Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI -- The man accused of inappropriately touching a Providence Journal photographer during a charitable event on New Year's Day pleaded no contest to simple assault charges Tuesday in Washington County District Court.

David Holmes, 53, of 9 Kristen Drive in Warwick, was sentenced to 20 hours of community service, and ordered to write a letter of apology to photographer Gretchen Ertl. He must also pay $200 to the Victim Indemnity Fund, and any court costs. He is also not allowed to contact or be near Ertl.

Ertl filed a complaint with North Kingstown police after the incident happened while she was photographing a golfing fundraiser at Woodland Greens Golf Course. Holmes told police that he was joking around and may have accidentally touched Ertl.

He turned himself in on Jan. 6 and was charged with simple assault or battery, a misdemeanor. Holmes will appear in court again on March 17, where he will have to produce the letter of apology and have his community service record reviewed.

-- Journal staff writer Talia Buford

 Tags  South Kingstown Warwick

Comments

Greg said:

Would this have been reported upon if it wasn't a Journal photographer involved? Does the fact a Journal employee was assaulted make it any more newsworthy to your readers?

I'd be curious to know if other simple assault cases get blog coverage, or was this a nice little way of imposing an "additional sentence" upon the guilty, given the propensity of Internet content to be archived and searchable?

No, I am not at all familiar with the case nor do I know any of the parties involved. I just found it curious that this story was published when there are probably a vast number of other simple assault cases of equal concern/merit going unreported in the Providence Journal.

You should report for all such cases, or report for none - but hand-picking one that involves a Journal employee makes this critical reader question the motives for the story.

Link | January 22, 2009 12:32 PM
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andy said:

Re: Greg post

AMEN!

Link | January 22, 2009 2:08 PM
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