Suspended Sentence Issued for Felony Drug Plea

Unless otherwise noted, files at Washington County Superior Court contain the information about the following court cases. You can review them at the McGrath Judicial Complex.

Howard Courtemanche, 28, of 604 Stony Fort Rd. in North Kingstown pleaded no contest on Jan. 23 to South Kingstown police charges of felony cocaine distribution and driving with an invalid license.

Courtemanche was ordered to serve a year of probation and a year-long suspended sentence, to complete substance abuse counseling and to pay $1,059 in fines and assessments. In return for his plea, additional charges of felony drug distribution near school grounds, felony drug possession and possession of marijuana were dismissed.

According to South Kingstown police reports included in court files, in August 2011 they received a tip from an informant that Courtemanche was selling cocaine regularly on High Street.

South Kingstown and Narragansett police then allegedly arranged a buy via the informant. Police said that Courtemanche was driving the car into the lot, at which point he was immediately stopped because his license was suspended because of a previous arrest.

According to police, baggies of cocaine were in plain view in the car. The baggies and $151 in cash were seized, and a search warrant was obtained for Courtemanche’s home at the time, 315 High Street.

Police said a search of Courtemanche’s home revealed 24 grams of cocaine, along with a small quantity of Oxycontin and marijuana, and $276 in cash. A syringe was also seized from Courtemanche’s car.

According to online records, Courtemanche has seven previous arrests:

• Concurrent with his plea to his South Kingstown charges, Courtemanche also pleaded no contest to Rhode Island State Police felony drug possession charges emanating from the Wickford Barracks. He was ordered to serve two years probation and a two-year suspended sentence.
• In October 2012, Courtemanche pleaded no contest to Rhode Island State Police charges emanating from the Wickford Barracks of driving with a suspended license. He was ordered to pay a fine. An additional charge of felony drug possession was dismissed.
• Also in October 2012, Courtemanche pleaded no contest to a South Kingstown police charge of driving with an invalid license. He was ordered to pay a fine.
• In November 2011, a Rhode Island State Police charge of driving while intoxicated emanating from the Lincoln Barracks was dismissed. According to online records, the case was instead handled in traffic court.
• In September 2009, a Narragansett police charge of driving with a suspended license was dismissed. According to online records, the case was instead handled in traffic court.
• In July 2008, a Narragansett police charge of assault was dismissed.
• In May 2008, Courtemanche pleaded no contest to a South Kingstown police charge of disorderly conduct. He was ordered to serve six months probation, and a no-contact order was enacted between Courtemanche and the victim.

If we’re missing a case 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. We typically write up the summaries once a case has been resolved – a dismissal, a plea, or a guilty or not guilty finding.

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