Posted on 11/21/2025 6:31:17 AM PST by Red Badger
Michael English, a Democratic candidate running for mayor of Providence, is addressing renewed attention on a criminal record that includes child molestation convictions from the late 1990s.
English has referred to the actions that led to his convictions as “immature decisions” that resulted in a “period of incarceration.”
According to the Providence Journal, English was 26 when he engaged in a relationship with a 13-year-old.
The outlet reported that after serving a little over a year in prison, English attempted to contact the victim again in 2009.
The Providence Journal reviewed court documents related to the case, as English’s file is not easily accessible and he does not appear on the Rhode Island Sex Offender Registry after successfully appealing the requirement to register.
English told the Providence Journal that he did not know the age of the victim at the time of the initial offense.
Court records reviewed by the outlet state that the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office alleged English engaged in sexual acts with the victim between January and March 1997.
The indictment said he lived in North Providence and met the girl at various places in Cumberland, North Smithfield, and Lincoln, including the Lincoln Mall.
In March 1998, English pleaded no contest to four counts that included first-degree child molestation, second-degree child molestation, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Superior Court Judge Ronald Gagnon sentenced him to 20 years, with 18 and a half years suspended, and ordered him to register as a sex offender.
More than 90% of the sentence was suspended.
In September 2009, the victim reported to police that English had driven to her home and attempted to speak with her, suggesting they get coffee.
He was sentenced to five years in prison in that case. He served a little less than two years before being placed on house arrest for two months, with the remaining portion of the sentence forgiven.
When questioned about his criminal history during his current campaign, English pointed to his academic credentials and experience raising his own children.
Responding to concerns about whether the record should be seen as disqualifying, he told the Providence Journal, “They’d be wrong, legally. They also should calculate what did I do from then.” He also said, “If I’m the bad guy here, God help you all.”
English’s public comments have drawn attention as he seeks office in Providence, with his prior convictions and subsequent re-offense forming part of the scrutiny surrounding his candidacy.
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
Anyone who made bad decisions at age 26 is capable of making bad decisions now. Back then, those decisions only affected himself and those immediately around him. If elected, bad decisions have the ability to impact hundreds of thousands of people. Hopefully there is no one who supports child molestation, past or present.
He's not wrong.
“Bailiff....whack his......”
Yep...............
Don’t forget this is Rhode Island....................
There are bad people in both parties, & I’m not sure the parties have authority to block someone who chooses to run. But they should certainly denounce such individuals & disavow any backing for them.
Two generations ago, someone with such a record would not have dared run for office - and would have been mandated to serve the 20 years.
As it is now politically in blue states...
I suspect his chances of winning office are good.
If he somehow gets elected, the voters can’t later pretend that they ‘didn’t know what they were getting’ or that he lied to them. The truth is right out in the open.
So, now I read that he has children of his own.
Is that right? They, his children would probably be the one’s who suffer the most. Who wants it known at school that your father is or was on that List?
Democrats calling Trump a “pedophile” while electing an actual one.
So of all the restrictions put on sexual predators, running for political office isn’t one.......unbelievable. SMH
Democrats calling Trump a “pedophile”
-
When was that?
Joy Behar just did it
WTF?
What color is the sky on her planet?
If elected, he will end up drawing from the pols sexual deviants fund.
Well, the Party of Death DemonRATS gave America its first “historical” pedophile president.
Where in all blazes are this girl’s father, brothers, uncles, friends? Why is this pervert still able to walk, see, touch?
Asking for a friend.
::Two generations ago, someone with such a record would not have dared run for office....::
~~~~~~
And would be ashamed to be seen in public.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.