Johnston Man Convicted In 2018 Jamestown Home Break-In

JOHNSTON, MA — A Johnston man who jumped from a window to flee when a rifle-carrying Jamestown homeowner confronted him during a 2018 robbery attempt was convicted of breaking and entering in Newport Superior Court. The Rhode Island District Attorney’s Office said Daren Post, 54, was found guilty on Thursday following a four-day trial.

"This was a complicated case that involved a lengthy investigation by the team," said Attorney General Peter Neronha. "Breaking and entering cases are difficult to prove and often go unsolved. I commend the work of the Jamestown Police here for following through and bringing this case to justice."

Court documents said Carl Williams returned from working outside of his Jamestown home around 11:15 a.m. on Jan. 25 and said he heard noises coming from the second floor. After grabbing his rifle, Williams went upstairs and found a man walking out of his wife's dressing room wearing a mask and a blue baseball cap.

Williams told police he ordered the man not to move, but that the defendant jumped out a window in a front room and fled. His baseball cap fell off, however, and court documents said the Rhode Island Department of Health determined through DNA testing that Post had worn the hat. Jamestown Detective Derek Carlino also obtained phone records from the suspect and was able to determine through GPS data that he was in the area of the victim's house at the time of the break.

The DA's Office said further analysis of the phone's data by Providence Police Detective Theodore Michael showed the defendant's phone was within a small radius of an area close to the victim's house at about the time of the crime.

Carlino led the investigation into the case. Assistant Attorney General Roger Demers and Special Assistant Attorney General Amanda Jacober prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General.