Former Newport Man Gets Prison Sentence For Providence Manslaughter

NEWPORT, RI — A former Newport man was sentenced to 22-and-a-half years in prison after pleading to a manslaughter charge stemming from a fatal 2016 stabbing in Providence.

On Nov. 25, Jose Medina, 49, pleaded nolo contender to manslaughter, Attorney General Peter Neronha's office said Friday. The charge stemmed from the death of Patrick Douglas, 50.

At medina's hearing in Providence County Superior Court, Justice Stephen Nugent sentenced Medina to 30 years in prison, with 22.5 years to serve at the ACI in Cranston, and a seven-and-a-half-year suspended sentence with 30 years of probation.

"Far too often my office prosecutes cases involving senseless disputes settled with unnecessary acts of violence that bring tragic outcomes," Neronha said in a statement. "While nothing will bring back Mr. Douglas to his family and loved ones, it is my hope that the significant sentence imposed here by the court will bring them a measure of justice. I am grateful to the Providence Police Department for their great work throughout course of this investigation and prosecution."

Had the case proceeded to trial, prosecutors said they were prepared to prove that on May 9, 2016, Medina fought with Douglas near the intersection of Elmwood Avenue and Westfield Street, stabbing and killing Douglas.

Before the stabbing, Medina and Douglas got into an argument while walking along Elmwood Avenue. The argument led to a fight, during which Medina drew a knife and stabbed Douglas. Medina then fled the scene, and Douglas died shortly thereafter from a stab wound to his chest.

During their investigation in the days that followed, detectives from the Providence Police Department identified the defendant as a suspect, and on May 17, 2016, he was arrested by the Newport Police Department.

"Our thoughts are with Mr. Douglas' family during this time and hope that today’s disposition brings some measure of closure to them," said Steven Paré, the Providence commissioner of public safety. "Here, police and prosecutors worked together to successfully hold the defendant accountable for his violent criminal act."