As reported by Maria Armental in the February 6, 2013 edition of the Providence Journal, a Providence teacher has been arrested by the North Kingstown Police Department. The woman was in a bar when her friend was injured. When police responded to provide aid, the woman threatened and attacked police. She has been charged with two counts of simple assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstruction of a police officer.
Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws 11-5-3, simple assault is defined as every person who shall make an assault or battery or both shall be imprisoned not exceeding one year or fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.
Disorderly conduct is more broadly defined to include many behaviors and is punishable by imprisonment for a term of not more than six (6) months, or fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both. Pursuant to R.I.G.L. 11-45-1, 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.
Both simple assault and disorderly conduct can be charged as domestic violence crimes and if so charged, additional penalties of domestic violence counseling and no-contact orders may be imposed.
If you or a family member has been charged with simple assault, felony assault 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.