Barrington Man Charged With Simple Assault, Disorderly Conduct

BARRINGTON, RI — A Barrington man has been found guilty of simple assault and disorderly conduct against his next-door neighbor, said a news release from Attorney General Peter F. Neronha.

Richard Gordon, 71, was found guilty of one count each of simple assault and disorderly conduct at his court hearing in Sixth Division District Court on Wednesday.

The charges stem from a fight that took place in Barrington on August 3, 2020, when prosecutors say Gordon assaulted his neighbor after the neighbor replaced a surveyor's stake in Gordon's front yard. Part of the incident was captured on a cell phone video and shared on social media.

"On that day, Gordon exited his house to confront his neighbor," said the news release. "The victim was standing in the street, which divides the two properties. During the argument, Gordon yelled racial slurs at his neighbor. He then escalated the encounter into a physical assault with his neighbor, Bahram Pahlavi."

On August 11, 2020, the state filed a sentencing enhancement to charge Gordon with a hate crime in accordance with Rhode Island's Hate Crimes Sentencing Act. In Rhode Island, a defendant must be convicted of a criminal offense before being charged with a hate crime. If the court determines the crime was racially motivated in a separate hearing, the penalty can be increased.

Gordon's sentencing enhancement hearing has been scheduled for February 9, 2021.