Watson's Arraignment Continued; Treatment Whereabouts Unknown

East Greenwich Rep. Bob Watson, R-30, had his arraignment on marijuana possession charges continued to March 1 Thursday morning in South Kingstown. He was not in court. His lawyer, Timothy Williamson, told Judge Mary McCaffrey his client was in treatment out of state for substance abuse.

, in South Kingstown after he was caught with a baggie of marijuana and a pipe in a parking lot on Tower Hill Road.

Although and the said he saw Watson drive into the lot and pull into a snowbank, police did not give the former House Minority Leader a field sobriety test or ask him to submit to a chemical alcohol-detection test.

Two days later, through a spokesman, Watson announced that he was entering rehab.

Judge McCaffrey told Williamson he had one week to inform the court and the prosecutor the identity of the treatment facility Watson was in.

"That is a bit unusual," she said about Williamson's inability to give Watson's location.

Williamson said he had not spoken to Watson for more than a week, but that Watson's brother had said they had been looking at facilities "out West or down South."

"We're always happy when people with apparent substance-abuse issues seek help," said Terrence Simpson, South Kingstown special counsel. But, he said, "let us know where he is."