R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-17-2: “Not guilty” plea inferred.

If any person on being arraigned for an offense shall stand mute or not answer directly, or shall peremptorily challenge a greater number of the persons summoned as jurors than he or she is by law entitled to challenge, the plea of “not guilty” shall be entered on the record, the supernumerary challenges shall be disregarded, and the trial shall proceed as if the prisoner had pleaded “not guilty” and as if he or she had not made the challenges.