Crack Cocaine Charges Dismissed in Return For Donation

WAKEFIELD – Possession of crack  cocaine charges against two local men were dismissed last week in Washington County Superior Court after both men made contributions to the Violent Crimes Indemnity Fund.

John R. Laudanno, 34, of 495 Lafayette Road Unit A, North Kingstown, and Joseph E. Latham, 42, of 3721 Kingstown Road, West Kingston, both made $200 donations to the Violent Crimes Indemnity Fund.

In return, on Nov. 24 the state dismissed a felony charge of possession of crack cocaine against each man. For minor drug possession cases, charges are typically dismissed in return for a contribution to the VCIF.

According to North Kingstown police records included in court documents, the charges stem from an arrest on April 3.

Police said an officer on patrol on Dry Bridge Road saw a truck driven by Laudanno pull into the parking lot of a closed business at 2:30 a.m. When police approached Laudanno's car, they saw him or Latham drop something on the floor.

The officer asked Laudanno why he was there, and he told police that his truck had run out of gas and that he and Latham had been there for several hours now. At this point, he was placed under arrest.

Police noted that the engine of the truck was still warm to the touch through the hood, and that the gas meter indicated there was still fuel in the vehicle. Police found a small amount of crack cocaine on a piece of aluminum foil in the truck, and a broken glass pipe.   

All information is compiled from records at Fourth Division District Court and Washington County Superior Court.