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November 28, 2006

2nd suspect admits to role in revenge killing

SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- A local man admitted to killing a Providence woman to avenge her boyfriend’s death and then dumping her body off a Connecticut bridge with two accomplices.

Shea Cook, 22, of 364 Curtis Corner Rd., pleaded guilty in Washington County Superior Court to second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in a plea agreement reached with the Attorney General’s Office.

Cook looked on impassively as he admitted to his role in the revenge killing of Stacy Ann Brissett, a former stripper who was shot three times on Narragansett Indian land in Charlestown and then strangled before her body was dropped into the Yantic River July 26, 2005.

Wearing a gray sweatshirt with a tuft of a beard on his chin, Cook simply said ``Yes, your honor’’ in admitting his part in the crime before Judge Stephen P. Nugent.

Cook faces a sentence of up to 50 years, with a maximum of 40 to serve, for the murder count. He would serve up to 10 years concurrently for the conspiracy charge.

As a condition of the agreement reached by Cook’s lawyer, Kathleen M. Hagerty, and Assistant Atty. Gen. Craig V. Montecalvo, Cook signed a stipulation that the state of Rhode Island had jurisdiction in the case, despite its occurrence on Indian land. Cook is a Pequot.

-- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

A second person charged in the case, Tawanna N. Sampson, rejected a plea deal earlier this month, and now faces trial in January.

Sampson’s sister, Shonda M. Northup, 26, of Ledyard, Conn., reached a plea deal in May under which she agreed to testify against Sampson and Cook. She is serving a 60-year sentence and will be eligible for parole in 45 years.

The police said they believe the three plotted to kill Brissett to avenge the murder of Dwayne Sampson, who was gunned down outside the couple’s home in Providence’s North End. The police allege the three blamed Brissett for playing a role in Sampson’s killing.

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:33 PM | Comment

Update: Fung concedes defeat in Cranston mayor's race / Photo

Journal photo / Frieda Squires
Allan Fung announces he won't pursue a court review of ballots not counted by machine in the Cranston mayoral race, thanked his family and supporters and said, "I'll be back."

Republican Allan W. Fung ended his fight for the Cranston mayor's office today, conceding defeat in an afternoon press conference three weeks after Election Day.

“It's been an honor and a privilege to meet so many people in the City of Cranston, but like any good book, this chapter in my life is coming to a close,” Fung said in the City Hall lobby, with tears in his eyes. Fung's mother and two sisters joined the crowd of media in attendance.

The race was among the closest in city history.

A state Board of Elections recount conducted yesterday showed Fung trailing his Democratic opponent Michael T. Napolitano by 79 votes. More than 32,000 ballots were cast in the election.

Fung said he will drop legal action aimed at forcing the release of photocopies of ballots rejected by voting machines. He said he realized that the number of ballots in question weren't enough to make a difference.

"I don’t want to hurt the residents of the City of Cranston," he said. "I realized it's time to move on.”

East Providence City Council candidate Mayor Joseph Larisa Jr., who trails by 16 votes in his race and was a co-plaintiff in Fung's lawsuit, is expected to take over the suit.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples, with reports from Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan

Fung called Napolitano to concede at about 2:15 this afternoon, according to Michael DiChiro Jr., a lawyer for Napolitano.

"Mike is very relieved," DiChiro said of Napolitano. "He commends Allan on his decision to put the people first."

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples, with reports from Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:23 PM | Comment

Forum on human trafficking on tap tonight in Providence

PROVIDENCE -- State officials will join academics this evening at a forum on human trafficking and forced prostitution around the world and in Rhode Island.

According to the Polaris Project, an international organization dedicated to combating the problem, human trafficking is the third-largest criminal industry in the world and the fastest growing.

The presenters include Rhode Island's U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente and Rhode Island State Police Maj. Stephen Campbell, Sister Helene Hayes, an authority on human trafficking, and Donna Hughes, a University of Rhode Island woman studies professor who focuses on the trafficking of women and children.

Mayor David N. Cicilline's office is sponsoring the event along with the National Council of Jewish Women's Rhode Island chapter.

The forum, which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at the Providence Marriot, One Orms St., is free and open to the public.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:15 PM | Comment

Update: E. Providence mayor still trails challenger / Photo

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Former Red Sox pitcher Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd, left, acts as an election recount observer for his father-in-law, Isadore Ramos, candidate for East Providence's council-at-large seat. Stephanie Brelsford, a Board of Elections worker, feeds ballots from the Rumford Towers precinct into the voting machine.

PROVIDENCE — Mayor Joseph Larisa Jr. gained a handful of votes, but the incumbent still trails former Assistant Supt. Isadore Ramos after today’s recount at the state Board of Elections headquarters.

While Larisa gained six votes after more than 16,000 ballots were hand fed through voting machinesy, he was still 16 votes behind his opponent.

Still, lingering issues for the state Board of Elections as well as a lawsuit filed by Larisa and Cranston mayoral candidate Allan Fung may change the outcome.

