Jury returns verdict in Narragansett raid case

Monday, April 7, 2008  

A jury in Rhode Island acquitted seven members of the Narragansett Tribe of Rhode Island of most of the charges they faced after being arrested during the state's raid of the reservation.

Four defendants were acquitted of all the charges. But three tribal members -- Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas, council member Randy Noka and council member Hiawatha Brown -- were found guilty on four misdemeanor counts.

The tribal members were arrested by state troopers who were sent to the reservation to shut down the tribe's smokeshop. The federal courts later ruled the state was within its rights to impose state law on the reservation.

Motions for a new trial will be heard April 28.

Get the Story:
Verdict mixed in Narragansett Indian smoke-shop raid case (The Providence Journal 4/5)
pwpwd

Related Stories:
Jury still deliberates Narragansett case (4/4)
Jury continues deliberations in Narragansett case (4/3)
Jury begins deliberations in Narragansett case (4/2)
Narragansett smokeshop raid case goes to jury (4/1)
Column: Tough case for Narragansett jury (4/1)
Defense rests in Narragansett smokeshop raid case (3/28)
Narragansett officer defends actions in state raid (3/27)
Narragansett attorney, police chief testify about raid (3/26)
Narragansetts mount defense in state raid case (3/21)
Judge upholds charges in Narragansett raid case (3/20)
State rests case in Narragansett raid trial (3/19)
Video of Narragansett raid shown repeatedly at trial (3/7)
State police testify about Narragansett raid (3/6)
Testimony resumes in Narragansett raid case (3/5)
Narragansett smokeshop trial set to resume (3/4)
Narragansett smokeshop trial finally begins (2/29)
Jury selection in Narragansett smokeshop case (2/26)
Judge won't drop Narragansett smokeshop charges (2/13)
Judge to rule in Narragansett smokeshop raid case (2/12)
Judge blasts state in Narragansett raid case (2/8)
Police files at issue in Narragansett raid case (2/7)
Police turn over e-mails on Narragansett raid (1/29)
State police questioned on Narragansett raid (1/25)
Narragansett smokeshop case awaiting trial (1/18)
Narragansett smoke shop defendants set for trial (1/8)