Convicted child rapist will move to RI, state can’t release his address

October 17, 2018 6:20 am

By: Niza Vinas

Email: nvinas@abc6.com

CRANSTON, R.I. – A convicted child rapist has moved to Rhode Island and the Department of Corrections says his address will not be on the state’s sex offender registry.

Richard Gardner became a free man after serving 30 years in Massachusetts and Rhode Island prisons for kidnapping and raping boys in the 1980’s.

Gardner checked in with his probation officer in Cranston on Thursday after being released. Even though he is also required to check in with the police department of the town where he lives, the public will not be notified of his address because his conviction predates the law that requires residents to be notified.

Gardner was released from jail in 2016 but was sent back to prison for violating probation.

A spokesperson from the Department of Corrections says proper safety measures were specified in Gardner’s probation agreement to assure the safety of the public.