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June 6, 2008

Motions for new smoke-shop raid trial postponed

Arguments for motions for a new trial for the three Narragansett Indians convicted of misdemeanor charges related to the state police smoke-shop raid have been postponed to June 17, according to a judiciary spokesman.

They were scheduled for Wednesday next week in Providence County Superior Court.

Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas was found guilty of assaulting a state trooper during a six-week trial. Two other tribal members were also convicted of misdemeanor crimes, while four Narragansetts were acquitted.

State police used a search warrant on the roadside shop on tribal land in Charlestown July 14, 2003, to stop the Narragansetts from selling cigarettes without charging state taxes.

Things turned confrontational and eight Narragansetts were arrested. Charges against a juvenile were dismissed in Family Court. The seven other tribal members were tried earlier this year

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 5:14 PM | Permalink

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