Rhode Island news
Repeat-offender driver due in court
01:00 AM EST on Saturday, November 21, 2009
WARWICK — A Scituate driver who was arrested this week on a 19th charge of driving on a suspended license, and who was ordered held without bail because he was considered to have violated the terms of bail imposed last month for his 18th alleged offense, is due in District Court on Monday.
Paul Rocha, 47, of 348 Old Plainfield Pike, was charged by Scituate police in October and was let out on bail, according to Michael J. Healey, spokesman for Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch.
Capt. James Swanberg of the state police said that Trooper Brian Macera noticed Rocha driving in West Warwick on Nov. 16.
He said Rocha failed to stop at a stop sign on Brookside Avenue, and he halted Rocha’s pickup.
Swanberg said the plates on the truck belonged to another vehicle, and the police issued summonses for that offense and others, besides the suspended license count.
He said Rocha was arraigned before Judge Jeanne LaFazia in District Court, Warwick, on Monday, and was ordered held without bail because Rocha was free on bail from his previous offense.
Healey said that Rocha will be brought before Judge Frank J. Cenerini at the hearing Monday on the latest charge.
In another case involving multiple counts of driving on a suspended license, Robert A. Notarianni, 44, of 47 Cucumber Hill Rd., Foster, has been sentenced to 90 days at the Adult Correctional Institutions after he pleaded no contest to a 17th count of driving on a suspended license, Healey said.
Judge Cenerini imposed the sentence on Thursday, Healey said.
Cenerini also issued a one-year, suspended sentence with probation for violating probation on an earlier charge of driving on a suspended license.
Healey said the probation means that if Notarianni is caught driving again without a license after he serves the 90 days, he can be returned to the ACI for up to two years.
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