R.I. fishing captain charged in ’10 assault

A Rhode Island man working as a captain of a Massachusetts fishing vessel has been indicted on charges stemming from allegations he assaulted two federal monitors posted on his boat to collect fishing data. The federal workers monitor fishing activities and collect data onboard commercial vessels under the terms of the nation’s fisheries law. Prosecutors said yesterday that Richard Wetherell, 50, forcibly assaulted, impeded, intimidated, sexually harassed, and interfered with the two workers while his vessel was fishing last July. Prosecutors said Wetherell, of Jamestown, R.I., committed the offenses onboard the FV Jessica & Susan, which is registered in New Bedford. He faces up to six months in prison and a $100,000 fine if convicted on each of the two counts.