Police Captain’s Wife Threatens Judge Caprio – Gets Historic Punishment She’ll Never Forget
🚨 Justice Prevails: Judge Caprio, the Captain’s Wife, and the Ultimate Betrayal
When Christine Morrison, wife of Providence Police Captain David Morrison, attempted to use her husband’s high rank to threaten and influence Judge Frank Caprio in the Providence Municipal Court, the situation immediately escalated from a criminal case to a confrontation over privilege and corruption. Her arrogance was met not only with the full force of the law but also with a devastating public betrayal by the man whose badge she invoked.
The Crime and the Attitude
Christine Morrison, 42, faced severe charges stemming from an incident where she drove while intoxicated (Blood Alcohol Level of $0.15$, nearly twice the legal limit), ran a stop sign, struck an elderly couple (Robert Chen, 73, and Margaret Chen, 71), causing serious bodily injury, and then left the scene of the accident.
The Victims: The Chens suffered catastrophic injuries, including broken ribs, a shattered collarbone (Robert), a fractured hip, broken wrist, and severe concussion (Margaret). Their medical bills exceeded $180,000, and their quality of life was severely impacted.
The Defendant’s Conduct: Christine paused for 15 seconds at the scene, heard Margaret screaming, and then drove away, hiding her damaged Mercedes in her garage and pretending to be asleep when police arrived. Her first words to the arresting officers were, “Do you know who my husband is?”
Courtroom Arrogance: Entering the courtroom in designer clothes, Christine displayed an attitude of boredom and entitlement, checking her phone and showing no discernible remorse. Her expensive attorney, Marcus Webb, argued that she was in shock and was already punished by shame.
The Catastrophic Mistake and the Threat
When Judge Caprio pressed Christine directly on her failure to contact the victims or show remorse, she stated her attorney advised against contact for “legal strategy,” prioritizing self-protection over human decency.
Driven by a lifetime of using her husband’s position to avoid accountability, Christine made her decisive and catastrophic error by standing up and addressing the judge directly:
“Your honor, perhaps you don’t know who I am. I’m Christine Morrison. My husband is Captain David Morrison of the Providence Police Department. He’s one of the highest ranking officers in this city. When you start imposing harsh penalties… you’re going to create problems. Problems for you, problems for this court, problems that could be avoided if we just handle this reasonably.”
She openly threatened the judge, expecting her husband’s badge to act as a “magic shield”.
The Public Betrayal and Moral Clarity
Judge Caprio, maintaining a calm demeanor, asked if Captain Morrison was in the courtroom. A man in the back row stood up and identified himself as Captain David Morrison, Christine’s husband. He had heard every word.
The Captain was asked to approach the bench. He walked past his wife without looking at her, pulling his arm away when she reached for him desperately. Before the court, Captain Morrison delivered a devastating statement:
Disavowal: He stated he had no idea his wife planned to use his name and had explicitly told her not to.
Accountability: He recused himself from the case immediately upon hearing the facts and was here to support the justice system, not her attempt to manipulate it.
Ultimate Stance: He told Judge Caprio that he did not support his wife’s actions or threats and wanted her to face the full consequences of her choices. He then delivered the final blow: “If the court is wondering whether to impose the maximum penalty, I’m here to say, Do it.”
Humanity: He revealed he had already visited the Chen family in the hospital to apologize for what his wife did, and he was ashamed.
Divorce: He concluded by announcing he was filing for divorce, stating he could not remain married to someone who showed no real remorse, endangered lives, and used his career and honor as a weapon to avoid accountability.
Captain Morrison was hailed by Judge Caprio for his integrity and moral courage, showing what law enforcement should represent. Christine, crying tears of panic, realized her shield was gone, and she was truly alone.
The Sentence and the Aftermath
Judge Caprio delivered a sentence that was severe and purposeful, targeting not just the crime but her arrogance and attempted corruption:
Charge
Penalty
DUI Causing Bodily Injury
$5,000 fine + 1-year license suspension
Leaving the Scene w/ Injuries
$2,500 fine + 60 days in jail (served on weekends)
Attempting to Influence Court
300 hours Community Service at Rhode Island Hospital trauma center (working with accident victims)
Mandatory Conditions
1 year mandatory alcohol counseling, random alcohol testing, and writing apology letters to the Chens with a required offer for a face-to-face meeting.
The total impact was $7,500 in fines, 60 days in jail, 300 hours of service, and the public loss of her marriage and privilege.
Christine was led away, facing consequences for the first time. The Captain became a national hero of integrity. Christine, eventually working at the trauma center, had a chance encounter with Margaret Chen, who told her she didn’t know if she could ever forgive her, but she could see Christine was trying to change. Margaret emphasized that Captain Morrison was a hero for choosing justice over his wife.
A year later, Christine completed her sentence, now sober, humble, and working a regular job. She had lost her wealth, freedom, and husband, but, as Judge Caprio noted, she had finally found accountability.
