Updated August 25
An Oak Bluffs man, Ryan Fisher, admitted to sufficient facts on a charge of malicious destruction of property under $1,200 Monday afternoon in Edgartown District Court. The charge stems from jailhouse damage caused when Ryan Fisher and his brother, Matthew Fisher, were arrested after a ruckus at the Cardboard Box in February 2020. They were charged with malicious destruction of property and disorderly conduct.
On Feb. 29, 2020, Fisher and his brother were taken from the Cardboard Box to the Dukes County Jail and were placed in a cell, Cape and Islands Assistant District Attorney Michael Preble told the court. At about 1:05 am, Ryan Fisher disabled a camera in his cell, Preble said. Video showed Fisher climbing bars and yanking wires off the camera. A report from the Dukes County Sheriff’s Office provided to The Times by Major Greg Arpin indicates Fisher may have also damaged a light fixture and another camera. The report also alleges Ryan Fisher and his brother were “noncompliant,” “argumentative,” and “hostile” while at the jail.
Judge Marianne Hinkle accepted a plea agreement forged between Fisher’s attorney, Mathew Schmitt, and Preble. The agreement continues the case without a finding for one year.
Preble said restitution has already been paid by Fisher’s brother. In light of Fisher’s plea, Preble dropped the other malicious destruction of property charge against Ryan Fisher for his alleged behavior at the Cardboard Box, as well as the disorderly conduct charge.
Fisher has other court dates this fall and winter, including a trial for his alleged participation in a West Tisbury home invasion.
Updated with details from a Dukes County Sheriff’s Office report.
Damn that shirt makes my belly look big
The most salient comment I have ever read in the Times.
I work and spend a lot of time with Ryan! This is an inaccurate description of him! People make mistakes! I’m wondering if the person who decided that this was news worthy ever did something he regretted!?! He is in the courtroom paying for what he did! Ryan is a hard worker, nicest person you could meet, and would give the shirt off his back for people! That side of him wasn’t in the article??? I feel there’s a lot more important things to talk about other than someone’s mistakes!?!
How about we talk about substance abuse then? These destructive behaviors don’t just happen to happen to nice people— if they’re sober.
If you knew this person, you would know that he’s been working on himself and getting clean! We should be talking about the problem, not pointing out people’s shortcomings!!! An article about the real issues and real solutions should be written about!
Mr Simmons. A mistake is when I do a math problem incorrectly or I enter a ATM code with the wrong pin. What Ryan did is not a mistake it was malicious action at the restaurant and then destruction of property at the Jailhouse. This is pre meditated. You need to understand the difference between a mistake and malfeasance/thuggery. Your labbelling it a mistake makes me worry about you.