PORTSMOUTH — A 52-year-old Saunderstown man was arrested Monday after an investigation revealed he had inappropriately touched two 10-year-old children at a polo match at Glen Farm in July, police said.
Brian Smith, of 210 Pheasant Run, Saunderstown, was charged with one count of second-degree child molestation and one count of simple assault, according to a statement released by police today.
On July 19, Portsmouth police responded to the Gardner Seveney Complex on East Main Road for a report that the 10-year-olds had been touched inappropriately while attending the polo event. Police said a Bryant University alumni polo match was being played at the Newport International Polo grounds at the time.
“Upon investigation by officers on scene it was determined that a male approached the children and entered into a conversation with them during the event. While conversing with the children the male touched the children to include underneath one child’s skirt,” stated the press release.
An investigation by the Portsmouth Police Detective Division led to the identification of Mr. Smith and a warrant was secured for his arrest. Mr. Smith was apprehended in Lynnfield, Mass. and held as a fugitive of justice based on the charges.
On Monday, Sept. 8, he was released on $10,000 cash bail from Peabody (Mass.) District Court, at which time he turned himself into Second District Court in Newport to be arraigned on the charges. Mr. Smith posted $30,000 suety bail and was released, according to police.
