URI police charge 7 with felonies in Fine Arts break-in
1:02 PM Tue, Nov 10, 2009 | Permalink
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SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. -- University of Rhode Island police have charged five URI students and two others in a break-in that caused a natural gas leak at the Fine Arts Center on Oct. 22. URI Police Maj. Stephen Baker said Patrolman Paul Gentile and Lt. Richard Moniz interviewed the suspects after using video and electronic records to identify them. The Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory at URI assisted in gathering physical evidence at the building. "Thanks to the video evidence, we were able to identify some of the individuals quickly," Baker said. During the break-in, skylights and a gas line were damaged, and computers were stolen from the Fine Arts building, a university spokesman said Tuesday. The first six suspects listed below face felony charges of breaking and entering and conspiracy to commit breaking and entering, URI police said. The seventh faces only the felony conspiracy charge. They are: • Holly L. Gagnon, 20, Riverside, a junior majoring in pharmacy, • Matthew A. Marn, 20, Smithfield, a sophomore majoring in English. • Russell D. Poisson, 20, Warwick, a junior majoring in pharmacy. • Domenic G. Bucci, 20, West Warwick, a junior majoring in English. • Joseph A. Walters, 21, not a student, of Fortin Road, Kingston. • Christopher J. Yanish, 20, of Cranston, a student at Boston University. • Nathaniel M. Wilson, 22, of Warwick, a senior majoring in music, was arrested on a conspiracy charge but is not charged with breaking and entering. They have each been released on personal recognizance and are scheduled to appear in District Court Nov. 18. A felony screening date has been set for Dec. 2. Each felony charge carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. Baker said police would seek restitution for the large fire and police response, damage to the building, as well as the response by National Grid and URI Facilities Services. Thomas Dougan, vice president for Student Affairs, said the URI students would be referred to the URI student judicial process, which can impose sanctions ranging from a reprimand to suspension. Federal law prevents release of the findings of the URI judicial process, according to the press release. 
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Nobody ever said that the smart ones go to college. Kick 'em out and charge them with larceny.
They just ruined their lives. I hope that Mommy and Daddy are proud.
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I hope they go to jail. I'm tired of people getting off lightly for their crimes. Students or not.. college is where life lessons are learned... this should be no exception. Learn it the hard way.
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These students are on camera walking in and out of an UNLOCKED door. When did they break in through the ceiling? How did they smuggle this equipment out?
Besides seeing these students enter and exit the opposite end of a rather large building, the police have no evidence. None. Now these kids' lives are ruined due to an over-reaction by a wannabe police department that was being pressured to punish somebody for the vandalism.
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I would just like to say that these people are being CHARGED BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN proven guilty.
So before anyone thinks they'd like to post some, rude and sarcastic responses, think about how heartless and potentially stupid you will feel if they are found not guilty.
Have compassion people; try on a little empathy and imagine how these people are feeling having their names dragged through the mud if they weren't actually responsible for these crimes.
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I know one of those names listed on that chart. A fine Student who excelled with High honors. A Football Player, Track Athlete, and Wrestler, He is one of the nicest person I have ever meant. He was always kind, generous, and curtious. There is no way he would do a crime. I myself have been to colleges and there are many places whose doors remain open and they are those with the power to get in after hours. I find this to be little more then Lazy RI cops rushing to judgement. They haven't even waited for the evidence from the crime lab! I never knew being caught on security camera was a crime when you were following the law.
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I don't really know what to think about this, I'm a fellow music student at the university. I know six of the seven people. If someone were to tell me this happened, I would respond with a hearty....HA, yeah right. I cannot believe that these people are the ones responsible for this. I do know that over night security at these buildings is not up to par and that should be changed, a lot of expensive items are in these buildings and they should be protected.
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Learn your facts before acussing these kids and telling them "they ruined their lives" They don't have any evidence that they stole electronics AT ALL.
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I know one of these young men and he would never do what they suggested just because they scanned in using there Id cards doing what they are suppose to do the day before and have them on tape going and leaving does not prove guilt! You have to have more than that and the fact someone broke the sky light to get in scratch head lets think about this. They the police have nothing and again wasting tax payers money on a frivolous case.Turning these young peoples lives upside down and forever crushing there dreams.
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If the doors were unlocked, then the students did not commit a crime by entering because there are not posted hours.
However, if anything was vandalized or stolen they are all accessories regardless.
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Just because someone got arrested you think they're guilty? If this article said the Ghandi, Santa Claus, and the tooth fairy committed the crime would you believe it?
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@Steve, You said they shouldn't get of lightly because they're college students and yet it's most likely that you feel they are guilty because they are college students. People tend to feel that college students always do bad things. That is not the case. We have something in this country called innocent until proven guilty. If what others have said is true, about them going in and out of unlocked doors, then they did nothing wrong. If going into unlocked buildings is breaking and entering on campus then I can bet 80% or so of the students on campus could be charged. I myself have gone into an unlocked building at night. Should I be charged with breaking and entering? What if I had a legitimate reason to be in there? Also if they were seen leaving and they didn't have any electronics with them how did they steal them? I honestly don't know exactly where I stand on this issue because I do not know the evidence but I do know one of the young men charged and I do not believe he would ever be that stupid or do anything like this. All I ask is that you stop jumping to conclusions based on one article and the fact that they are young men in college.
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christina cole-
as a current uri student i appreciate you defending college students against silly prejudices. with that being said, these students DID commit a crime by entering these buildings because the fact stands that they did not have a legitimate reason for being there and that is loitering. also, i have personally confirmed with one of the accused that the reason they got the bright idea to go into the FAC is because they were drunk. therefore, they should at least be charged with public drunkenness as well as underage drinking (especially on a dry campus).
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let me just say this much...the U.S does not consider you innocent until proven guilty. its suppose to but ask anyone who has ever been convicted or even charged with a crime. These kids are now on bail so now lets say they look at someone the wrong way and that person calls the cops THEY INSTANTLY SIT IN JAIL FOR UP TO 90 DAYS. All these violations and arrests all before they have any proof or even convict you of it. So lets say these kids are innocent and they do get arrested again they will go thru more hassle and garbage because they have this pending when really you should get charged and have your time to fight it in court and then if guilty face some punishment whatever it is. And the other problem with the law is they are charged with felonies so the Attorney General will offer them jail or probation no matter what they have for evidence and lawyers can argue it whatever but if you dont take the deal then you better have between $5000 to $10000 for a lawyer to fight felonies in Superiour Court. really lame how it works
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