Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE. R.I., -- The sentencing of the former corrections officer who was acquitted of assaulting a state trooper but convicted of reckless driving in connection with a June 2007 confrontation downtown has been postponed until April 28, the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office said.

On March 31, a Superior Court jury found James D. Proulx, 38, of Smithfield, not guilty of felony assault on trooper Brendan Doyle but did convict him of reckless driving for his actions on Pine Street near McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon the night of June 15-16, 2007. The sentencing was originally scheduled for Tuesday, April 14.

Proulx struck Doyle after the off-duty trooper had chased down Proulx's car when the Smithfield man fishtailed through a turn from Peck to Pine Street at about 2 a.m. while the area was full of closing-hour pedestrians.

Doyle hit his head on the street with such force that he suffered a serious skull fracture and his doctors feared he would die or be crippled. But in a recovery his physician called 'miraculous' Doyle has returned to duty.

Proulx's lawyers said Doyle, though he identified himself as a trooper, was out of uniform and never showed a badge. They argued Proulx didn't believe Doyle was a trooper and that Proulx acted in what he thought was self-defense.

 Tags  James Proulx state trooper

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