Former Ward 6 Cranston City Councilman Matthew Reilly has been indicted on multiple child molestation counts, according to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.
“On June 28, 2024, the Providence County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Matthew Reilly with two counts of first-degree child molestation, two counts of second-degree child molestation, one count of enticement of a minor child to engage in sexual conduct, and one count of simple assault,” according to a press release from Attorney General Peter F. Neronha’s office.
Today’s indictments are connected to “alleged acts (that) occurred in the city of Cranston on May 7, 2023. The Cranston Police Department conducted the investigation.”
Reilly, 42, a Republican and former member of the safety services committee, was arrested on drug charges early at on May 15, 2023.
Reilly is scheduled for arraignment in Providence County Superior Court on July 17.
A Cranston Police officer found Reilly passed out behind the wheel just over a year ago.
“I can’t let you go — you were literally choking in your sleep,” Cranston Police Officer Luis Collado said to Reilly that morning; the exchange audible in body-worn camera footage released by the department. “Somebody flagged me down about it.”
“I have sleep apnea,” Reilly replied. “I’m sorry.”
“Well, and you have a crack pipe in your hands, so it’s like, come on,” said the officer.
“Please sir,” Reilly pleaded.
“Listen, I have a body camera,” the officer told Reilly. “Obviously everything that I have is recorded. You know that. What I’ve observed is on camera so I can’t pretend I didn’t … I obviously have to document it.”
The incident led to a precipitous downfall for the Cranston attorney and city councilor. Soon after the first drug arrest, he resigned from City Council. Then the Rhode Island Supreme Court suspended his law license. And less than a month later, he was arrested again, on June 8, by Cranston Police on charges of child molestation.
He was initially charged with First Degree Child Molestation Sexual Assault, Second Degree Child Molestation Sexual Assault, and Enticement of a Person under 16.
According to Cranston Police, the initial arrest stemmed from an investigation, which began a week before Reilly’s May 15, 2023 drug arrest.
On May 7, 2023, police started an investigation after the legal guardian of a 12-year-old girl, unrelated to Reilly, filed a complaint with the department, according to a CPD press release.
Cranston Police Chief Col. Michael J. Winquist deferred all comment on the case to the Attorney General’s office.
“This case is no different from our standpoint in any other case,” Winquist said Friday morning after the indictments were announced. “Once charges are filed through the felony screening process or Grand Jury, the Attorney General’s office becomes the charging agency. For that reason, I will defer to that agency if they wish to comment further.”
Cranston Police worked with North Kingstown officers, where they picked up and arrested Reilly.
“An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation,” the AG’s office reminds readers of
their press release. “A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”
This story will be updated.
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