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October 23, 2006

Court hears tape of call to accused in sex-assault case

PROVIDENCE -- The first indication Gerald R. Lynch got that he was going to be charged with sexually assaulting a teenager was a telephone call he received 20 years after the incidents allegedly occurred.

Details regarding the phone call took center stage in court today as Lynch's trial spanned into its third day.

It was Jan. 7, 2004, and Lynch, who was director of the East Providence Boys & Girls Club at the time, took a call there from a man he had employed at the flower shop he had once owned in Pawtucket.

"I’ve been going to counseling for a while now, Gerry -- for a few years -- and I need to talk to you about some things that are bothering me, that you did to me when I was a teenager working for you at the flower shop ... Do you know what I’m talking about?’’ the man said.

"Yeah, I think so,’’ Lynch answered. "I … I don’t know.’’

"You might think it was just oral sex, Gerry, but you raped me. I was a little kid. I was young. I was scared. You forced me to do things I didn’t want to do,’’ the caller said.

The caller didn’t say so, but the call was being taped by detectives for the Pawtucket Police Department, where he had gone to accuse Lynch of having sex with him.

Today, the tape was played from beginning to end in Superior Court, where Lynch, now 62, is being tried before Judge Edward C. Clifton on nine counts of sexual assault -- the oral sex that caller alleged Lynch forced on him when he was a boy working at Blease Florists and Greenhouses on Newport Avenue.

-- Journal staff writer John Castellucci

Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:00 PM | Comment

Wife of Warwick council candidate dies in car crash

WARWICK -- Lynn Masterson, 35, wife of Ward 4 City Council candidate Shawn Masterson, died this afternoon in an accident in which her car struck a house on her street, according to city police and municipal officials.

Masterson, of 34 Grace Ave., lost control of her car and hit a house in the area of 21 to 31 Grace Ave. at 2:37 p.m. today, according to police.

Few details were available from police as the accident is under investigation, according to Capt. Robert Nelson. Police would not release the victim’s name, but Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian confirmed that it was Masterson.

Police would not discuss the cause of death, but Avedisian said it is believed that she passed out behind the wheel, and the car then struck the house. The cause of death is not yet known.

Shawn Masterson, a Republican, is making his first bid for elective office.

-- Journal staff writer Daniel Barbarisi

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:55 PM | Comment

Update: 19 hurt in train accident in Franklin, Mass. / Photo

Journal photo / Steve Szydlowski
The scene of the accident this morning, showing where the train struck a truck carrying construction equipment.

FRANKLIN, Mass. -- Commuter rail service has resumed along a stretch of tracks where a train carrying more than 250 commuters smashed into a rock crusher that was stuck on the tracks this morning, an incident that sent 19 people to the hospital.

The injured were taken to local hospitals, according to Joe Pesaturo, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

All of the injuries were “bumps and bruises,” said Terri McDonald, public relations director at Milford Regional Medical Center. The people will be released as quickly as their paperwork can be filled out, she said.

The six-car train crashed at 7:53 a.m., shortly after 250 people boarded at the Forge Park station in Franklin.

The train engineer had time to warn passengers that they were about to crash. The engineer noticed the rock crusher, a tank-like construction vehicle with tracks, on the tracks just as the train rounded a bend less than a mile from Franklin Station.

He threw on the emergency brake and opened a door to another car, yelling for passengers to brace for impact. The train usually travels at about 40 mph, Pesaturo said, though it's unknown exactly how fast it was travelling when hit the rock crusher.

Pesaturo said it was not known why the rock crusher was stuck on the rails of the Fisher Street crossing in the community just north of the Rhode Island-Massachusetts border.

The front train car derailed, plowing the rock crusher into a tree. Crews worked for hours trying to untangle the mess, using two front-end loaders and a crane to lift the 63-ton train car.

The rock crusher was removed at about 1:45 p.m. Train service was restored this afternoon as of 4:10.

-- Journal staff writer Paul Edward Parker with reports from the Associated Press

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:02 PM | Comment

It will be $8 cheaper to test your car's emissions

The state has signed a new contract for auto emissions testing that it says will cut the cost of the test from $47 to $39.

The contract also will raise the fees going to inspection stations for each test from $18 to $19.

The new test lowers the fee going to the contractor from $13 for each test to $4. The state's share of the fees will remain at $16.

Governor Carcieri announced the new contract early this afternoon in a press conference in front of Tire Pro on Harftord Avenue in Johnston Tire Pro is one of nearly 300 inspection stations in Rhode Island.

A company named Applus, and its predecessors, have run the state motor vehicle inspection system since 1999. Applus is based in Barcelona, Spain.

