Farley, Newport Councilor, Charged with Simple Assault after Ladder Dust-Up

Newport City Councilor Michael Farley has been charged with simple assault after a State Police investigation into an alleged fracas with a contractor over a ladder.

State Police charged Farley with simple assault on Wednesday after their investigation, which began at the request of Newport Police to avoid accusations of a conflict of interest.

Newport police said they were called to the scene on June 9 after Farley reported an altercation between himself and 41-year-old Kevin Schiavone, who was working next door at 24 Hunter Street.

Schiavone said he took the ladder from Farley's property by mistake and apologized. He is also claiming that Farley attacked him during the confrontation and has asked for charged to be filed.

Farley, however, in a detailed account posted on Newport Patch, said Schiavone swung first.

"He clearly did not expect me to stop by the house in the middle of the day.  When he flailed at me, I was wearing a suit and tie, but I still defended myself - spinning him and shoving him away. He tripped over a cobblestone and landed face first on my lawn. He continued to curse, and when he got up and lurched toward me, I spun him and shoved him away again," Farley said. "After he fell a second time, he stopped and yelled that he was sorry for taking my ladders. He also offered to pay me a rental fee for using them without permission. I declined and told him to get my ladder off of his truck."

Farley, a lawyer, said he called police and informed them of the incident. 

Farley said that he had a similar issue when the contractor reportedly took tools from a deceased client of Farley's.

State Police however concluded that Schiavone's account of being attacked first was credible enough to level charges against the Newport city councilor.

In a statement, Farley today said that he was surprised that charges were filed but "the fact is, I handled a bad situation badly.  I wish I had handled it differently.  I should have waited for the police to arrive after I called them  Today was about accepting responsibility for my action."

Schiavone is not facing charges, ABC6 reported.

Farley pleaded no contest to the charges before Associate Judge Colleen M. Hastings and the case was filed for one year, which means he can easily have the charge dismissed and expunged from his record if he does not get arrested between now and then.

He was also ordered to make restitution for medical expenses.