BOSTON, March 22, 2013—A Suffolk Superior Court jury today convicted a Lancaster man of robbing one woman at gunpoint and taking part in the attempted robbery of another in Dorchester incidents that were just minutes apart, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

After a two-day trial, jurors convicted AL MARTIN (D.O.B. 1/21/77) of armed assault with intent to rob and armed robbery for crimes against two women in the early morning hours of July 20, 2010. Martin was not charged with unlawful possession of a firearm because at the time of the incident he possessed a valid license to carry the firearm used in the two incidents.

“If you use a gun in a violent crime such as armed robbery, we’re going to do our best to put you behind bars,” Conley said. “I’d like to thank the victims who stepped forward, commend the officers who acted quickly on their behalf, and praise the prosecution team who took this case to a successful trial.”

Assistant District Attorney Montez Haywood of the DA’s Major Felony Bureau introduced evidence and testimony proving that Martin and another man were driving in a white pick-up truck shortly before 3:30 that morning when they pulled up beside a 36-year-old Dorchester woman walking near 580 Blue Hill Ave.

Haywood proved that Martin, who was driving, got out of the truck and told the woman to “Come here.” At the same time, the second man also exited, took a gun from Martin’s waistband, and pointed it at her, demanding her money.

The woman ran into the street screaming for help and shouting that she had no money. The second man chased her briefly before giving up and returning to the truck, which sped off. She lost one of her sandals during the pursuit.

The woman flagged down a Boston Police cruiser and explained what had happened. Officers broadcast the description of the suspect vehicle and its occupants. Moments later, additional officers stopped the vehicle about a mile north. They removed both the driver and passenger from the truck and, after frisking Martin, recovered a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson AirLite PD revolver, along with several rounds of ammunition.

Officers brought the victim to the scene, where she positively identified Martin and the second man as the two who tried to rob her.

About 15 minutes later, a 39-year-old Roxbury woman informed another Boston Police officer that she had been robbed of her purse at gunpoint by two men in a white truck. The officer, having heard broadcasts related to the previous robbery attempt, brought her to the scene where Martin and the second man were being detained.

The had been walking on Devon Street when the truck passed her and pulled up onto the sidewalk, blocking her path. As with the previous incident, two men exited the vehicle. Haywood proved that Martin tried to take her purse but she refused to let got. Then, the evidence showed, Martin pulled a gun on her.

“That’s when I was like, ‘Take it,’” the woman said.

The two men got back in the truck and sped off.

That woman’s purse and cell phone were recovered from the white truck.

Martin had a valid Class A license allowing him to carry a firearm. Boston Police seized that license and notified police in Lancaster, where it was issued, that Martin had been arrested for using a firearm to commit a felony.

Michael Coffey was the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate on the case. Martin was represented by attorney Tim Brown and faces sentencing by Judge Diane Kottmyer on Tuesday in courtroom 817.

Martin’s co-defendant, CESAR DIAZ (D.O.B. 6/15/71) of Roxbury, is being tried separately. His case will next be in court on April 3.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.