Victim was arrested
This is a crazy story out of Rhode Island. A judge in the Ocean State arrested an innocent victim in an unprecedented strong arm tactic! This woman was essentially victimized twice.
Handcuffed woman was an innocent victim
The victim of a serious hit and run Accident in Woonsocket, Rhode Island was physically handcuffed, detained and seized by police as a result of a RI Superior Court Judges’ order. Apparently the judge believed that force was the only way to get this victim to Court to explain herself. The Providence Court issued a “body attachment” for a victim who apparently ignored a lawfully issued subpoena from the Superior Court. Read the Providence Journal Article below.
A heavy handed tactic by justice
In a rather unusual, heavy handed tactic, a victim of a very serious crime was essentially arrested. Why was an innocent victim of a very serious crime forcibly dragged to Court by authorities? The woman was seized to verify the authenticity of a letter of forgiveness to the hit and run criminal perpetrator. After a subpoena was apparently not complied with or ignored, the judge determined that a civil arrest was the best way to determine the letters authenticity.
“Despite the sincerity of Vanmoerkerque’s testimony, the judge was not amused that Feliciano’s role in the creation of the letter had been deliberately hidden from her before she agreed to accept the plea agreement. Amy Kempe, spokewoman for the attorney general, said later that Feliciano paid Vanmoerkerque the visit on Feb. 25, two days before she agreed to plea guilty in return for “a capped sentence” of no more than five years at the Adult Correctional Institutions, half the maximum. Whether any jail time was ordered would have been at the judge’s discretion. After listening to Vanmoerkerque, a sullen-faced Feliciano rose to face the judge, with her hands buried in her pockets. “Get your hands out of your pockets, I’m sentencing you,” the judge scolded. Vogel wanted to know how the letter came to be notarized, but Feliciano initially refused to answer the question. After a brief chat with her lawyer, Tom Hanley, she told the judge she had help from a friend. In the end Vogel ordered Feliciano back to court on May 15 for resentencing. Under state law, she faces a maximum of 10 years in jail, plus suspension of her driving license for up to five years.” In unusual move, Judge Vogel revokes plea deal | The Woonsocket …
Legal Notice per Rules of Professional Responsibility:
The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all lawyers and attorneys in the general practice of law, but does not license or certify any lawyer / attorney as an expert or specialist in any field of practice. While this firm maintains joint responsibility, most cases of this type are referred to other attorneys for principle responsibility.