Today in (R) Family Values
An embattled former city councilman in Rhode Island who was arrested earlier this month after an officer found him asleep in his car with a crack pipe and a lighter in his hand is behind bars again, this time for allegedly sexually assaulting and molesting a child. Former Cranston City Councilman Matthew R. Reilly, a Republican, was taken into custody without incident on Thursday and charged with one count each of first-degree child molestation, second-degree child molestation, and enticement of a person under the age of 16, court records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
Police said that the legal guardian of a 12-year-old girl on May 7 filed a complaint at police headquarters concerning Reilly’s conduct with the child. Authorities noted that Reilly is not related to the alleged victim. Detectives with the CPD Special Victim’s Unit and investigators with the Office of the Rhode Island Attorney General subsequently opened an investigation into the allegations.
Police say the investigation into Reilly’s alleged unlawful actions towards the juvenile victim began just about a week before he was arrested in connection with the crack-smoking incident. Providence, Rhode Island CBS affiliate WPRI-TV reported that the alleged unlawful conduct took place on May 3, but police have repeatedly declined to provide any additional information regarding the underlying conduct from which the charges stem.
Court records show the former councilman is facing three counts: first-degree child molestation sexual assault, second-degree child molestation sexual assault, and enticement of a person under the age of 16. Police allege the charges stem from an incident on May 3.
He was arraigned Thursday and ordered held without bail.
