Lawmaker to introduce bill tightening restrictions for sex offenders in wake of Richard Gardner case

When Richard Gardner moved into Washington Park last month, it didn’t just affect Rep. Joe Almeida’s constituents. He himself lives three streets away.

“It’s a quality of life issue,” he says.

Almeida thinks the state dropped the ball on protecting its citizens when Gardner was released.

Now, he’s taking matters into his own hands by drafting a bill that expands on an ordinance introduced to the city council last month. It would prohibit a sex offender from living within 500 feet of certain areas, instead of 300 feet. It applies to bus stops, daycare, schools, and other public places.

But it wouldn’t be retroactive, so it would have no impact on their fight to get Gardner out. And if he doesn’t leave – his neighbors might. That’s according to Almeida and Washington Park Association chair Linda Perri. They say families with children are talking to realtors and looking to get out of the neighborhood because they don’t feel safe or comfortable.

Perri says neighbors were relieved when Gardner was locked up on a probation violation two weeks ago. It was dismissed, and he was released, but she says they’re not giving up hope that he will move out.

Providence Police are no longer monitoring Gardner’s home 24/7, but they are still keeping an eye out.

In response to criticism from Rep. Almeida, the spokeswoman for Attorney General Peter Kilmartin sent the following statement:

“Representative Almeida knows first-hand that Attorney General Kilmartin has worked tirelessly on the streets, in the courtroom, and at the State House for the past 34 years to make our communities safer.  As just one example, Attorney General Kilmartin filed legislation year after year that would bring Rhode Island into compliance with the federal Adam Walsh Act, which included, among other things, retroactive sex offender levelling and community notification.

Despite the advocacy by the Attorney General for stronger laws to protect our communities from violent sex offenders, the General Assembly failed to pass the measure.  Although Attorney General Kilmartin’s term is ending before the next General Assembly session, we hope Representative Almeida will pick up that cause and fight for stronger sex offender laws going forward and Attorney General Kilmartin would be more than willing to continue to help.”

©WLNE-TV 2018