Johnston Man To Serve 8 Years In Prison For Breaking And Entering

JOHNSTON, RI — A Johnston man was sentenced to eight years in prison on Jan. 5 for breaking and entering a Jamestown home in 2018, said Attorney General Peter F. Neronha in a news release.

Daren Post, 56, was found guilty on January 30, 2019 of one count of unlawful breaking and entering a dwelling without consent of the owner, said the news release.

At the Jan. 5 hearing, Post was sentenced to 10 years at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI), with eight years to serve and two years suspended with probation, and ordered to complete mental health counseling.

“Breaking and entering cases are often difficult to prove, even under the best circumstances,” said Neronha in a statement. “The defendant here committed a serious offense, and he is being held accountable for his actions. I commend the work of the Jamestown Police for their exemplary efforts in completing a challenging investigation.”

During the 2019 trial, prosecutors proved beyond reasonable doubt that Post broke into the Jamestown home and fled after being found by the homeowner, said the news release. Post jumped out of a second-story window to escape the home, but his baseball cap fell off in the process. Police submitted hair found in the cap for DNA testing and found a direct match.

Phone records and GPS data retrieved from Post's phone also linked him to the Jamestown house at the time of the crime, said prosecutors.

“I am very grateful for the work of the Attorney General’s office in prosecuting this matter and particularly proud of the work done by the detective who worked to identify and arrest Mr. Post,” said Jamestown Chief of Police Edward Mello in a statement. “This crime brought a unsettled feeling to our residents, as it was blatant crime of entering an occupied home during the daytime. The conviction and sentence will help to restore the sense safety once again.”