Cape Verde citizen sentenced in Fall River Superior Court for raping minor he met in Taunton multiple times

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III has announced that a 32-year-old man pled guilty and was sentenced in the Fall River Superior Court on Child Rape charges.

Erickson Barbosa, of Brockton was sentenced to serve 7 years in the State Prison with 5 years of probation once released.   

In February of 2020, the 14-year-old female victim was walking in a Taunton Park with her 16-year-old sister.  Barbosa approached in his motor vehicle and asked for their Snapchat information.  Shortly thereafter, he began communicating with the victim over Snapchat. The defendant made plans to meet up with the victim on or about April 4, 2020.  Barbosa picked up the victim a few houses down from her residence at 4:00 a.m. and the two drove around together and smoked marijuana.  The victim had indicated she was 16 years of age, although Barbosa questioned that and made reference to the victim’s older sister who was 16.  While in the vehicle he raped the victim.  Barbosa then dropped the victim off close to her home.  The victim and defendant continued to exchange Snapchat messages, and they met in person on a subsequent date with no physical interaction occurring.  On or about April 20, 2020, Barbosa picked up the victim at 5:00 a.m.  At that time, he provided marijuana to the victim and while in his vehicle he raped the victim.  The victim and defendant continued to communicate over snapchat.  Screenshots of conversations were recovered and depict the victim’s statements that she did not consent to sex with Barbosa and that there was a physical struggle.  The Commonwealth also secured calls placed by the defendant from the House of Correction where he admits to having sex with the victim.   While the case was pending, Barbosa fled the Commonwealth in October 2024 and was taken into custody a short time later by the US Marshals in Florida and then extradited back to Massachusetts.  Barbosa is a citizen of Cape Verde.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Casey Smith.

“The defendant, who was not legally in this country, raped the 14-year-old victim and needs to be kept off the street.  The defendant should be deported once he is released from custody,” District Attorney Tom Quinn said.