Rep. Craven Had Two Domestic Assault Charges Expunged
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
State Representative Robert Craven had two domestic assault charges expunged stemming from arrests in 2001 and 2002, according to an investigation by GoLocalProv.
In 2001, Craven, a former Rhode Island Assistant Attorney General, was charged with domestic assault, which was later dismissed. Again, in 2002 Craven was charged with domestic assault and vandalism. These charges were later dismissed, and a no contact order was issued. Craven was released on personal recognizance, according to court records.
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Craven, a Democrat who represents North Kingstown in District 32, was first elected to the Rhode Island General Assemby in 2012.
Craven's opponent Sharon Gamba (R) said if elected, she would introduce legislation to prohibit domestic assault charge expungements -- and noted that Craven co-sponsored legislation to expunge up to six misdemeanor charges during his first General Assembly session.
"You can't find out who's done what if you search online, and those things shouldn't be expunged," said Gamba, the Chief Financial Officer at Cranston Collision Center. "I always check the court records when hiring. If was a one-time thing, there's no excuse, but if a couple had been drinking for instance, things happen. I let someone tell me their story. If it shows up multiple times, I don't care, I have serious questions." Gamba has also called for domestic abuse violations to be reclassified from misdemeanors, which they are currently, to felonies.
Candidate Histories
Craven is an attorney at Robert E. Craven & Associates, and an assistant solicitor in East Providence and assistance solicitor and probate judge in Charlestown. Craven previously served as legal counsel to the Rhode Island Board of Elections.
Craven explained his co-sponsorship of the legislation to expunge up to six misdemeanors.
"The co-sponsorship of H-5328 regarding expunge was not my bill, and was not heard on the House floor. It was presented to me by Representative Joe Almeida as many of his constituents in the Washington Park neighborhood of Providence were having difficulty finding employment for having multiple misdemeanors on their record," said Craven. "It seemed like a good bill that would help the unemployed as presented by Representative Almeida."
Gamba, who had made addressing domestic violence -- and expungements -- a focus of her campaign, said that it was a personal experience that caused her to take action.
"I was driving to work on Post Road one day and I saw a man literally dragging an elderly woman on the street," said Gamba. "I pulled over and he immediately started freaking out, he threatened to kill me for interfering. I spent the rest of the day at the [police] station, shaken up, having to provide a witness report. Apparently he had multiple arrests, but you couldn't find them online. The police told me that they had been to their house numerous times."
"Look -- ban the box, I get it, I'm all for second chances," said Gamba. "But charges of domestic violence should remain on the record. With everything going on right now with the NFL, I don't care what these cases are 48A, 48B -- once it happens, it's out there, and in particular if there's a record of more than one charge, that shouldn't be expunged."
Lawsuit Broached
West Warwick resident Alan Palazzo, who was the subject of a SLAPP [strategic lawsuit against public participation] suit in 2001 by former State Senator Stephen Alves who Craven represented, recently sent a letter to the editor at the North East Independent calling attention to a 2008 lawsuit filed against Craven.
Palazzo, a retired U.S. Naval Commander, said that following a letter writing campaign to draw attention to developments at the time in West Warwick, Alves - with Craven's representation -- filed the SLAPP suit to silence Palazzo. "My brother and I spent $100,000 to "win" -- we only recovered $37,00 back -- and Craven was part of this travesty, I don't think anyone should ever have to go through this."
In the letter sent this week, Palazzo wrote, "You might want to learn more about the real Bob Craven just Google...."Finnemore vs. Craven." Palazzo was referring to the 2008 suit filed by Annette Finnemore, a client of Craven's in a divorce case, who alleged that a sexual relationship compromised the outcome of the divorce proceedings.
"The Finnemore case was tried and dismissed during the course of the trial," said Craven.
Gamba pointed to the multiple accusations -- the two domestic assault charges, and lawsuit -- as being an issue in the race.
"I'm not an attorney, I can't tell you of what happened in that case," said Gamba of the lawsuit. "What's apparent is that [Craven] was arrested twice for domestic assault and the defendant on separate occasions. Then to be the subject of a lawsuit such as this, on top of that? This is why I feel strongly domestic violence records shouldn't be expunged."
Craven defended the dismissal of the charges -- and expungements -- and said their revelation this week were "politics."
"The charges that were forwarded to you...were "Court Connect" records and not the Court's physical records or BCI (Bureau of Criminal Identification) records. It appears to be politically motivated," said Craven. "I will reiterate the alleged victim withdrew the allegations and indicated that they were not true to both the prosecutor and the Court."
Editor's Note: Alan Palazzo is a resident of West Warwick, not North Kingstown as previously identified.
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