Assailant in Robberies of 4 Elderly Women to Serve 40 Years

Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that on Friday, Michael Brooks, 50, with a last known address of 125 Knowlesway Extension, Narragansett, pleaded nolo contendere before Superior Court Justice William Carnes to four counts of first degree robbery.

The robberies took place in August 2010, and were of four elderly woman in shopping plaza parking lots in Narragansett, East Greenwich and North Kingstown. 

Brooks agreed to a 40-year sentence, with a maximum of 35 years to serve.  Justice Carnes will make the final sentencing decision on Jan. 20, after hearing sentencing arguments and victim impact statements.  

Brooks was accused of grabbing a woman by the throat while she was in her automobile in the parking lot of the Stop & Shop in Narragansett, and ordering her to turn over her purse. 

On the same date, Brooks approached a different woman in the parking lot of Dave’s Marketplace in East Greenwich, where he stuck a sharp object into her side and demanded her purse. The victims and witnesses told police they saw a man driving an older model maroon station wagon leaving each scene of the crime at a high rate of speed. Police issued a bulletin with the description of the automobile.

Two days later, August 31, 2010, Brooks pushed a woman to the ground and stole her purse as she was walking in the parking lot in North Kingstown. She was treated for head lacerations and four broken ribs. Very shortly thereafter on the same day, in the parking lot of  , Brooks came up behind another woman, wrapped his arms around her and demanded her wallet before he pushed her to the ground. The victim, who did not sustain any injuries, saw Brooks drive off in the maroon station wagon, where he waved and held up her wallet, according to reports.

Later that day, the East Greenwich police spotted the vehicle with a man who fit the description of the robber. Police took Brooks into custody. Three victims identified Brooks from a photo array and one though an in-person identification.

Brooks has been held without bail since his arrest. Originally from New York, Brooks has a long criminal history dating back to his teen years, with multiple arrests for larceny and robbery. He was paroled in January 2010 from a New York prison after serving 13 years for a 1997 burglary.

The North Kingstown, Narragansett and East Greenwich Police departments conducted the investigation and Special Assistant Attorneys General Amy Dodge and Siobhan Bogosian handled the prosecution for the Office of Attorney General.