Assault Arrest Leads to Probation Violation

reported this week that they arrested a local man on domestic assault charges, leading the state Attorney General's office to charge him as a probation violator.

Lennard Johnson, 28, of 20 Park St., Apt. 130, was serving a four-year suspended sentence and four years' probation for two previous convictions on June 17, when officers responded to the corner of Park Street and Atwood Avenue to investigate a report of a disturbance.

Ptlm. Derrick Palazzo reported that he saw "numerous parties in the roadway arguing" when he arrived at the scene at about 4:15 am with five other officers.

The apparent female victim of the assault had "a bloody nose and a bruised face," according to Palazzo's report.

A witness, identified as Diego Molina, of Cranston, told officers that he had gone to the Park Street address after his girlfriend called him and reported that Johnson had "ransacked" the apartment.

The girlfriend, identified as Constance Bates of North Providence, and Molina were helping the victim clean up the apartment when Johnson returned.

Palazzo also wrote that the victim said Johnson accused her of cheating on him with Molina before striking her several times in the face. When Molina returned to intervene, the victim told Palazzo, Johnson chased him from the apartment.

Johnston Fire personnel brought the victim to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment, and she later went to police headquarters to complete a statement, Palazzo reported.

Molina also told officers that Johnson had kicked over his Kawasaki motorcycle, causing damage to the front fairing, and had thrown Molina's helmet at him, damaging the face shield.

Ptlm. Adam Parkinson reported that he checked out the motorcycle and found damage consistent with Molina's statements.

Officers presented Johnson for arraignment before Justice of the Peace Ben Mesiti on felony domestic assault and domestic disorderly conduct charges, as well as one misdemeanor count of vandalism.

Mesiti ordered Johnson held at the Adult Correction Institutions, Cranston, after Asst. Atty. Gen. Alison DeCosta filed a violation of probation notice.

In June, 2010, Magistrate William J. McAtee sentenced Johnson to five years in prison, with one year to serve and four years' suspended sentence and four years' probation each for a felony second-degree robbery charge and a felony conspiracy charge.