By Steve Klamkin WPRO News

A convicted sex offender who spent nearly three decades in prison was arrested Thursday morning by Rhode Island State Police, charged with fraudulently using a stolen casino rewards card belonging to a woman who said she doesn’t know him.

And Richard Gardner, 56, had 12 more Bally’s Twin River Casino Rewards cards when troopers arrested him at his Lincoln home, according to a prosecutor.

Gardner was held without bail on a probation violation following brief appearances in Warwick District and Superior Courts in Kent County. He was charged with five counts of accessing a computer for fraudulent purposes, obtaining money under false pretenses and receiving stolen goods.

A woman who tried to use her rewards card at Bally’s Twin River Casino Resort February 6 found points and cash value had already been charged to the card, said Assistant Attorney General Eric Batista.

“An investigation further revealed that this defendant utilized the stolen rewards cards throughout December, January and early February this month, redeeming a total of $2,375 of free play that was not his,” Batista said.

Gardner served about 29 years on convictions for kidnapping and sexually assaulting children in the 1980’s.