SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) -- The trial for a South Kingstown town councilman accused of assaulting a local GOP official began Wednesday.

Jay Wegimont, a Democrat first elected to the South Kingstown Town Council in 2022, faces a misdemeanor charge of simple assault after an alleged confrontation with Narragansett GOP Chairman Anthony D'Ellena during a South Kingstown Town Council meeting back in June.

At the witness stand, D'Ellena alleged that Wegimont made physical contact with him twice during their encounter, while the defense argued that the accusations are an attempt to get Wegimont removed from the council and replaced by a Republican.

D'Ellena told a district court judge that the two men's interaction came after he made a social media post about Wegimont's past DUI arrests, w

See Full Page