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February 13, 2008

Oster trial: Expert questions land documents' validity

PROVIDENCE -- In his opening statement at the outset of ex-Lincoln Town Administrator Jonathan F. Oster's bribery trial, defense lawyer C. Leonard O'Brien promised the jury that at one point the trial would turn into a real estate values seminar. This afternoon, he and the state's prosecutor delivered.

Afternoon testimony began with Richard G. Riendeau, a former Providence assistant city solicitor with a specialty in tax sales and title transfers. Prosecutor William Ferland questioned Riendeau about the state laws specific to cities' and towns' transfer of title on land when the owners have not paid taxes. Discussion included the special processes used when the taxes due on a property exceed the property value, which was the situation at the H&H Screw Co. property, the town-controlled land at the heart of allegations against Oster.

Riendeau testified that tax title documents the Oster administration had drawn up in July 2001 were not, in his opinion, valid under the state laws concerning tax title transfers. He mentioned that it did not include a listing of the taxes, penalties and interest -- dating to 1987 -- due on the nearly six acres, an amount he calculated at $718,789. The agreement the Oster administration drew up would have sold the title to the property for $105,000.

Oster, who was town administrator from 2000 to 2002, faces two bribery counts and two conspiracy counts in Providence County Superior Court. The state's case alleges that Oster conspired to shake down a contractor who was working on a playground renovation. Testimony has sought in part to link Oster with Robert R. Picerno, a Lincoln Planning Board member and former Oster political ally who pleaded no contest in 2004 to four counts of taking, or trying to solicit, bribes, and three counts of conspiracy to solicit bribes.

Read about testimony from earlier today.

Read about yesterday's testimony.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer John Hill

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 4:15 PM | Permalink

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