Exeter Woman Pleads to Pill Possession; 12th Plea

Unless otherwise noted, files at Washington County Superior Court contain the information about the following court cases. You can review them at the McGrath Judicial Complex.

Erica Young, 29, of Exeter, pleaded no contest on Dec. 3 to a South Kingstown police charge of felony drug possession.

Superior Court Associate Justice Melanie Thunberg ordered Young to serve 18 months probation and an 18-month suspended sentence, to complete substance abuse counseling and to pay $788 in assessments.

According to South Kingstown police, on Jan. 19 they received a complaint of shoplifting at Shaw’s in Wakefield. Store security told police that Young was still in the store, and that they had seen her on tape hiding goods on her person.

Police said that they waited for Young to leave the store, and then confronted her and made an arrest. An inventory of Young’s possessions revealed about $83.12 in goods from the store, as well as several pills that were later identified as a form of Oxycodone.

A shoplifting charge was dismissed in return for Young’s plea and restitution.

According to online records, Young has 12 previous arrests and pleas:

• In June 2007, Young pleaded no contest to a South Kingstown police charge of driving with a suspended license. She was ordered to pay a fine.
• Also in June 2007, Young pleaded no contest to Rhode Island State Police charges emanating from the Hope Valley barracks of larceny and possession of marijuana. She was ordered to serve a year of probation, to pay restitution, and to complete mental health and substance abuse counseling.
• In April 2007, Young pleaded no contest to a Narragansett police charge of obstruction. She was ordered to serve a year of probation and a year-long suspended sentence. An additional charge of driving with a suspended license was dismissed.
• In July 2006, Young pleaded no contest to Rhode Island State Police charges emanating from the Hope Valley barracks of domestic assault and assaulting a police officer, which is a felony. After a second violation of her probation in June 2007, she was ordered to serve six months at the ACI. She was also ordered to pay restitution and assessments, and to complete three years probation and a three-year suspended sentence.
• In May 2005, Young pleaded no contest to a Cranston police charge of shoplifting. She was ordered to serve probation and a suspended sentence, and to complete substance abuse counseling.
• In March 2005, Young pleaded no contest to a West Warwick police charge of driving with a suspended license. She was ordered to pay court costs and a fine.
• In January 2005, Young pleaded no contest to a South Kingstown police charge of assault. She was ordered to serve a year of probation and a year-long suspended sentence, and to complete substance abuse counseling. After violating her probation in May 2005, Young was ordered to serve 90 days at the ACI, followed by another 60 days in October 2005 after a second probation violation.
• In October 2004, Young pleaded no contest to a Rhode Island State Police charge emanating from the Hope Valley barracks of fraudulent usage of credit cards. After violating probation, she was ordered to serve three years probation and a suspended sentence, and to pay restitution and unspecified assessments.
• Also in October 2004, Young pleaded no contest to a Coventry police charge of obtaining a controlled substance via fraud. She was ordered to pay restitution and unspecified assessments.
• In June 2004, a Coventry police charge of obtaining a controlled substance via fraud was referred to diversion.
• In April 2004, Young pleaded no contest to a Rhode Island State Police charge emanating from the Wickford barracks of vandalism. She was ordered to serve a year of probation and a year-long suspended sentence, to complete substance abuse counseling and to pay restitution. After a probation violation in January 2005, she was ordered to serve a month at the ACI.
• In September 2003, Young pleaded no contest to a West Greenwich police charge of driving with a suspended license. She was ordered to pay a fine.

If we’re missing a case you’re interested in knowing about, feel free to leave a comment or to send Local Editor Stephen Greenwell a message at Stephen.greenwell@patch.com. We typically write up the summaries once a case has been resolved – a dismissal, a plea, or a guilty or not guilty finding.

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