Barrington Police Officer Faces Felony Charges

As reported by Bryan Rourke in the November 26, 2012 edition of the Providence Journal, a Barrington Police Officer has been charged with obstruction of the judicial system. In August of this year, the officer was charged with domestic disorderly conduct. That charge was dismissed and new charges of obstruction of the judicial system and cyberstalking have been filed and the case is scheduled to be heard by a grand jury. He allegedly threatened his ex-wife through text messages and phone calls.

Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws 11-32-3, obstruction of the judicial system is defined as whoever corruptly, maliciously, recklessly, by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication, endeavors to influence, intimidate, or impede any grand or petit juror or officer in or of any court of this state or officer who may be serving at any examination or other proceeding before any justice, magistrate, or other officer of the court, in the discharge of his or her duty; or injures any party on his or her person or property on account of his or her attending or having attended such court or examination before such justice, magistrate, or other officer, or on account of his or her testifying or having testified to any matter pending in it; or injures any grand or petit juror in his or her person or property on account of any verdict or indictment assented to by him or her, or on account of being or having been a juror, or injures any justice, magistrate, or other officer in his or her person or property on account of the performance of his or her official duties; or corruptly, maliciously, recklessly, or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication, influences, obstructs, or impedes, or endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede, the due administration of justice.

The penalties if convicted include a fine of more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisoned not more than five (5) years, or both.

Pursuant to R.I.G.L. 11-52-4.2, cyberstalking is defined as whoever transmits any communication by computer or other electronic device to any person or causes any person to be contacted for the sole purpose of harassing that person. For the purpose of this section, "harassing" means any knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person which seriously alarms, annoys, or bothers the person, and which serves no legitimate purpose. The course of conduct must be of a kind that would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress, or be in fear of bodily injury. "Course of conduct" means a pattern of conduct composed of a series of acts over a period of time, evidencing a continuity of purpose. Constitutionally protected activity is not included within the meaning of "course of conduct."

The penalties if convicted include a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. Cyberstalking can also be charged as a domestic violence crime, which would include the additional penalties of domestic violence counseling.

If you or a family member has been charged with cyberstalking, disorderly conduct or other domestic violence crimes, 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.