Standing outside of the Washington Park Library in the heart of his Ward 10, Aponte said his indictment on charges of embezzlement and misuse of campaign funds felt like a punch in the gut. But he will fight to remain in his post due to the overwhelming and "humbling" support he has seen from the South Providence community that elected him.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Indicted City Council President Luis A. Aponte has refused to give up his post despite the criminal charges against him.

"To step down from the council presidency would be seen as an admission of guilt," Aponte said Monday in front of a crowd that cheered and clapped for the councilman who last week stood before a judge in handcuffs.

Standing outside of the Washington Park Library in the heart of his Ward 10, Aponte said his indictment on charges of embezzlement and misuse of campaign funds felt like a punch in the gut. But he will fight to remain in his post due to the overwhelming and "humbling" support he has seen from the South Providence community that elected him.

"I can win back the trust of my colleagues," Aponte said in his first public remarks since his arraignment.

Aponte, 53, faces two felony charges — embezzlement and personal use of campaign funds. Each carries the potential for 20 years behind bars. He faces two other misdemeanor charges for misuse of campaign funds.

Nearly 100 supporters gathered to hear Aponte's statement. Many wore black T-shirts that read, "It's a SouthSide thing. You don't understand." Supporters said the shirts were meant to show that the community is still behind Aponte and many believe he has been misjudged.

But there was a stark contrast Monday between Aponte's home base filled with members of Latino and community groups and the scene at Providence City Hall. In a special meeting called solely to address Aponte's ability to lead, city lawmakers took a "no confidence" vote that passed, 12-1.

Aponte was the sole voice of dissent on the resolution calling for his immediate resignation. Councilman Kevin Jackson, who also has been indicted on embezzlement charges and was recalled in an election earlier this month, was not present. (He still officially holds the Ward 3 seat until the council declares it vacant.)

Councilwoman Carmen Castillo abstained. She said she felt the resolution was premature because Aponte has not been found guilty.

What weight the resolution will carry isn't clear.

Emily Crowell, a spokeswoman for the city, said the city charter includes a process for declaring a vacancy in an elected office if the official has been "convicted of a felony or crime of moral turpitude and has exhausted all appeals." But no such process exists for an official who has been indicted.

Mayor Jorge Elorza has also called for Aponte to step down.

Ward 2 Councilman Samuel Zurier said Aponte's actions have created an issue of public confidence. Council members have called for Aponte to step down from his leadership position, but have not said he should give up his council seat.

Zurier said he believes that’s the best way to handle the situation, because the council president has a "citywide role." It should be up to a lawmaker’s constituents to decide whether or not a candidate should continue to represent a ward, Zurier said.

The message from Aponte's most fervent supporters Monday was this: Keep him in office.

Sofie Luna, the daughter of the late Providence Councilman Miguel Luna, said it was unfair to expect Aponte to step aside before his case is resolved.

Asked about the meaning of the shirts the group wore suggesting that those outside of South Providence don't understand, Luna said, "The community that he's in has faith in him. I don't understand why [the council] is voting for something the community doesn't want."

The charges against Aponte surround his "Friends of Luis Aponte" campaign finance account that currently holds $14,457. In 2016, the account was depleted to $515.40 before Aponte made a $13,942.29 deposit under the description "reimburse campaign account."

On Monday, Aponte said he has "owned up to mistakes and was seeking to correct them" but had not done anything criminal. He said he attempted to rectify the issues with the Board of Elections.

"The Board of Elections had leadership changes that took its course on this. But it was not because we did not cooperate," Aponte said.

— jbogdan@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7493

On Twitter: @JenniferBogdan