Attleboro Police and agreed to waive extradition to Rhode Island.
Providence Police Detectives Robert Dumkuski and Charles Matracia led the investigation. Special Assistant Attorneys General David Craven and Arthur DeFelice prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.