Weymouth Sex Offender No Longer in Mass., Arraigned in R.I. Court

WEYMOUTH, MA — A Weymouth sex offender that was arrested days after his release appeared in a Rhode Island court Wednesday.

Richard Gardner was arraigned in Kent County Superior Court and ordered held without bail pending a probation hearing, according to WPRI. It is alleged that Gardner's recent visit to a library in Quincy was a violation of his probation from the Ocean State.

On Oct. 6, the Weymouth Police Department notified residents that Gardner had moved to Chandler Street following a lengthy stay in prison. Two days later, Gardner received a court summons after entering a library in Quincy, violating a city ordinance that forbids sex offenders from entering schools, libraries, or daycare centers unless given written permission by the school administration, library administration, or daycare center owner. Police said at the time that he wasn't wanted by police and the offense didn't appear to violate his probation but officials in Rhode Island say that it was a violation.

Less than a week later, Gardner was arrested at a shelter in South Boston and arraigned in Roxbury District Court the following Monday.

The Plymouth District Attorney's office says his release was due to "human error."

Image via Mass. Sex Offender Registry