Former WWEDC chairman gets 1 year home confinement

WARWICK – Robert B. Boyer, 71, former chairman of the West Warwick Economic Development Commission, pled no contest yesterday in Kent County Superior Cour, to three counts of violating the R.I. Code of Ethics.
Boyer, a resident of 15 Water St., West Warwick, was accused of attempting to influence West Warwick Building Official Stephen D. Murphy, by giving him eight cash payments totaling $2,800 between March and August 2006. At the time, Boyer was serving as chairman of the WWEDC.
But prosecutors say Murray reported the advances to the R.I. State Police, cooperating with the department’s Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Unit
“The defendant used his leadership position as a town official to attempt to gain favor in relation to the business of West Warwick,” R.I. Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch said in a statement after Boyer’s sentencing. “The only thing he gained, however, is a criminal record – and at great personal expense.”
Associate Justice William E. Carnes Jr. sentenced Boyer to one year home confinement, in the Adult Correctional Institution program, and three years of probation, one for each violation. He also ordered Boyer to perform 100 hours community service, pay a fine of $1,000, and forfeit the $2,800 in cash seized by state troopers during their investigation.
A self-employed land surveyor, Boyer had no previous criminal record. (Calls to his telephone number today were not answered by person or machine.)
“He has lost his reputation and will effectively lose his freedom during his year of home confinement,” Lynch said. “This is sad news for someone who has done so much good in town over the years, and even sadder news for the people of West Warwick, whose trust he violated.”