This story is from The Journal archives

The Providence Journal
2/06/2003

State lawmaker is found guilty

in assault case

Judge Elaine Bucci calls state Rep. Joseph S. Almeida's version of the events involving two tow-truck operators "incredulous".

By AMANDA MILKOVITS
Journal staff writer

PROVIDENCE -- State Rep. Joseph S. Almeida, D-Providence, was found guilty yesterday of shoving a man who was trying to repossess his girlfriend's car from her driveway in Federal Hill last October.

Michael Verrier, 21, said Almeida pushed him into a door jamb, crunching his eyeglasses into his right eye and bruising his face.

But Almeida said Verrier had purposely banged his own head three times in frustration because Almeida wouldn't let him tow the car. "After he banged his head, he said to me, 'Now you're going to [expletive] jail,' " Almeida said.

Almeida, 45, and his girlfriend, Jacqueline Clinton, both acknowledged that Almeida's story sounded unbelievable. District Court Judge Elaine Bucci decided that it was.

"To bang his head three times on his car door jamb it's so incredulous that I cannot believe that to be true," Bucci said, as she found Almeida guilty of simple assault.

Almeida burst into an angry rant in front of the judge before he was sentenced.

"The things in life aren't always what you see or believe," Almeida said, his voice rising, as his lawyer, John M. Cicilline, stood beside him. "I cannot accept this punishment, because I didn't punch this man! That is the truth!"

Almeida, who is a former Providence police officer, owns the Essence Rare Lounge in South Providence. He was first elected to the House in November 1998. It was unclear last night whether the conviction could affect his status in the House.

Almeida had once described the incident as something out of the Jerry Springer television show. Indeed, there was something odd about yesterday's trial.

It started with a mysterious early morning phone call to Michael Verrier and his brother, Matthew. The brothers work together in their Advanced Recovery repossession business, and they'd been subpoenaed as witnesses in the trial.

The caller, who said he was from the Providence police prosecution office, told them the trial was postponed and they didn't need to come to court.

But the police hadn't called. In fact, no one knew yesterday where the call came from although it could have derailed the trial. The brothers were at work when prosecution Lt. James Desmarais tracked them down later and told them to get to court.

Another twist: The Verrier brothers are twins, who arrived in court wearing their matching tow uniforms. They looked so similar that Clinton raised her hands in futility when city attorney Steven L. Catalano asked her which one had struck his head on the truck door.

Finally, there was Almeida's passionate outburst before the sentencing.

He'd listened to the Verriers testify about trying to repossess Clinton's Buick from her driveway and how he came rushing and swearing from the house and shoved Michael Verrier into the truck door jamb.

Patrolman John Lough testified that he found Almeida screaming at Matthew Verrier, as Michael was being treated by a rescue crew. Lough said he got between them and told Almeida to back off several times. Finally, Lough said he threatened to arrest Almeida, and the legislator backed down.

Clinton and Almeida both testified that he never laid a hand on the brothers. Clinton said she'd called the police because she thought it was strange that Michael Verrier was purposely smacking his head into the truck.

Almeida's voice boomed in the courtroom, as he faced Michael Verrier, who also stood before the judge.

"No one would listen to me how stupid and idiotic this issue was!" Almeida said. "How can you say that [about me], when you know for a fact that you did this?"

Bucci tried to quiet Almeida, but he continued. "This is wrong! This is wrong!"

He was sentenced to one year of probation, 25 hours of community service and ordered to have no contact with the Verrier brothers. Cicilline is appealing.