The state's new contractor will be SysTech International, based in Cranbury, New Jersey. Its contract with the state is for five years.

Governor Carcieri credited members of his Fiscal Fitness team with finding a way to save money and then doing what it took to make that happen.

Taxpayers will save $15.75 million over five years, according to Carcieri.

"It doesn't sound like a lot of money, but I'll take it," Carcieri said.

-- Journal staff writer Peter Lord

Posted by Peter Phipps at 4:13 PM | Comment

10 picket National Grid to restore service for the winter

About 10 members of the Rhode Island Campaign to Eliminate Childhood Poverty picketed outside the downtown Providence offices of National Grid this afternoon to protest the utility company’s refusal to restore natural gas and electricity service this winter to any customer who has been shut off for non-payment.

Henry Shelton, coordinator of the anti-poverty group, said he estimates that thousands of Rhode Islanders are facing a winter without heat or electricity because they cannot afford to pay overdue balances.

He said the group will continue its noontime picketing at National Grid daily until at least election day.

Posted by Tim Barmann at 3:33 PM | Comment

Sound, Photo: Eid al Fitr prayers end month of fasting

(Click the link to hear the prayers.)

About 2,000 Muslims gathered at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Warwick today to attend Eid al Fitr, the prayers and celebration that ends the month of fasting of Ramadan. The worshipers, from mosques from around the area, filled five ballrooms and spilled out into the foyer. The event was organized by the Rhode Island Council for Muslim Advancement.

-- Lynn Arditi, Journal Staff Writer
-- Journal Photo, Gretchen Ertl

Posted by Peter Phipps at 3:25 PM | Comment

Trial set for nurse accused of embezzling from patient

PROVIDENCE -- Everett ``Ed’’ Dunn, the former Pawtucket School Committee member and licensed practical nurse accused of stealing more than $200,000 from an elderly woman in his care, has decided to fight the charges.

A trial date of Dec. 4 was set today, after Dunn, 57, rejected a plea agreement that would have required him to make restitution to the woman and serve time in jail.

Dunn is expected to be tried separately from his co-defendant, Gilbert J. Blais, 58.

Jeffrey Pine, the lawyer for Dunn and Blais, said he plans to move to have their cases severed, although he will continue to represent both men.

A spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office said prosecutors plan to try Dunn first because of his greater liability in the case.

``Dunn, we allege, is the major player here,’’ said Michael J. Healey, the spokesman.

Dunn and Blais were living together as companions when $207,673 was looted from two bank accounts belonging to Jennie M. Rucci, an elderly woman whom Dunn had befriended.

Dunn is accused of carrying out the embezzlement after obtaining power of attorney in 2002 from Mrs. Rucci, who was 87 and living in the Epoch Assisted Living residence in Providence at the time.

Blais is charged with aiding and abetting in the embezzlement by using his credit card to make purchases that were allegedly paid with money from Rucci’s bank accounts. He is also charged with receiving stolen property -- the Florida condominium that Dunn is alleged to have bought with stolen funds.

Both defendants were arrested in Florida in 2005, after Mrs. Rucci’s family discovered the alleged embezzlement, revoked the power of attorney, and filed a civil suit to recover the money.

The arrests resulted from an investigation by the State Police financial crimes unit. Dunn and Blais remain free on $50,000 bail.

-- Journal staff writer John Castellucci

Posted by Jack Perry at 2:52 PM | Comment

Update: Two men who fled to Florida arraigned for murder

PROVIDENCE – Two men accused of killing a 24-year-old Pawtucket woman in July and leaving her friend for dead were arraigned in Superior Court this morning and are being held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions after their return to Rhode Island from Florida.

Barry Offley, 19, of 124 Moore St., Providence, and Alonzo P. Shelton, 28, of 70 Lincoln Ave., Central Falls, were arraigned on multiple charges -- including murder, burglary, conspiracy to commit murder and burglary, assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying a pistol without a license.

The July 27 murder of Jessica C. Imran, 24, and shooting of Julie Lange, 28, in Imran’s apartment at 86-88 Lawn Ave. in Pawtucket set off a nationwide manhunt.

Suspects Offley and Shelton were profiled on the Fox TV program America’s Most Wanted, but in the end, law-enforcement officials tracked them to Ocala, Fla., by tracing phone calls. They were arrested Sept. 7 and fought extradition to Rhode Island.

Once they fled, a grand jury was convened to consider the charges against them. When the grand jury returned an indictment on Oct. 4, the case automatically moved to Superior Court, said Michael J. Healey, spokesman for the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.

The men waived their right to an extradition hearing on Oct. 6, Healey said. They were brought back to Rhode Island sometime after that, but Healey has not said when they came back.

