Hate Crimes Sentence Sought In Barrington Assault: RI AG's Office

BARRINGTON, RI — The state will pursue hate crimes sentencing enhancement against a Barrington man accused of committing an assault with racial overtones against his neighbor on Rumstick Drive.

The RI Attorney General's Office said on Tuesday morning it filed a "Notice of Sentencing Enhancement Pursuant to the Rhode Island Hate Crimes Sentencing Act" against Richard Gordon, 71, after interviewing the victim and the wife of the victim of the Aug. 3 attack.

Barrington police said they responded to a report of an altercation on Rumstick Drive on Aug. 3. While those involved offered conflicting stories about the assault, police said a subsequent investigation determined that Gordon was the aggressor. On Friday, he was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct.

Town officials condemned the racial overtones of the attack, and said the town sought advice from the AG's Office on whether it could be prosecuted as a hate crime. Officials said on Friday they were advised the statute was not applicable in this case.

The AG's Office said on Tuesday that because the crimes were misdemeanors they would normally be prosecuted by the Barrington Town Solicitor, with no involvement from the state. But based on evidence reviewed, and the victim interviews, the office filed the Notice of Sentencing Enhancement on Tuesday.

The case is pending in Sixth District Court.

The AG Office's said the Notice of Sentencing Enhancement are allegations only, and the defendant by law is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Information for this article was supplied by the RI Attorney General's Office . Patch follows a name removal policy for those listed in its published police reports.

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