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Update: Barrington teen put on home confinement

11:59 AM Fri, Jun 20, 2008 |
Jack Perry    Email

PROVIDENCE -- A Barrington teenager accused in the boating death of a fellow teen last summer can be released from the Adult Correctional Institutions and await trial for second-degree murder at home, a special magistrate ruled today.

Ryan Greenberg, 18, was sent to the ACI in April after he violated the terms of his bail, but this morning Special Magistrate Joseph A. Keough ruled that Greenberg can go home under a strict set of conditions with the posting of $10,000 cash bail.

He'll be released tomorrow.

Greenberg is accused of killing 17-year-old Patrick Murphy in a boating incident that involved alcohol last summer. He violated the terms of his bail when the police found him and seven other underage Barrington residents at a local pond with beer and liquor on April 19.

Under the terms set by Keough, Greenberg is only allowed to leave his house for medical, legal, educational or religious purposes. He has a strict 8 p.m. curfew under any condition.

Greenberg, wearing khakis, a white shirt and blue blazer, spoke only briefly during the short court session. He told Keough he understood the terms. Keough told him he hoped Greenberg's time at the ACI was an eye-opening experience.

Although his attorney, William Devereaux, indicated that Greenberg's parents would be able to post the bail, Greenberg did not walk out of Superior Court a free man. He was taken to the ACI to be fitted for an electronic bracelet.

-- With reports from C. Eugene Emery Jr.

Greenberg's case is in a legal limbo because Greenberg is one of the "gap kids," arrested when state law said that 17-year-olds should be tried as adults.

The state has not figured out what to do with all the teens who were arrested before the state legislature put the age limit back to 18, so there’s been no progress toward trying the Barrington youth. The state Supreme Court is weighing arguments in the matter.

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Comments

Judy said:

1)Great time to let him out on bail, eh? Right when all his friends will be hanging out at their favorite drinking spots.
2)Don't you think it's time to make a decision on how to try this kid? What are you waiting for Patrick Lynch? After the election cycle?



Falina said:

Just out of curiousity, didn't all his problems BEGIN at home? Must be nice to live in Barrington and get that kind of justice!



Carolyn said:

This child obviously has no respect for anything to do with the law so let's reward him by allowing him the creature comforts of home. With the self righteous attitude he has already displayed, it should not be long before he gets caught doing something else. I hope his parents don't plan on leaving their son at home alone AGAIN this summer.....



kc said:

ummm...16 years for the lobsta guy? i'd be willing to bet that this young man, if convicted, won't get 16 years....i don't get it.



Eric said:

I have heard Patrick Lynch on the radio say they would try Greenberg as an adult. I don't why the Journal continues to say Greenberg is in limbo. Maybe they didn't hear Patrick Lynch.



Lori said:

I'd be ripping if it was my kid who was killed! Why should he be required to be free on bail? Oh yeah, he's from Barrington....the town w/o a liquor store!!! the town that is "above the law".



frank said:

A. It's not Lynch that sitting on the gap kids issue, it's the court. After hearing argument it will decide.

B. Everyone has a right to bail to start with. Nothing's been proven against this kid yet. It has nothing to do with Barrington.

C. This kid is not a habitual offender obviously, but he will face a serious sentence if found guilty for killing someone - obviously.



Rich said:

Can't wait to see how long it takes him to screw up and get caught ...... AGAIN.



nthinkn said:

I know I did some wild things, as a kid, and I was lucky. I wasn't born with a silver spoon but I remember the feeling of being immortal(at 16).

Things went really bad for him and he's a poster child because he comes from a wealthy suburb. It's easy to pick on the rich kid that everyone resents.

If he was a poor black kid, no one would care...another spent life in the ghetto. That rich spoiled kid is suffering worse than waking-up in the projects: poor, hungry and waiting for check day. He has nothing to look forward to.

He could be a good kid and grow to be a nice person. I don't care where he lives, how much money is in his bloodline or how much he was "blessed with".

I do know that I had to learn the limits of altering my sense of conscientiousness, in my own way but I lucked out. I can remember times that I woke up and wondered how I got home...I also remember the chill up my spine, as I wondered what happened, and the sense of relief I felt, when, I found out it was all OK.

