Springfield resident guilty of binding man to cross, beating him
Springfield, Mass. — A 37-year-old western Massachusetts man has been found guilty of strapping another man who allegedly sold drugs for him to a cross and beating him.
The Springfield Republican reported Vito Resto was convicted Wednesday of kidnapping, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery by a jury in Hampden Superior Court.
Carmello Rivera testified at trial that he worked as a drug dealer for Resto, who allegedly carried out the assault under orders from a supervisor to punish him.
Rivera said Resto put him face first on the cross, bound his hands with Velcro and hit him three times with a fiberglass stick in December 2014.
Resto, who has prior convictions, was set to have his status addressed as a subsequent offender on Thursday.
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