Man Guilty of Binding Man to Cross, Beating Him

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 reports 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, will have his status addressed as a subsequent offender on Thursday.