Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Talia Buford
Journal staff writer

WAKEFIELD, R.I. -- Paul Stockford, the Warwick man accused of asking two teenage girls if they wanted to take his bathing suit off this summer at Scarborough State Beach, was ordered to serve 18 months at the Adult Correctional Institutions for violating the terms of his probation.

Said Judge Bennett R. Gallo: "I've had a chance to look at the probation report and that indicates to me that Mr. Stockford has a serious problem he apparently, for whatever reason, hasn't addressed on his own, despite repeated recurences, and repeated admonitions to do so by his parole officer and others. And I'm satisfied that he's not going to address this problem unless he's forced to do so."

Stockford was accused of violating the terms of a May 2008 two-year suspended sentence for failing to register as a sex offender when he moved from Warren to Warwick. Monday, Gallo ordered Stockford to serve 18 months of that sentence and to undergo sex offender counseling while at the ACI.

Had the matter proceeded to a hearing, Assisant Attorney General Cindy Soccio said the state was prepared to prove that on Aug. 18, Stockford was at Scarborough State Beach with a dog and approached two girls at the beach. While the girls played with the dog, Soccio said, Stockford asked them if they would help him take his bathing suit off and if they would take their bathing suits off. The girls, Soccio said, ran away and told their mother what happened. The woman informed the police, and the girls identified Stockford as the man who'd propositioned them.

Soccio said that since 1987, Stockford has had numerous violations and criminal charges, lewd and lacivious behavior, indecent exposure and failing to register as a sex offender. Soccio recommended that Stockford be sentenced to the full two years for this violation.

He has a pretrial conference on the disorderly conduct charge in Washington County District Court on Wednesday.

Standing before the court in prison-issue blue cotton pants and matching shirt, Stockford said: "I admit I do need counseling. ... I thought I had a handle on it, but I guess I don't."

 Tags  Scarborough State Beach sex offender Warwick RI

Comments

kate said:

what type of follow-up is there in situations with sex offenders? when one is free to move from one city to the next, with no social service agency knowing the whereabouts of an offender, there is no true sense of security for the good citizens of a community. i think the stockade is as good an implement as any. a week of good old fashioned public humiliation may be just what the doctor ordered!

Link | September 28, 2009 6:43 PM
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Pam said:

Why wasn't he mandated into treatment before now? Numerous violations and criminal charges? He's registered? Come on guys wake up!! He needs to be in jail until he successfully completes his full treatment!! For him, that could take years!! Also where was probation to monitor him..another of the governor's cuts?

Link | September 29, 2009 10:21 AM
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