Superior Court Judge Stephen J. Fortunato Jr. will decide tomorrow whether candidates have access to ballots that were rejected by the voting machines. The state Supreme Court ruled last week that such ballots must be photocopied and set aside for public viewing.

There are more than 96 such ballots in the East Providence race.

Larisa has also asked Fortunato and the Board of Elections to reconsider including 31 provisional ballots – which he describes as ballots made by voters not at their designated polling places – to the tally.

As it stands with those ballots, only the voters’ choice for federal races was counted and their pick for local races was not.

Fortunato will hear arguments tomorrow morning. The state Board of Elections also plans to meet at 4 p.m. tomorrow.

The local Board of Canvassers will meet after that meeting to certify the election. A swearing-in ceremony has already been planned for Friday.

-- Journal staff writer Alisha A. Pina

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:23 PM | Comment

R.I. fisherman dies after falling from boat in Fall River

FALL RIVER — The police today would not release the name of a fisherman who died last night when he fell from a fishing boat into the waters around the State Pier.

The police said they couldn't release the 50-year-old Rhode Island man's name because they had yet to notify family members of his death.

Last night shortly after 11 p.m., officer Frederick Mello responded to the State Pier, under the Braga Bridge, after the police were alerted that a man had fallen into the Taunton River. Security officers at the pier told Mello that they had seen on a surveillance system a man fall from a fishing boat and that they had been unable to find him in the darkness.

When Mello conducted his own search, he found the man, and his body was pulled from the water by a rescue crew. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives are conducting a follow-up investigation. The police said the man worked on the fishing boat. The cause of his death is unclear.

-- Journal staff writer Alex Kuffner

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:04 PM | Comment

'Celebrity terrier' helps raise money for displaced animals

A pretty popular pooch is in town today showing off a new venture between her New York City company and a Rhode Island nonprofit that provides comprehensive programs and services for the visually impaired.

Schmitty, whose owners call her a “celebrity terrier,” has appeared on The Ellen Degeneres Show and ACCESS Hollywood and even on a Japanese morning show with 20 million viewers.

Through the Dogs Who Care foundation created by her owners, the Yorkshire terrier is helping to raise money for displaced and homeless animals at a growing network of no-kill animal shelters across the country. And now, as the Schmitty product line expands, people in Rhode Island who are visually impaired are learning new skills as they package and ship out the orders for Schmitty calendars, collars and leashes.

The dog’s owner, Elly McGuire, has returned to her Rhode Island roots to partner with In-Sight, formerly the Rhode Island Association for the Blind. McGuire, who went to Pilgrim High School in Warwick and Rhode Island College and now lives in New York City, says her mom, Eileen McLellan, inspired her.

McLellan lost her sight later in life and came to In-Sight’s Warwick program, where the organization helps people who are visually impaired develop the daily skills they need to be as independent as possible, In-Sight Executive Director Christopher Butler said today.

“She inspired me,” McGuire said of her mother.

Now, all of the proceeds from the Dogs Who Care collars the foundation is selling go to animal shelters throughout the country.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:37 PM | Comment

Police arrest 2nd suspect in PlayStation shooting

PUTNAM, Conn. -- State police arrested two suspects today in the shooting of a Massachusetts man during an attempted robbery of a group of people waiting to buy new PlayStation 3 videogame consoles in Putnam earlier this month.

William J. Robertson, 20, of Woodstock, and Andrew Patnaude, 17, of Putnam were charged with attempted murder, robbery, assault and other crimes after a judge signed off on arrest warrants Monday.

Robertson and Patnaude were being held on $1 million bonds. Robertson was to be arraigned today in Danielson Superior Court, while Patnaude was to appear in the same court tomorrow. Robertson was arrested at about 3:45 a.m. and Patnaude at about 10:30 a.m.

Michael Penkala, 21, of Webster, Mass., was shot outside the Putnam Wal-Mart shortly after 3 a.m. on Nov. 17 after he confronted two gunmen who were robbing a group of 15 to 20 people waiting to buy PlayStation 3 consoles on the first day they went on sale, state police said. The incident was one of several violent acts reported across the country related to sales of the videogame systems.

-- The Associated Press

Penkala said he dialed 911 on his cell phone when he saw two men wearing bandanas over their faces and carrying guns. The thieves ordered everyone in line to throw possessions and cash on the ground or put them into two bags the gunmen held.

Penkala held onto a wallet in his pocket that held more than $2,500 in cash. He refused to give up his money and was shot.

Penkala is still recovering from his injuries.

Posted by Jack Perry at 2:30 PM | Comment

Poll: Bush's approval ratings improving in R.I.

After many months as the state most critical of President Bush’s job performance, Rhode Island no longer leads the nation in disapproval of the president, according to a SurveyUSA poll.

New Yorkers now give the president the lowest approval rating in the country, with 24 percent of voters in the Empire State rating the president favorably.

Rhode Island is tied with Massachusetts at 49th for presidential approval, with 26 percent of voters in each state approving the way the president handles his job. Last month 23 percent of Rhode Island voters approved the president's job performance, according to a SurveyUSA poll.

