Ryan Greenberg was sent back to the ACI Thursday for violating his bail. Photos by Christine Hochkeppel.

Ryan Greenberg, the 17-year-old Barrington boy charged with second-degree murder in the July boating death of fellow classmate Patrick Murphy, was sent back to the ACI on May 2, after he admitted to violating terms of his bail.

According to police, Mr. Greenberg and seven other Barrington teens were found with alcohol at Brickyard Pond off of Legion Way on Saturday, April 19.

Mr. Greenberg was free on a $100,000 personal recognizance bail until late last month, when Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch brought the teenager into Superior Court as a bail violator. In January, the court ordered Mr. Greenberg to abstain from alcohol and/or drugs and undergo random testing for drugs and/or alcohol, while on bail. He was not allowed to travel outside of Rhode Island and Massachusetts and was prohibited from operating a water craft.

Special Assistant Attorney General Christian F. Capizzo presented Mr. Greenberg as a bail violator in Providence County Superior Court on April 22 for refusing to take a field sobriety test and a breath test after his arrest by Barrington Police earlier last month. In the separate but related resulting case that's being prosecuted by the Town of Barrington and handled in Family Court, the Barrington Police also have charged Mr. Greenberg with underage possession of alcohol.

Mr. Greenberg entered Superior Court at approximately 2 p.m. on May 2 in handcuffs, a maroon, short-sleeve, collared shirt, khaki pants, and black sneakers.

Mr. Greenberg admitted to violating the terms of his bail.

Mr. Capizzo recommended Mr. Greenberg be held without bail for 60 days. The maximum sentence for a bail violator is 90 days.

Magistrate Judge Joseph Keough accepted the state recommendation. Mr. Greenberg will be given credit toward his sentence for the days he has already served at the ACI and is eligible for home confinement when his 60 days are up.

"Home confinement will mean exactly that, home confinement," the judge said.

Mr. Greenberg would be required to wear a home confinement bracelet and would only be permitted to leave the house to go to school, a doctor's office if necessary and to meet with his attorney.

"It would be like sitting in a jail cell, except in the comfort of your own home," Judge Keough said. "If you get in any trouble, Mr. Greenberg, all bets are off," he added.

"Thank you your honor," Mr. Greenberg said.

Before Mr. Greenberg was escorted out of the court room, Judge Keough said the teenager passed all 32 chemical tests given to him before the April 19 incident.

Mr. Greenberg was led out of the court room the same way he was led in.

"The court has imposed an appropriate penalty on, and sent the right message to, this defendant and all defendants who are out on bail awaiting trial," said Mr. Lynch. "Essentially, bail is a promise that a defendant makes to the court to stay out of trouble and show up on time in court when scheduled to do so. Clearly, this defendant, by his own admission, failed to live up to the promise that he made on January 2nd of this year in a most egregious way, and had to be held accountable. As always, our focus will remain on doing justice for the Murphy family. Our thoughts and prayers remain with them as well."

He is due back in court June 23 for resetting of bail.

Living conditions

Tracey Poole, chief of information and public relations for the state department of corrections, said Mr. Greenberg is currently in protective custody at the high-security facility at the ACI.

Ms. Poole said it is a misconception that Mr. Greenberg is in his cell 23 out of 24 hours a day.

"He has a lot of time out of his cell," she said.

Ryan Greenberg is escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs on Friday, May 2.

Mr. Greenberg is permitted one hour per day recreation time, that's time spent outside in a recreation area, she said. He also has access to a day room or lounge area. Ms. Poole said some day rooms have televisions, tables and games.

He also has access to a library and attends school Monday through Friday, in the mornings and afternoons.

Mr. Greenberg shares a cell with one roommate, and lives with 25 men in one unit. Right now, there are 93 men in the high-security facility, Ms. Poole said.

He eats three meals a day with the men in his unit

He also has access to a pay-phone attached to his unit. He can make calls to up to 10 people on a pre-approved list, and is permitted five one-and-half-hour visiting periods with family per week.

When Rhode Island law changed last year, permitting 17 year olds to the ACI, the state made a decision to put them in protective custody, in a high-security facility, as opposed to an intake facility.

Intake is the largest male facility, with over 1,000 in its population right now.

"That's where all male inmates go before they are classified to a security — minimum, medium or maximum," Ms. Poole said. "They stay there until they are classified."

Also in court

Benjamin W. Geldmaker, one of the other Barrington teenagers charged after the Brickyard Pond incident, was also present in the courtroom on Friday, May 2.

Mr. Geldmaker, 19, was charged with possession of alcohol by a minor in relation to the November car accident which killed Jon Converse. He sat in the front row of the courtroom in a gray-hooded sweatshirt and jeans.

Mr. Geldmaker is due in court Thursday, May 15.

By Kim Centazzo

kcentazzo@eastbaynewspapers.com