|
2012 -- H 8193 | |
|
======= | |
|
LC02646 | |
|
======= | |
|
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
|
| |
|
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
|
| |
|
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012 | |
|
| |
|
____________ | |
|
| |
|
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N | |
|
RESPECTFULLY URGING GOVERNOR CHAFEE TO CEASE ANY AND ALL ACTIONS | |
|
THAT ARE PREVENTING STATE DEPARTMENTS AND/OR AGENCIES FROM | |
|
SURRENDERING JASON PLEAU TO FEDERAL AUTHORITIES | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Introduced By: Representatives Costa, Baldelli-Hunt, Chippendale, Palumbo, and Edwards | |
|
Date Introduced: May 23, 2012 | |
|
Referred To: House Judiciary | |
|
1-1 |
WHEREAS, In 2010, Jason Pleau, then serving a sentence in a Rhode Island state prison |
|
1-2 |
for parole and probation violations, was charged with armed robbery and the murder of gas |
|
1-3 |
station manager, David Main, during a botched robbery outside a Citizens Bank branch in |
|
1-4 |
Woonsocket; and |
|
1-5 |
WHEREAS, Governor Chafee refused to transfer Pleau into federal custody because |
|
1-6 |
doing so would expose Pleau, a Rhode Island citizen, to possible death-penalty prosecution in |
|
1-7 |
federal court; and |
|
1-8 |
WHEREAS, Rhode Island does not have a death penalty statute, which puts the federal |
|
1-9 |
law in direct contravention with this state's longstanding rejection of capital punishment; and |
|
1-10 |
WHEREAS, Pleau agreed to plead guilty to state charges and thus continued the legal |
|
1-11 |
tug-of-war custody battle between the State of Rhode Island and Federal authorities that |
|
1-12 |
continues to this day; and |
|
1-13 |
WHEREAS, The case could very well be headed to the United States Supreme Court, |
|
1-14 |
which would be an extremely costly undertaking for our state; and |
|
1-15 |
WHEREAS, There is also an intangible human cost associated with continuing this legal |
|
1-16 |
matter. Those who knew and loved Mr. Main must endure even more headlines and heartbreak |
|
1-17 |
associated with living in a state that is, in essence, shielding a murderer; and |
|
1-18 |
WHEREAS, In addition, the federal government and its agents are being prevented from |
|
1-19 |
carrying out their responsibilities, which puts a strain on our state’s relationship with these |
|
1-20 |
authorities; now, therefore be it |
|
2-1 |
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and |
|
2-2 |
Providence Plantations hereby respectfully urges the Governor to immediately release Jason |
|
2-3 |
Pleau into federal custody; and be it further |
|
2-4 |
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to |
|
2-5 |
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to The Honorable Lincoln Chafee, Governor of |
|
2-6 |
the State of Rhode Island. |
|
| |
|
======= | |
|
LC02646 | |
|
======= |