The polls have an error margin of about 4 percent.

The average approval rating for the president was 36 percent nationwide. The president was above 50 percent in two states, Idaho and Utah, and below 30 percent in seven states: R.I.; Mass.; N.Y.; Cal.; Conn.; Del.; and Vt.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:33 PM | Comment

Ethics commission to investigate Montalbano complaints

PROVIDENCE -- The state Ethics Commission has decided to investigate ethics complaints against state Senate President Joseph Montalbano.

The commission met inexecutive session to debate whether to investigate the complaints against Montalbano, whom Senate Democrats last week unanimously endorsed for re-election as Senate president.

In June, the citizens group Operation Clean Government filed a complaint with the commission about Montalbano’s failure to mention on his annual financial disclosure statement the income his law firm had been getting since at least 2003 from the Town of West Warwick. Last month, the commission itself lodged a complaint against Montalbano for failing to disclose additional income derived in 2002.

Both stemmed from the disclosure by The Providence Journal – on the day the Senate was poised to vote on placing the doomed West Warwick casino proposal on the ballot – that Montalbano’s North Providence law firm had been paid $86,329, including expenses by the town since 2003 for legal work that included clearing the titles on two parcels of land near the proposed Harrah’s-Narragansett Indian casino.

By late last month, the FBI was involved.

Montalbano said he welcomed the investigation because he had nothing to hide and had been assured he was “not a target.”

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:53 AM | Comment

Japanese star will pitch for Sox, Lucchino says

The Red Sox have made an offer to pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka that Boston president Larry Lucchino describes as ''fair'' and ''comprehensive.''

Lucchino, in Tokyo today after meeting with representatives of Matsuzaka’s Seibu Lions, said the Red Sox have taken the next step toward signing the Japanese star.

''We have sent a formal offer to Matsuzaka and his agent, Scott Boras,'' Lucchino said. ''I believe it is fair and comprehensive, and offers a great deal of security and a substantial level of compensation.''

Boston bid $51.1 million for the right to negotiate with Matsuzaka, who was the MVP of last spring’s World Baseball Classic. The team has until the end of Dec. 14 to sign him.

Lucchino sounded confident that a deal will be reached.

''We know it’s been his dream to play in the major leagues and we are proud that he will live out his dream in Boston with the Boston Red Sox,'' Lucchino said.

-- Associated Press

In his meetings with Seibu officials, Lucchino said he discussed the possibility of the Red Sox and the Lions forming a long-term ''working relationship.''

Such a relationship could help facilitate a deal if contract talks stall. Media reports have said the sides are far apart in early negotiations.

If the Red Sox don’t sign Matsuzaka, he returns to the Lions and could become a free agent following the 2007 season. To avoid that, the Lions could reduce the bid to help the sides reach a deal.

Lucchino brushed aside suggestions that the bid was made just to block the New York Yankees from signing Matsuzaka.

''I assure you that the notion that this is a primarily defensive maneuver is preposterous,'' Lucchino said, adding that $51.1 million is ''obviously a historical number but we are talking about a national living treasure and an exceptional baseball player.''

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:04 AM | Comment

Biden, considering presidential bid, visits Providence

Potential 2008 presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Joe Biden is expected in Providence tonight for a $500-a-head fundraiser.

Tonight’s 6 p.m. reception is at the law offices of St. Peter & Kasle, 4 Richmond Square. It’s hosted by attorney Gary St. Peter and Frank McMahon of Advocacy Solutions, a public-relations and State House lobbying firm.

Biden, D-Delaware, is the fifth recent potential presidential candidate to visit Rhode Island.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:53 AM | Comment

Traffic: DOT's Jam Factor detects congestion on 195

Traffic on Route 195 West has been a bit congested this morning, but it appears to have just turned the corner and started getting better, according to the Department of Transportation’s Jam Factor.

That’s an overall measure of traffic conditions that uses real-time speed and travel time measurements to calculate how well traffic is moving.

An early-morning accident near the Washington Bridge contributed to the congestion.

Check out the Jam Factors on other local roads here.

For other traffic needs, check the state roadways, via the Department of Transportation's online traffic offerings.

You can find any traffic alerts describing accidents here, browse traffic cams to see real-time photos of the highways and check out the DOT’s road construction schedule here.

To report a traffic incident, call the Transportation Management Center at (401) 222-5826 and choose option #2.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:29 AM | Comment

A chance of rain today

PROVIDENCE – You might want to pack an umbrella today and for the rest of the week.

There’s a chance of drizzling rain today after 9 a.m. and tomorrow morning before 9 a.m. Then, there’s rain or drizzle expected through the week, until we get a partly cloudy Saturday.

We should see a high of 48 today, and it should be warmer for most of the rest of the week – with a high around 62 on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

Boaters, beware of the small craft advisory for the region, in effect from 7 a.m. today through this evening. Northwest winds of 5 to 10 knots should increase to 15 to 20 knots, with gusts up to 25 knots. Seas should be 2 to 4 feet.

Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:03 AM | Comment