Man Charged After Alleged Plot to Blow Up College

(BOSTON) -- Federal authorities have charged a Connecticut man after they allege he threatened to blow up Stonehill College in Massachusetts.

Sterlynn Robbins, 23, was also accused of sending threatening text messages to a female student at the college. Robbins was a student at Stonehill until 2009 when he was dismissed after being arrested on campus for assault.

Authorities say the texts were allegedly sent to the student March 17 and 18, in which he warns of his attacks against her, the school, and staff.

Robbins is being held in custody in Connecticut until a scheduled court appearance in Boston March 28.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Bill Proposes to Keep Violent Prisoners Behind Bars

(PROVIDENCE, R.I.) -- In response to the early release of child killer, Michael Woodmansee, a Rhode Island state senator has proposed legislation that would put a moratorium in the "good time" law for violent offenders.

Woodmansee was sentenced to 40 years in prison in 1983 for the murder of five-year-old Jason Foreman in 1975. Investigations showed that Woodsmansee sexually abused Foreman and cannibalized his remains.

However, do to good behavior while in prison, Woodmansee is scheduled to be released 12 years early.

State senator Dawson Hodgson proposed legislation that calls to end the practice of awarding good behavior with early releases from prison. Although Hodgson's efforts come as a result of the Woodmansee case, the legislation, if implemented, would not apply to that case.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Newport Man Admits to Child Porn Charges

(PROVIDENCE, R.I.) -- A Newport man pleaded guilty Wednesday to downloading and distributing child porn.

Michael Hodge was arrested twice during the past two years on child porn-related charges, the first time in May 2009 and again in June 2010.

Hodge is scheduled to appear in court for sentencing in July, when he could face up to 20 years in prison.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Survey Finds Mixed Responses to Proposed Sales Tax

(PROVIDENCE, R.I.) -- A survey by Brown University has found that Rhode Island residents appear to have mixed opinions about Governor Lincoln Chafee’s plans to implement a sales tax to address the state’s budget deficit.

Governor Chafee is proposing implementing a sales tax on some goods and services that are currently tax-free, such as clothing, non-prescription drugs and textbooks, while adding a one-percent sales tax onto goods and services that are already taxed, such as heating fuels, taxi fares and residential water bills.

The survey was conducted on Rhode Island voters and was conducted March 11-13. The survey found that mixed support about taxes being added on some goods and services such as movie tickets and dry cleaning. However, voters were strongly against adding taxes to goods and services such as heating fuel, water bills, and textbooks.

The survey has a margin of error of approximately plus or minus 4.7 percent.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Operation Deception Officer to Receive Pension

(PROVIDENCE, R.I.) -- A Providence, R.I., police sergeant convicted in a drug operation code-named "Deception" will still receive his pension.

The Retirement Board rescinded its effort to reduce Stephen Gonsalves' pension on Wednesday. Providence's pension ordinance does not cover narcotics convictions.

Gonsalves was convicted in a drug investigation in December. He was sentenced to one year of probation.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio