Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation has suspended the real-estate license of a man who pleaded no contest in February, and was sentenced March 30, in an assault case involving a Rehoboth, Mass., official.

In an April 13 consent agreement, the DBR suspended the real estate salesperson license of Donald D. Bennett, 39, of Warwick. The DBR had granted Bennett a conditional renewal of his license last year, when charges against him were still pending.

Bennett and at least one other person, who is still being sought, had been charged with planning and carrying out a February 2008 attack against Christopher P. Morra, chairman of the Rehoboth, Mass. Board of Selectmen.

Bennett "stalked" and "staked out" Morra's business -- National Security & Fire Alarm Systems, on Newport Avenue in East Providence -- before jumping him, Superior Court Judge William Carnes said at Bennett's March 30 sentencing. Bennett received a seven-year sentence, with one year to be served in jail.

At the sentencing hearing, Morra said Bennett and another man hit him in the face and head repeatedly with blackjacks. Morra said he believed they were going to kill him. Assistant Attorney General Matthew S. Dawson said Bennett "delivered that beating like he was delivering a pizza."

 Tags  Mass. Rehoboth

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