Former Cranston City Councilman Matthew Reilly, previously arrested on drug charges, is now facing accusations of child molestation. A complaint filed by the guardian of a 12-year-old girl led to Reilly's arrest on Thursday morning. The Cranston Police Department has declined to provide details about the case.
Reilly's attorney, Michael Lepizzera, Jr., urged the public to avoid premature judgments. "With such serious allegations, it's easy for people to quickly condemn Mr. Reilly," Lepizzera stated in an email to The Daily Beast. "I implore everyone to resist rushing to conclusions and let the legal process run its course."
Lepizzera emphasized his faith in the judicial system, highlighting its role in determining the truth. "Our justice system, while not flawless, is as close to perfect as possible," he asserted. "We must trust the courts to ultimately decide the facts and deliver a just outcome."
Reilly's earlier arrest in May stemmed from a report of a man experiencing a medical emergency in his vehicle. Bodycam footage shows an officer finding Reilly unconscious in the driver's seat, with what appeared to be a crack pipe in his hand. The officer noted that Reilly seemed to be struggling to breathe. After initially denying drug possession, Reilly reportedly confessed to purchasing crack cocaine the previous day.
A search of Reilly's car yielded a substance that tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl, along with other drug paraphernalia. At the time of his initial arrest, Reilly was the chairman of the Cranston Republican Party. He cooperated with police during questioning, despite appearing disoriented.
