Former Lincoln official’s death ruled suicide

LINCOLN – The shooting death of Jonathan F. Oster, 56, the former Lincoln town administrator who was convicted last month after a lengthy bribery trial, was ruled a suicide by the state medical examiner.
Oster was indicted in October 2002 on two counts of solicitation of a bribe by a public official and two counts of conspiracy to solicit a bribe, in a case involving the sale of property seized by the town for back taxes. His conviction on all four charges followed a lengthy trial in Providence County Superior Court and two days of jury deliberations.
His sentencing had been scheduled for May 8, although his lawyers had said they would seek a new trial.
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