Judge takes unpaid leave following assault charges
By: Melissa Randall
mrandall@abc6.com
@MRandallABC6
UPDATE: Judge Thomas Ricci stepped down Wednesday following assault and disorderly conduct charges against him. He will take a leave of absence until the matter is resolved and will not collect pay.
Ricci found himself on the wrong side of the law.
Judge Thomas Ricci serves on the state disciplinary court for attorneys and has been on the bench at Cranston Municipal Court for 8 years. His record has been impeccable until now. On Monday East Greenwich Police arrested him for assault and disorderly conduct after a report of a domestic dispute between him and his girlfriend.
“I was shocked to be very honest with you. Because all the years that he’s been on the court there’s never been a problem with him,” said John Lanni Jr., Cranston City Council President.
Ricci, who is also an attorney, was appointed to the bench in 2007 by the Cranston City Council. He currently serves as a municipal court judge. The council president is now calling for Ricci to recuse himself.
“The people who go before a municipal court judge have to have confidence in their ruling. Any type of innuendo or possible stigma could jeopardize a case and no body wants to see that happen,” said Lanni Jr.
The girlfriend told police she saw text messages from another woman on Ricci’s phone. According to the police report, she confronted Ricci who was in bed sleeping at his
Phones and lap tops were smashed. Ricci was also injured. His lip was cut and bruised during the exchange. The judge telling police his girlfriend threatened to quote “ruin his reputation.”
“You’re innocent until proven guilty and that is the main reason we haven’t asked him to resign,” Lanni told ABC6 News when asked why Ricci was still on the bench Monday afternoon.
Municipal judge’s make about 3,800 a year.
The judge is currently out on bail and has been ordered to stay away from his girlfriend. We reached out to his attorney who had no comment on the case.
© WLNE-TV 2015
