East Greenwich Rep. Robert Watson (R-Dist. 30) had his arraignment on marijuana possession charges continued to March 1 on Thursday morning in South Kingstown Fourth Division District Court.
He was not in court; his lawyer, Timothy Williamson, told Judge Mary McCaffrey his client was in treatment out of state for substance abuse.
Watson was arrested Saturday, Jan. 21, in South Kingstown after police caught him with a baggie of marijuana and a pipe in a parking lot on Tower Hill Road
Although the police report stated that Watson appeared to be drunk and the snow plow operator who called 911 said he saw Watson drive into the lot and pull into a snowbank, police did not give the former House Minority Leader a field sobriety test or ask him to submit to a chemical alcohol-detection test.
Two days later, through a spokesman, Watson announced that he was entering rehab.
Judge McCaffrey told Williamson he had one week to inform the court and the prosecutor the identity of the treatment facility Watson's in.
"That is a bit unusual," she said about Williamson's inability to give Watson's location.
Williamson said he had not spoken to Watson for more than a week, but that Watson's brother had said they were looking at facilities "out West or down South."
"We're always happy when people with apparent substance abuse issues seek help," said Terrence Simpson, South Kingstown special counsel. "Let us know where he is."
