State Sen. Nicholas Kettle Charged With Extortion

COVENTRY, RI -- State Sen. Nicholas Kettle, R-Coventry, was released on $50,000 personal recognizance bail Monday after he was arraigned in Superior Court on two extortion charges. Kettle pleaded innocent.

According to the state Attorney General's office, the interim grand jury indicted Kettle on Friday on two counts of extortion. However, the indictment was sealed until the court appearance Feb. 19.

Kettle, 27, is being accused of extortion/blackmail, according to the court records.

"It is alleged," the Attorney General's office said, "that on two occasions on or about dates between Jan. 1 and July 31, 2011 in Providence County, Nicholas Kettle did by verbal communication, maliciously threaten injury to the person or reputation of a male with the intent to compel that male to do an act against his will, to wit, engage in sexual penetration."

Kettle was ordered not to have any contact with the victim, the office also said. He will be back in court May 9 for a pretrial hearing before Judge Joseph Montalbano. Montalbano is a former state Senate president.

The state Senate leadership on Monday threatened to have Kettle expelled, if he refuses to resign his Senate seat. This was the second call for his resignation from state Sen. Dominick Ruggerio, D-Providence and North Providence. He called for Kettle's resignation on Friday after state police arrested Kettle at his business. On Monday, Ruggerio again demanded Kettle's resignation immediately after he was arraigned in Providence Superior Court. He also noted Kettle could be expelled if two-thirds of the senators agreed.

"We in the Senate are deeply shaken," Ruggerio said.

The minority leader, state Sen. Dennis L. Algiere, R-Charlestown, South Kingstown, and Westerly, also called on Kettle to resign.

Ruggerio also said he has ordered a review of the page program. Kettle is being accused by a former page, who was not identified. However, Kettle's lawyer said the accuser is also a political foe who ran against Kettle in 2014 and lost.

He is also facing a felony video voyeurism charge in District Court for allegedly sending photographs of a former girl friend to one of his friends in New Hampshire.

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