Providence Journal photo/ Bob Breidenbach
Defense lawyer Gerard Donley leaves the Superior Court building Thursday after he was found guilty of bribery and related charges. At right is his lawyer, Edward C. Roy.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- In a case that upended the justice system in Rhode Island, a jury on Thursday found criminal defense lawyer Gerard Donley guilty of conspiring to obstruct justice by bribing a witness not to testify against the man who allegedly stabbed him.
The jury deliberated about 13 hours before concluding around 1 p.m. that Donley had colluded with defense lawyer Donna Uhlmann and his client, Jamaal Dublin, to bribe convicted felon Michael Drepaul not to testify. Donley was found guilty of obstruction of justice, conspiracy to obstruct justice, bribery and conspiracy.
Judge Robert Krause ordered Donley be placed on home-confinement and that he post $250,000 surety bail, with his house as collateral, while awaiting sentencing.
The case pitted Donley against prosecutors he had worked with in court over 25-plus years. The jury accepted prosecutors' assertion that Donley, Uhlmann and Dublin conspired to pay Drepaul 10 "stacks" or $10,000 not to implicate Dublin.
Uhlmann and Dublin are awaiting trial.