By ALEX MALM 

The Libertarian Party of Rhode Island on April 24 endorsed Michael Fleury  in the Warwick Ward 5 City Council race. According to the Rhode Island Sex Offender Registry Fleury is an active level 2 sex offender.

Come Monday that endorsement may be rescinded after Fleury’s criminal past was posted on Twitter. 

“The endorsement will be a topic of discussion at our next Executive Committee meeting on June 6,” said Katherine Revello, a spokesperson for LPRI. “We believe Fleury is ineligible to hold office because of his criminal conviction. We will be holding a vote to rescind the nomination and expect that motion to pass.”

Court records show that Fleury, 36 plead nolo contendere   to  two felony counts of indecent Solicitation of a Child on March 21 2017 according to court documents. Court sentencing documents show that Fleury was sentenced to five years of probation with his prison sentence suspended. In the second case Fleury was sentenced to serve one year in prison with four years suspended. He was sentenced to four years of probation in that case. According to sentencing documents Fleury›s sentences are consecutive. 

JR Ventura, a spokesperson for the Rhode Island Department of Corrections said on Wednesday that Fleury's probation is expected to end in March of 2027. 

 Revello said that per the LPRI bylaws “any candidate for state or local office wishing to earn the party›s endorsement can seek it at our annual convention.”

“Our party members vote on whether to award a candidate the endorsement,” said  Revello. 

 Revello said that the party wasn’t aware of Fleury’s criminal conviction prior to his endorsement. 

On Monday Fleury said in a text message that he would be suspending his campaign due to health  reasons. 

“Due to a health diagnosis given a little over a week ago I am suspending my campaign for Ward 5 city council for the election cycle as I put forth effort into handling this health issue,” said Fleury. 

According to Article III, Section 2 of the state constitution “An elector shall be disqualified as a candidate for elective or appointive state or local office or from holding such office if such elector has been convicted of or plead nolo contendere to a felony or if such elector has been convicted or plead nolo contendere to a misdemeanor resulting in a jail sentence of six months or more, either suspended or to be served. Such elector shall not, once so convicted, attain or return to any office until three years after the date of completion of such sentence and of probation or parole.” 

Revello on Tuesday said “under our party bylaws, anyone who is legally ineligible to run for office in the state is not eligible to receive the party›s endorsement. A candidate who seeks the party›s endorsement while not legally eligible to hold office is violating the party›s bylaws.” 

“It›s likely that a question about criminal history will become a standing question for candidates seeking the party›s endorsement at our annual convention,” said Revello.