Interim Report of the Providence County Grand Jury

Reported June 23, 2022

 

An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 

 

Juan Martinez (age 57)

Providence, R.I.

P1-2022-2319A

 

On June 23, 2022, the Providence County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Juan Martinez with three counts of first-degree sexual assault and three counts of second-degree sexual assault.

 

The alleged acts occurred in the city of Providence on diverse dates between December 30, 2020, and May 17, 2021. The defendant is alleged to have sexually assaulted three different female victims. The Providence Police Department conducted the investigation.

 

The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned on July 13, 2022, in Providence County Superior Court. He is currently being held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) for allegedly violating the terms of his probation stemming from a previous conviction of first-degree sexual assault in 2001 (P1-1999-1865A).

 

 

Laron Paschal (age 53)

Providence, R.I.

P1-2022-2320A

 

On June 23, 2022, the Providence County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Laron Paschal with one count of possession of over one kilogram of cocaine and one count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine.

 

The alleged acts occurred in the city of Providence sometime on March 23, 2022. The Providence Police Department conducted the investigation.

 

The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned on July 13, 2022, in Providence County Superior Court.

 

 

 

Lewis Vasquez Paredes (age 18)

Providence, R.I.

P1-2022-2326A

 

On June 23, 2022, the Providence County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Lewis Vasquez Paredes with one count of first-degree robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery

 

The alleged acts occurred in the city of Providence sometime on March 18, 2022. The Providence Police Department conducted the investigation.

 

The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned on July 13, 2022, in Providence County Superior Court.

 

 

There are reports the Justice Department is investigating Minnesota's governor and the Minneapolis mayor. Multiple outlets cite U.S. officials saying Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey are being investigated for allegedly obstructing federal law enforcement. One official says the investigation centers on statements the two leaders have made about the thousands of ICE and Border Patrol agents deployed to Minneapolis. Their presence has sparked protests, which have grown since the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer last week.        Court is done for the week in the Charlie Kirk assassination case in Utah. Lawyers for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of shooting the conservative personality at a rally in September, argued a key prosecutor has a family member who was present at the time Kirk was shot. They say that communications between them raise concerns over impartiality and the prosecution's decision to seek the death penalty, and argue the prosecutor should be disqualified.        President Trump says he currently doesn't have reason to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota. Before leaving the White House for Florida on Friday, Trump was asked about using the act as protests continue in Minneapolis. Trump said there's no reason to use it at this time, adding, that if he "needed it, it's available" to him. The Insurrection Act would give Trump the authority to deploy the military to suppress a rebellion on American soil.        Virginia Senate Democrats are sending a redistricting amendment to voters for approval. If voters support the amendment in a special election, which is expected to be on the spring ballot, the Legislature would be able to redraw the state's congressional map before midterms. Democrats currently have a six-five edge in the state's congressional delegation, looking to control either a ten-one or nine-two split for the new map.        Renee Good was unresponsive when first responders arrived after she was shot by an ICE agent last week in Minneapolis. A newly released incident report from the Minneapolis Fire Department offered more clarity into the incident, with Good having two apparent gunshot wounds to her right chest, one on her left forearm and another possible wound on the left side of her head. Good's killing has led to protests nationwide, while the Trump administration is calling her a "domestic terrorist."        Bad Bunny is previewing his upcoming Super Bowl halftime show performance. The video shows the singer walking through a forest while playing a song from his most recent album, soon joined by dancers off all different ages and cultures. It ends with a message saying "the world" - all different ages, races and styles - "will dance." Bad Bunny's choice as the headliner of the halftime show has drawn conservative backlash, with the Trump Administration threatening to have ICE agents at the game.