I can't imagine what his friends' parents are feeling, right now. I'm lucky for that.

I can't imagine what waking up with it running through my mind, in the ACI, alone and seeing it over-and-over would feel like. The ACI part doesn't even matter. Waking up and learning it wasn't OK is the bad part. He drank on probation? Who wouldn't?

He needs to know it's ok and he can move on. I'm just another blogger but I don't see a need to waste another life.

I know if I was loaded (and I'm not) I would pay anything to get my kid home and help him. I'll probably never be rich but I can't resent this kid because his parents worked hard to have a better life. I just thank god, none of the kids in my life will have to deal with this.

Does anyone want to put this kid on a cross???

I do know that I feel bad for him and I wouldn't wish that kind of pain on anyone.



joanne said:

Yes I'm sure having to stay in his beautiful home with the in ground pool this summer is going to be real tough on him. They should have kept him in prison. I don't believe that Barrington is "above the law" but I do believe that these people have the money to "help" their kid (although we know they're not helping him at all) and what happend to Mr. Dimitri his original lawyer? Did they fire him for Mr. Devereaux? Or perhaps he quit?



kim said:

Lori, at 4:45. This has nothing to do with Barrington. I am embarrassed he lives here and angry his parents have not taught him better. This is a kid who would fly down our street and when an adult stepped out to the street to yell
"slow down" He "flipped off" the adult and kept speeding. They should have known years ago he was a problem- we all did. He is an exception and not the rule. Stop hating a whole town because of how you perceive us to be. Many of us are hard working, dilligent parents, living in a very caring place, tired of our hometown being painted by your broad brush. I am proud of my town and furious that a bunch of ignorant parents allow their children to besmirch their families and our community. We simply have our share of parents who are too permissive and idiotic in raising their children. Could and does happen anywhere.



Trish said:

First of all, Kim get off your high Barrington horse. I also live in Barrington, and NONE of these kids are saints, boys or girls. That could have happened to anyone with the way these kids drink and parents are out on the town every night. I am not embarrassed he lives here at all, I am deeply saddened that this tragedy occurred. If he is a "problem" so are the rest of the kids in this town who have one more screw up before they end up in the training school.. And believe me, there are plenty. I can name a dozen who are transferring to PCD --who are on the bubble with the law. I thank God the Greenbergs were wise enough to dump Dimtri and hire a lawyer with a brain-Bill Devereaux. At least he an attorney who has more knowledge than the rest put together. If anyone will stand up for Ryan's rights as a JUVENILE, it will be him. I am sure he is not promising this kid miracles, but wil fight for his rights every inch of the way. Ryan Greenberg could be anyone's son-



Jane said:

Trish, I find it amusing you use the words "wise enough" to describe ANYTHING about the Greenbergs.....they have a younger daughter that is apparently following in her big brother's footsteps. Where ARE these people while their kids are out drinking???



trish said:

And I didn't think they tolerated personal attacks here, jane. Obviously, you must know the Greenbergs well. I know their daughter well, and LIKE EVERY KID IN TOWN, she has made her mistakes. So have mine. and shucks, so have yours. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. To hang Ryan Greenberg for something he has done is bigger than the crime itself. He knows he made a mistake, and his family knows he made a mistake, but people in Barrington continously throwrocks at them like their kids are saints. Must make them feel better. Before people start blasting the Greenbergs about their children they best find out where their own children are and what they are doing. I hear it is the new ritual in town recently to be a young girl drunk enough to have your stomach pumped out. I hear it happens quite frequently-and even these parents talk about the Greenbergs. Way too funny!!!!



K said:

I understand that teens do things without the parents being aware of what is "really" going on, but if my child was out on bail after being charged with murder/manslaughter or anything that serious, I can assure you they would not have the opportunity to be hanging out with friends unsupervised. I would make sure my child was at home! Not exactly grounded, but he would not be wandering around town. If he wanted to hang out with friends, it would be under my roof, while I'm home and I would continually check on the group. What were his parents thinking?




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