Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. -- A jury Monday found Raymond McWilliams guilty of assaulting a woman and her daughter in their home last July 4, and stealing their car after threatening them with a boxcutter.

McWilliams, 46, of 1610 Ten Rod Rd., in North Kingstown, faced one count of first-degree robbery and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon in a dwelling house with the intent to commit robbery. A motion for a new trial will be heard on June 1 in Washington County Superior Court.

McWilliams has been held without bail at the ACI since he was arrested three days after the incident. He'd previously pleaded no contest to a 1984 murder charge and was sentenced to 40 years, 25 to serve with 15 years probation. Upon McWilliams' arrest, Judge Bennett R. Gallo imposed the remainder of that suspended sentence and ordered him to the Adult Correctional Institutions for 11 1/2 years for violating his parole.

McWilliams entered Erica Boutelle's Ten Rod Road home on July 4 while she was playing with her then 10 and a half month old daughter and demanded her car keys as he threatened them with a box cutter. Boutelle directed McWilliams to the keys, pursuaded him not to tie them up and watched as he got into the car. McWilliams allowed her to remove the baby seat and a stroller from the car.

Attorney General Patrick Lynch praised Boutelle for her actions during the robbery.

"The courage and composure displayed by the victim when confronted by a dangerous criminal were key to the fact that neither she nor her baby girl were harmed," Lynch said. "It is because of her bravery, the help she provided to North Kingstown Police, and her testimony at trial that a habitual offender and murderer is now, and will be, where he belongs -- behind bars and unable to threaten or harm any more of our residents any longer."

According to police, McWilliams needed a car to drive his girlfriend and her family to Philadelphia. After the trip, he wiped the car of fingerprints and left it on West Shore Road in Warwick.

 Tags  North Kingstown RI robbery

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