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June 17, 2008

Tribe members in smoke shop raid due in court

PROVIDENCE -- Three members of the Narragansett Indian Tribe convicted of misdemeanor offenses for scuffling with state troopers during a raid on a tribal smoke shop are due back in court.

Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas and two other tribe members are expected to ask for new trials Tuesday in Providence Superior Court. If those requests are denied, they could be sentenced later in the day.

The three were convicted in April of either disorderly conduct or simple assault. Defense lawyers have said the three are unlikely to face jail time.

Four other tribe members were acquitted of all charges.

The convictions stem from a July 2003 raid on a tribal smoke shop in Charlestown. State police raided the shop to prevent the Narragansetts from selling cigarettes without collecting state taxes.

Extra: Read the Journal's continuing coverage of the trial and see photos and video of the 2003 raid.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 8:48 AM | Permalink

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