Today in court, Shelton was also presented as a probation violator, Healey said. He was out of jail on probation for an earlier assault charge the day of the Pawtucket shooting.

The men are due back in court on Oct. 30 for a determination-of-attorney hearing and on Nov. 6 for a bail hearing. A pre-trial conference has been set for Dec. 4 before Superior Court Judge Robert D. Krause.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson and Journal staff writer Tatiana Pina

Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:45 AM | Comment

Gas prices continue to fall

PROVIDENCE -- Gas prices are down three cents this week -- to an average $2.19 for a gallon of regular unleaded, according to a survey by the state Energy Office.

Gas prices have been tumbling for weeks.

Prices are 16 percent lower than at this time last year, after a series of hurricanes on the Gulf Coast drove prices up.

Two years ago at this time, prices were averaging $2.07 a gallon.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:57 AM | Comment

Slow going for morning commuters

PROVIDENCE – Commuters report it’s taking them 40 minutes to an hour to get to Providence from Warwick on Route 95 this morning after one accident tied up traffic and caused another crash.

Drivers who hopped off Route 95 and took Route 295 north, hoping for better results, also ran into tie-ups.

The first accident on Route 95, around 8 a.m., involved a tractor trailer and a couple of cars just south of Route 10 in Cranston, state police Cpl. John Beauregard said. The accident, which blocked the right-hand lane, is being cleared, he said. Tow trucks responding to the crash were stuck in traffic as well.

Traffic now is tied up all the way down to the airport connector road at Exit 14, Beauregard said.

The second crash occurred near Exit 16 during the stop-and-go traffic that was the result of the first accident, Beauregard said. The state police report that crash involved a car and a tractor trailer, but motorists report seeing three trucks in a chain-reaction crash.

That crash will not need a tow truck, Beauregard said. Once the police complete an accident report, the motorists will be able to drive away, he said.

One person from the first crash was transported to Rhode Island Hospital with minor injuries, Beauregard said.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 9:57 AM | Comment

Minority caucus is campaigning for the casino

PROVIDENCE – The state's minority caucus community are working to pass Question 1, the constitutional amendment to permit the construction of a casino in West Warwick.

Co-chairmen of the Rhode Island Minority Leadership/Legislative Caucus, Rep. Joseph S. Almeida and Sen. Juan M. Pichardo, both Democrats from Providence, expect to address the media at a State House press conference at 1 p.m. today.

In two weeks, Rhode Island voters will decide -- when they vote on Ballot Question 1 – whether to amend the state constitution to allow the Narragansett Indian Tribe and its “chosen partner” to build a resort casino in West Warwick.

The Narragansetts are working with Harrah’s Entertainment to build such a casino.

Narragansett Indian Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas, other members of the minority caucus and other proponents of the casino expect to attend today’s news conference.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:56 AM | Comment

Hasbro profit increases 8.2 percent

PAWTUCKET - - Hasbro Inc., the nation's second largest toymaker, said today its third-quarter profit rose 8.2 percent, thanks to strong sales of brands including Littlest Pet Shop and Playskool.

Net income rose to $99.6 million, or 58 cents per share, for the three months ended Oct. 1 from $92.1 million, or 47 cents per share, a year ago. The latest quarter includes stock option costs of 2 cents per share and a mark-to-market adjustment for Lucas warrants which cut into earnings by 9 cents per share.

Revenue was up 5 percent to $1.04 billion, including a $9.6 million favorable foreign exchange benefit, versus $988 million a year ago. Excluding Star Wars sales, revenue rose 13 percent, Hasbro said.

According to a Thomson First Call survey, analysts forecast earnings of 50 cents per share on revenue of $963.4 million.

"With the overall breadth and depth of our product portfolio we have been able to grow our business for the quarter and year-to-date, in spite of the revenue decline of $58 million for the quarter and $193 million year-to-date in Star Wars," said Alfred J. Verrecchia, president and chief executive. Star Wars toys posted quarterly revenue of $69 million.

During the quarter, Hasbro repurchased about 6.6 million shares for $131 million.

Hasbro is the second biggest U.S. toymaker after Mattel Inc.

- - The Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:43 AM | Comment

Today's high of 57 could be as good as it gets this week

PROVIDENCE – It’s a drizzly, dark morning, and although the rain won’t last all day, it should remain partly cloudy.

Expect a high of 57. That should be the highest temp we see this week.

For the rest of the week, expect highs in the low 50s and nighttime lows in the high 30s.

If you’re heading toward the water today, beware of a small craft advisory from the National Weather Service, for the area from Montauk, N.Y., to Block Island and over to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:07 AM | Comment