The embezzlement trial of Dan Doyle now moves into the sentencing phase, following a guilty verdict on all counts Monday. One of Doyle’s attorneys says an appeal is likely, because of Doyle’s vocal and unwavering insistence on his innocence, and his belief that he would be vindicated in court.
Doyle could have taken a plea deal but chose to push on with the trial, insisting that he would be exonerated. Instead, a jury found him guilty on all 18 counts of forgery and embezzling more than a million dollars from his nonprofit, the Institute for International Sport.
Doyle’s attorney Michael Blanchard said he expects prosecutors will push for a heavy penalty.
“I imagine because there’s an issue of public trust here as well, due to the fact that it was a nonprofit organization and the state of Rhode Island provided funds,” said Blanchard. “I’m sure that will be an issue that will be raised by the state for the court’s consideration in imposing the appropriate sentence.”
A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled by the judge in the case, but Doyle faces maximum jail time of more than 200 years, plus possible fines and restitution payments.
“And of course there’s always issue of the ability or inability to pay restitution based upon the charges he was convicted of and based upon the amount of money that was being claimed by the state as being embezzled,” said Blanchard.
Monday marked the end of a lengthy trial for the 12 jurors. They delivered a verdict after five days of deliberation and two months of court testimony, including more than 50 witnesses and hundreds of exhibits. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s office believes it to be one of the longest criminal trials in state history.
“I believe the jury did what they thought was right,” said Blanchard. “I disagree with the verdict, but I thought they worked hard, I thought they weighed the evidence, I thought they went through everything and came up with a result they thought was right.”
Doyle’s attorneys say he has about a week to decide whether to file a motion for a new trial. Any appeal would come after sentencing.
