News Brief: Alleged Vandals Face Misdemeanor Charges

Two local men face misdemeanor charges of destruction of public property after , Mayor Joseph Polisena announced today.

Costanzo Caparrelli, of 57 Taylor Rd., and Raymond Zinno, of 42 Shore Dr., both 18, confessed to the vandalism, Police Chief Richard S. Tamburini said during a press conference held at the town soccer complex on Atwood Avenue.

"They could not explain why they did it," Tamburini explanied.

Zinno has already been charged, Tamburini added, while Caparrelli — who attends Duquesne University in Pennsylvannia — will be formally charged when he returns to the town.

Polisena said he will testify at any court hearings "to ensure that this is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Polisena also said he plans to ask the town's General Assembly delegation to propose a change to state law 11-44-12, which currently limits the charge to a misdemeanor, regardless of the cost of repairing the damage.

Rep. John Carnevale (D-Providence, Johnston) said that he plans to introduce a bill to add costs, and potentially include a felony charge, to the current law.

"We're going to expedite it, the changing of the law, but we'll slow down just a bit and work with the attorney general to make sure we do it correctly," Carnevale explained.

Editor's Note: Corrections to this article, including the spelling of a suspect's last name, were made after it was first published.