As reported by W. Zachary Malinowski in the February 2, 2015 edition of the Providence Journal, eight (8) University of Rhode Island students were arrested following the Super Bowl on Sunday night. The students were part of a larger group of approximately 800 students celebrating the Patriots win. The students were arrested by URI Campus Police and the South Kingstown Police Department. The students were charged with various offenses. Two were charged with larceny, others were charged with vandalism, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and simple assault. Several lamp posts on campus were damaged. Police also suffered minor injuries trying to control the crowd.
Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws 11-41-1, larceny is defined as every person who shall steal any money, goods, or chattels, or any note of the general treasurer of this state for the payment of money, any bank bill, any certificate of any bank or of any public officer or corporation securing the payment of money to any person or certifying it to be due, any certificate of stock in any corporation, any order entitling a person to money or other article, or any bill of exchange, bill of lading, railroad ticket, bond, warrant, obligation, bill, or promissory note for the payment of money, or other valuable property, or any record or paper belonging to any public officer, or any writ, warrant, or other legal process, or any book or part of one containing an account, any receipt for money or other article paid or delivered, any adjustment or document of any kind relating to the payment of money or delivery of any article, any indenture of apprenticeship, or any deed, covenant, indenture, or assurance whatsoever respecting any property, real or personal, shall be deemed guilty of larceny.
Misdemeanor larceny means the value of the goods taken were worth $1,500.00 or less. The penalties if convicted include imprisonment for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both.
Vandalism is defined by R.I.G.L. 11-44-1 to include every person who shall willfully and maliciously or mischievously injure or destroy or write upon, paint, or otherwise deface the property of another, or obstruct the use of the property of another, or obstruct another in the prosecution of his or her lawful business or pursuits.
The penalties if convicted include a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) and/or be imprisoned not exceeding one year, and shall be liable to make restitution for the injury or damage caused. Every person convicted of a first offense under this section shall be required to perform up to one hundred (100) hours of public community restitution work.
Disorderly conduct is very broadly defined by R.I.G.L. and includes many types of behavior. A person commits disorderly conduct if he or she intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly:
(1) Engages in fighting or threatening, or in violent or tumultuous behavior;
(2) In a public place or near a private residence that he or she has no right to occupy, disturbs another person by making loud and unreasonable noise which under the circumstances would disturb a person of average sensibilities;
(3) Directs at another person in a public place offensive words which are likely to provoke a violent reaction on the part of the average person so addressed;
(4) Alone or with others, obstructs a highway, street, sidewalk, railway, waterway, building entrance, elevator, aisle, stairway, or hallway to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access or any other place ordinarily used for the passage of persons, vehicles, or conveyances;
(5) Engages in conduct which obstructs or interferes physically with a lawful meeting, procession, or gathering;
(6) Enters upon the property of another and for a lascivious purpose looks into an occupied dwelling or other building on the property through a window or other opening; or
(7) Who without the knowledge or consent of the individual, looks for a lascivious purpose through a window, or any other opening into an area in which another would have a reasonable expectation of privacy, including, but not limited to, a restroom, locker room, shower, changing room, dressing room, bedroom, or any other such private area, not withstanding any property rights the individual may have in the location in which the private area is located.
The penalties if convicted include imprisoned for a term of not more than six (6) months, or fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both.
If you or a family member has been charged with larceny, assault, disorderly conduct or other misdemeanor offenses, please allow Attorney Robert H. Humphrey's reputation, experience and skill to successfully guide you through the legal process. Please contact Attorney Robert H. Humphrey, Esq., at 401-816-5862 or e-mail him at rhh@rhumphreylaw.com.