RI Judge Adds 2 Years To Man's Prison Sentence For Outburst

CRANSTON, RI — Rhode Island's Supreme Court convened remotely on Wednesday, an unprecedented move for the court, while the day's proceedings kicked off with the five justices hearing the appeal of a man held in contempt over his outbursts during his criminal trial in 2017.

On July 18 of that year, Joseph Lamontagne appeared in court for his sentencing on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and first-degree burglary. According to excerpts of the trial transcript included in legal filings, the judge's sentence — sending Lamontange to prison for 23 years — was interrupted by the man himself.

"That’s justice?" Lamontange remarked to the judge. "That's bull----."

The judge wasn't having it. The judge interjected with an "Excuse me," and then another. Then she found him in contempt.

"I am adding to that," the judge said, referring to the Lamontange's sentence. "I find you in contempt of court, and sentence you to an additional three years at the Adult Correctional Institutions to be served consecutive t0 the sentence just imposed."

Still, Lamontange wasn't done.

"It's all lies," he said to the judge. "How would you feel?"

Here's how the exchange played out in the transcript entered as evidence by Lamontange's attorneys.

In his appeal, Lamontange didn't dispute the exchange occurred. However, his attorneys argued the soon-to-be-imprisoned man was acting out of exasperation, not contempt for the law. Lamontange was in his mid-60s at the time of the trial and faced "the certainty of being incarcerated while his grandchildren grew up and his daughters grew old," his lawyers argued.

Lamontange later apologized to the judge, who reduced the added prison time to two years. His lawyers claim that's still too excessive and on Wednesday asked the state Supreme Court to intervene.

"Mr. Lamontagne was understandably emotional after sentencing," defense attorney Camille McKenna told the justices during the remote hearing, NBC 10 WJAR reported. "His comment here was impolite, but it wasn't criminal."

Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul A. Suttell opens the court's first remote oral arguments this morning from the courtroom, as Justices Francis X. Flaherty and William P. Robinson III participate from their chambers. pic.twitter.com/66z6uFnGeF
— Rhode Island Courts (@CourtsRI) May 13, 2020