Two Pleas Filed for Drug Offenses

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.

- Joseph Stand, 30, of 710 Gravelly Hill Road, South Kingstown, pleaded no contest on Jan. 28 to a Narragansett police charge of violating the substances act.

Stand was ordered to pay $208 in assessments. In return for his plea, the charge was downgraded from felony drug possession. The charges stemmed from an arrest on Feb. 19, 2012.

According to Narragansett police reports included in court files, at about 4:31 p.m. police made a traffic stop on Stand’s car after seeing him driving with no seatbelt, and at 55 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone on Point Judith Road.

Police said the car smelled of marijuana, and a search revealed a small baggie with a white powder – later weighed at 9/10^th of a gram – of what Stand claimed was cut-down cocaine. Stand also allegedly called the arresting officer “a Nazi with nothing better to do.”

According to online records, Stand has four previous arrests from 2005 to 2012, for various misdemeanors:

• In April 2012, Stand pleaded no contest to a Narragansett police charge of driving with a suspended license. He was ordered to pay court costs.
• In July 2011, Stand pleaded no contest to a New Shoreham police charge of disorderly conduct. He was ordered to pay court costs.
• In June 2007, Stand pleaded no contest to Narragansett police charges of reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident. He was ordered to serve a year of probation, to pay restitution and to complete substance abuse counseling.
• In August 2005, Narragansett police charges of domestic vandalism and domestic disorderly conduct against Stand were dismissed.

- John Lyons, 20, of 137 MacArthur Boulevard, Wakefield, pleaded no contest to a South Kingstown police charge of possession of marijuana.

Lyons was ordered to serve a year of probation, to complete 50 hours of community service and to pay $208 in assessments. In return for his plea, an additional charge of felony drug possession was dismissed.

According to South Kingstown police reports included in court files, during a traffic stop in July 2011, a search revealed marijuana and mushrooms.

Based on online records, Lyons has four previous arrests:

• In November 2012, Lyons pleaded no contest to a South Kingstown police charge of leaving the scene of an accident. In return for his plea, an additional charge of reckless driving was dismissed. He was ordered to surrender his license for 90 days, to pay restitution, and to serve a year of probation and a year-long suspended sentence.
• Also in November 2012, Lyons pleaded no contest to a South Kingstown police charge of possession of marijuana. He was ordered to complete substance abuse counseling, and to serve a year of probation and a year-long suspended sentence.
• In May 2012, Lyons pleaded no contest to a Richmond police charge of possession of marijuana. He was ordered to serve a year of probation, which was extended in November 2012 after a probation violation.
• In December 2011, Lyons pleaded no contest to a University of Rhode Island police charge of possession of marijuana. He was ordered to make a donation to the Violent Crimes Indemnity Fund, and to complete substance abuse counseling. Probation was added after Lyons’ pleas in May and November of 2012.

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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