Larceny, B+E Investigation Leads to Felony Pot Arrest

Unless otherwise noted, information about the following incidents was supplied by the South Kingstown Police Department. An arrest does not indicate a conviction.

Bernard Charest, 47, of 167 Usquepaugh Road, South Kingstown, was arrested at about 12:57 p.m. on March 19 and charged with felony counts of breaking and entering, and larceny.

According to police, they received a report of a break-in at a home on South County Trail. Police said the home was broken in to at some point between March 3 and March 10. It is not lived in, but contained several family heirlooms.

Police said the family provided them with a list of missing items, which included:

• A 3’ by 3’ antique copper cooking cauldron
• An antique map of South Kingstown from 1850 to 1870
• A tri-centennial map of Rhode Island
• An oval shaped antique wooden table with a white marble top
• Three small antique tin-type photographgs
• Two antique wooden mantle clocks
• Two antique earthenware jugs
• Antique fireplace tools
• An antique teddy bear
• A 1949 red Ford car toy
• An antique wooden kitchen chair
• A metal trash can
• An antique bed comforter

According to family members, many items in the house had been appraised in the past year, and the total value was greater than $1,500, hence the felony modifier.

Police said that following an investigation by detectives, Charest was questioned, at which point he admitted to taking items from the home. He was arrested on March 19 after voluntarily surrendering at headquarters.

According to police, Charest told them that the items were at a storage unit in Richmond. The condition of the items and whether they were recovered was not included in reports.

According to online records, Charest has six previous arrests:

• In September 2003, Charest pleaded no contest to a North Kingstown police charge of driving while intoxicated. He was ordered to serve 18 months at the ACI, followed by six months probation and a six-month suspended sentence. He was also ordered to pay a fine, and to complete alcohol counseling.
• In February 2001, Charest pleaded no contest to a North Kingstown police charge of receiving stolen goods. He was ordered to serve a year of probation and a year-long suspended sentence.
• In January 2001, Charest pleaded no contest to North Kingstown police charges of drunken driving and driving with a suspended license. He was ordered to pay fines, to serve 20 days home confinement followed by 11 months probation and an 11-month suspended sentence, and to complete 10 hours community service and DWI treatment.
• In October 2000, Charest pleaded no contest to a state police charge emanating from the Hope Valley barracks of driving while intoxicated. He was ordered to pay a fine, to complete 20 hours of community, alcohol counseling and DWI school, and to surrender his license for three months.
• In June 2000, Charest pleaded no contest to a Richmond police charge of malicious destruction of property. He was ordered to serve a year of probation and to pay restitution.
• In April 1985, Charest pleaded no contest to a state police felony charge emanating from the Hope Valley barracks of breaking and entering. He was ordered to serve two years probation, to make a donation to Violent Crimes Indemnity Fund and to pay restitution within 30 days.

Felony screening is scheduled for May 3.

- However, police said that while investigating the breaking and entering case, they made another arrest.

Joseph W. Laboeuf, 25, of 3895 Kingstown Road, South Kingstown, was arrested at about 10:43 a.m. on March 19 and charged with felony drug cultivation.

Police said that they canvassed the neighborhood on March 14 following the breaking and entering report. Police said that while speaking to homeowners in the surrounding area, it was clear there was a grow operation at Laboeuf’s home, based on ambient light, plant material and fans visible from an open door.

According to police, they spoke with the only person home, a family member of Laboeuf, who told them, “I don’t know anything about a marijuana grow.”

Police said they were able to call Laboeuf on the phone at about 2 p.m., and he told them he had a valid marijuana caregiver’s card that allowed him to grow up to 24 plants. He allegedly told police he would be home within an hour with a copy of the card.

According to police, officers waited at the home until 6 p.m., with no response from Laboeuf. Police said that at that point, a detective arrived with a search warrant.

Police said a search of the home revealed 24 budding plants and growing equipment, which were seized at the time. Police said there was no caregiver’s card or documentation at the home.

According to police, no one was home at the time of the search. As a result, an inventory of the seized items was left, along with a copy of the warrant.

Police said that on March 18, a family member of Laboeuf’s provided them a statement. The family member said that she was upset that Laboeuf had put her in this position, and she had not been able to contact him since the search.

According to police, on March 19 Laboeuf turned himself in at headquarters. He allegedly told police, “All I am going to say is I am responsible for 3895 Kingstown Road,” and declined to provide a further statement.

Police said Laboeuf was arrested without incident, and transported to court for arraignment at 11:56 a.m. on March 19. According to online records, Laboeuf does not have a previous arrest.

Unless otherwise noted, the information for this article was compiled from South Kingstown police reports, which are available for review by any member of the public at their headquarters. If we’re missing a call or report you’re interested in knowing about, feel free to leave a comment or to send Local Editor Stephen Greenwell a message at Stephen.greenwell@patch.com.

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