Navy Employee Found Guilty of Driving to Endanger, Death Resulting

Photos: Former Middletown Police Capt. Frank Lema

A man who drove a Navy vehicle at the Naval base in Newport and struck and killed Navy Detective Frank Lema in 2013 has been found guilty of driving to endanger, death resulting.

Alan Bradley, 53, of Middletown, could now face up to 10 years in federal prison and will be sentenced on Sept. 17 by U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi.

Over the course of the trial, prosecutors said that Bradley, a civilian production employee on Navy Base Newport, killed Lema on Sept. 26 even though his personal physician had warned him not to drive because he was a risk to himself and others due to a seizure disorder.

Along with noting that Bradley was involved in a single-car crash in Middletown in 2011 with his young son in the car, Bradley reportedly admitted that his disorder was a contributing factor in the 2013 accident.

Prosecutors argued that Bradley acted in reckless disregard when he got behind the wheel that day on Sept. 26 of 2013. He reportedly struck Lema as he stood outside the Navy public safety building with a fellow Navy law enforcement officer. After striking Lema, Bradley reportedly continued rolling about 200 feet before stopping on an embankment.

“Because of the defendant’s reckless and entirely unnecessary operation of a motor vehicle, with full knowledge that he was endangering the safety of others, Detective Lema is no longer with us today,” said U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha. “While I know that today’s verdict can do nothing to ease the Lema family’s loss, I hope that it does provide some sense that justice has been done.

“On behalf of the United States Navy and the Navy Base Newport community, it is my sincere hope that today’s verdict provides the family of Detective Frank Lema some measure of comfort knowing that the person responsible for the untimely and tragic death of Detective Lema is being held accountable,” commented Leo Lamont, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Field Office of Naval Criminal Investigative Service. “Our thanks to the United States Attorney’s Office, in particular First Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Dambruch, and the Rhode Island State Police for their efforts working side-by-side with agents from NCIS to bring this investigation and prosecution to a successful conclusion.”

Lema, 70, was a retired Middletown police captain and had just returned to work after he was injured in a motorcycle accident.

Tragically, Lema was suffering the loss of his wife of 48 years, who died in that motorcycle crash.

The couple had five children: Rebecca Souza of Florida, Justin Lema of Cranston, RI, Frank Lema, Jr., Alison Lema and Austin Lema, all of Middletown.

Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police added, “There can be no verdict or sentence that can change what occurred on September 26, 2013, but our system of justice has spoken and the defendant will be held accountable for his actions. On behalf of the men and women of the Rhode Island State Police, we commend the dedication and diligence of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service Agents, members of the State Police Accident Reconstruction Unit and prosecutors from the United States Attorney’s Office for their dedication to justice.”

Photos via Memorial Funeral Home.