Assistant AG Flanagan pleads no contest in Newport restaurant incident

NEWPORT, R.I. (WLNE) — Special Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan appeared in 2nd Division District Court in Newport Wednesday for arraignment on a trespassing charge stemming from an August 14 incident outside a Newport restaurant.

Flanagan, 34, pleaded no contest to the trespassing charge, which waives her right to a trial under Rhode Island law, according to the judge.

According to Flanagan’s attorney Kevin Hagan, an agreement between Flanagan and Clarke Cook House restaurant was reached.

The six-month filing includes a no return provision to the restaurant and court costs would be imposed, according to Hagan.

Flanagan was arrested on August 14 after being asked by Clarke Cook House staff to leave the restaurant.

Arriving officers attempted to convince Flanagan to leave the premises, and Flanagan was ultimately handcuffed and placed into a Newport police cruiser as seen in police bodycam video.

She was later charged with trespassing.

Flanagan was placed on a six-month unpaid leave from her position with the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office as of Monday, according to a spokesperson for Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha.