Rhode Island Criminal Lawyer

Rhode Island prosecutors have dropped drug charges against Khalid Mason, of Providence, RI, following the example of the US Attorney’s Office, after discrepancies in the police investigation emerged.

Mason, 32, had been charged in both state and federal court with dealing crack cocaine. However, days before the federal case was to go to trial, Police Sergeant Scott A. Partridge came forward and reversed testimony he had given earlier, admitting that he had kept records of the police investigation in his attic. Previously, Partridge had testified under oath that no records were kept.

In response, US Prosecutor Robert Clark Corrente dropped the charges against Mason, saying that the defendant’s due process rights had been irrevocably damaged by the concealment of the police documents.

An internal police investigation is underway to determine why departmental standards for evidence-gathering were not followed. Partridge is also under investigation for criminal charges.

If you have been accused of a crime, you must be prepared to defend your legal rights. To do so, it is in your best interest to hire an experienced Rhode Island criminal defense lawyer to argue your case. Call James Powderly at 401-662-9006 to learn more.