PLYMOUTH MASS-Longtime Plymouth veterinarian Arthur “Rick” Newman was arrested last week on drug charges outside the Plymouth County Courthouse, adding to a mounting series of legal troubles that already included charges of sexual harassment and violating a restraining order.
Newman, 77, a fixture in the local veterinary community since 1974, was taken into custody on Thursday after a Massachusetts state trooper observed him driving slowly in the courthouse parking lot during the high-profile murder trial of Lindsay Clancy.
According to police reports, Trooper Kas-Wayne Samuels approached Newman’s 2016 Honda Odyssey after finding it parked in a handicapped space with the headlights on. The trooper observed Newman smoking crack cocaine from a glass pipe inside the vehicle.
A subsequent search of the car revealed an assortment of drugs, including vials, bottles, and approximately 400 Xanax and gabapentin pills—some of which appeared to be formulated for animals. While Newman told the trooper he was a licensed veterinarian permitted to possess medications, records indicate his license to dispense controlled substances had expired in 2025.
Newman was charged with drug offenses and operating an unregistered and uninsured vehicle. At his arraignment the following day, Plymouth District Court Judge Shelby Smith revoked his bail on two pending criminal cases. He is currently being held without bail at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility and is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 17.
The recent arrest marks the latest development in a legal spiral that began in late 2024. In December of that year, Newman was charged with indecent assault and battery and criminal harassment following allegations from a former employee at his practice. The woman told police that Newman subjected her to a pattern of unwanted touching, groping, and inappropriate comments between July 2023 and November 2024, when she ultimately resigned.
In February 2026, Newman was arrested a second time for allegedly violating a harassment prevention order after sending an inappropriate email containing a link to a fake pornographic site. During a subsequent visit to Newman’s home regarding that incident, officers reportedly discovered additional unprescribed pills, leading to further drug possession charges.
Newman has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His defense attorney, Krysten Condon, declined to comment when contacted regarding the cases, though court records indicate that authorities have held hearings to evaluate Newman’s mental competency to stand trial.
State licensing records indicate Newman maintains an active veterinary license, though his pop-up practice, Vet Pet Pals, is now listed online as closed. Known to many local pet owners for decades of providing affordable and accessible care, Newman’s recent arrests have sent shockwaves through the community, contrasting sharply with the positive reputation he long held among many clients.
