Two men convicted of armed robbery and murder in Taunton in 2019

A Fall River Superior Court judge has imposed two life sentences on two men convicted of beating a man to death after robbing him in Taunton in 2019, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced .

Jerome Middleton and Khaylon Cruz were convicted earlier this month on charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery for the January 2019 killing of Justin Paulo.

Cruz was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder, and six to 10 years in prison for the armed robbery.

Middleton, who was already serving a nine- to 12-year prison sentence for an unrelated armed robbery, was sentenced to life with parole after 30 years. He also received a prison sentence of six to 10 years for the armed robbery.

“This was a brutal murder that occurred during a violent armed robbery in which the victim resisted his attackers,” Quinn said in a statement. “Much of the incident was captured on a Ring doorbell camera, highlighting the critical importance of technology in solving violent crimes.”