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February 6, 2008

Oster trial: His successor saw unusual aspects in land deal

PROVIDENCE -- Sue P. Sheppard, who succeeded Jonathan F. Oster as Lincoln town administrator, testified today in Oster's bribery and conspiracy trial that while serving as town clerk she saw what she considered unusual aspects of a land-title transfer agreement now at the case's heart.

The proposed agreement with a businessman to assume tax title of the town-controlled H&H Screw Co. property for $105,000 was not equal to the taxes owed on the land, according to her testimony. Sheppard also testified that she did not bring those questions/concerns directly to Oster.

The testimony came as prosecutor Bethany Macktaz questioned Sheppard in Providence County Superior Court.

Much of the state's case has sought to show a link between Oster and a then-Oster political ally Robert R. Picerno, who in 2004 pleaded no contest to bribery and conspiracy allegations.

In testimony yesterday, Lincoln car dealer Robert J. Campellone described how Picerno, a Lincoln Planning Board member at the time, shook him down for $25,000 in early 2001. Campellone is one of the men the state says was targeted in the bribe scheme when he tried to buy the six-acre H&H Screw land on Route 116.

Oster, who was town administrator from 2000 to 2002, is facing two bribery and two conspiracy charges, one each in connection with the alleged plot to get Campellone to pay the $25,000 bribe.

Sheppard, who took office as town administrator in 2003, also testified about how meeting minutes of town council closed sessions were prepared, particularly circumstances surrounding a June 26, 2001, closed-council session in which Oster presented the council with Campellone's $105,000 offer for the H&H Screw Co. property. The council later voted 4-0, with one abstention, to approve the deal.

Ironically, Sheppard had worked for the H&H Screw Company from 1961 until 1985, with a two-year break during that time.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 1:55 PM | Permalink

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