UPDATE: Dino Guilmette Was Facing 88 Years, State Offered 5 Years Probation. It is Going to Trial.

UPDATE: Dino Guilmette Was Facing 88 Years, State Offered 5 Years Probation. It is Going to Trial.

Accused drug dealer Dino Guilmette had been facing seven felony charges — those charges combined for a total of 88 years, according to Rhode Island Assistant Attorney General Jim Baum, who cited the potential lengthy jail time Guilmette could be facing if he were convicted on all charges. 

Baum made the statement during a “Frye” hearing before Magistrate Gina Lopes on Thursday.

The seven charges have been pending since 2022.

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A Frye hearing in Rhode Island courts is when the court formally recaps the charges and potential sentences, and the prosecution offers its plea deal — some lawyers call it the last offer.

Last week, in a GoLocal report, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha criticized the delays in this case and put them squarely at the feet of the courts.

But today’s plea offer by the state shows there were questions about the strength of the case.  Questioned tied to the State Police’s lead investigator, Detective Matthew Lynch.

In the unrelated case, defense attorney Kevin Bristow has filed detailed motions that raise questions about Lynch’s credibility.

In the filing, Bristow writes, “In connection with 53 Henrietta St., Det. Lynch is either fabricating facts or is demonstrating an absolute reckless disregard for the accuracy of the sworn information that he is providing to the judges reviewing his requests for warrants. If it is the latter, then he is a wholly unreliable affiant.” READ MORE HERE

 

Guilmette - Next Step

Guilmette did not take the state's plea (and an earlier version of the story said he did). 

Then, Guilmette will face a scheduling hearing for the case in July.

 

Neronha

GoLocal reached out to Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha for comment on the disparity between the potential 88 years Guilmette faced and the five years on probation his office offered.

Neronha did not respond at the time of publication.

EDITOR'S NOTE: GoLocal incorrectly reported he accepted the state's deal. He did not. We apologize for the error.

SEE THE RELATED STORIES ABOUT THIS CASE BELOW