Update on RI GOP crime spree

House Republicans go to court to face charges

By Will Collette

There are very few Republicans serving in the Rhode Island General Assembly, a lot fewer than the Democrats. But per capita statistics, Rhode Island’s Republican lawmakers seem to be on a major crime spree especially for drug-related crime.

In the past couple of days, two of those troubled Republicans had their day in court. Today, Rep. Bob “Marley” Watson (R-East Greenwich) faced the judge in New Haven, CT over DUI and drug possession charges stemming from his arrest last April 22 by East Haven police. And yesterday, Rep. Dan Gordon (R-Portsmouth) was in court in Fall River court answering charges that got him arrested last month.

Bob Watson's mug shot in East Haven CT

Watson failed the field sobriety test and officers found marijuana in his car. His blood test results came in one point under the limit for alcohol, but showed cocaine and THC (marijuana) in his system.

At first, Watson claimed he didn’t do anything wrong, that he used marijuana for a chronic illness (though he was not registered as a medical marijuana user), but later claimed the East Haven police were picking on him because he was a state legislator (in another state).

Watson entered a plea of  “not guilty” today and will have to come back to court on November 15. 

Dan Gordon after being released from the ACI last month

Yesterday, Rep. Dan Gordon (R-Portsmouth) admitted his guilt in a Fall River court to charges of driving illegally and refusing to stop and was fined and sentenced to probation. Gordon was arrested last month by RI State Police when he stopped in their barracks to file a complaint.

Troopers ran a routine background on Gordon and found an outstanding Massachusetts warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and required to face the pending charges in Massachusetts.

Later, Gordon’s frequent arrests in Massachusetts for violent and drug-related crimes became public. Gordon explained that his combat service and battle wounds in Iraq led to post traumatic stress which he “self-medicated,” and that led to his violent behavior including domestic assault against several women.

The Marine Corps, when asked, revealed that Gordon did not, in fact, have battle wounds and did not, in fact, ever serve in Iraq.

Gordon says it’s all a misunderstanding pumped up by his ideological foes. He says he intends to run for re-election and will also write an autobiography.