Journalist, former talk radio host sentenced to prison in Fall River for indecently, physically assaulting pre-teen relative

A 53-year-old journalist and former local talk radio host was convicted by a jury of his peers yesterday in Fall River District Court of indecently assaulting and physically assaulting his pre-teen close female relative, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

The jury convicted Richard Oliveira of Indecent Assault and Battery on a Person Under the Age of 14 and Assault and Battery.

During the trial, the victim testified that when she was eight years old, she entered Oliveira’s bedroom seeking comfort during a dark stormy night. Once inside the bedroom, Oliveira sexually molested her. Then, about two years later, Oliveira punished the victim for throwing out his cigarettes by dragging her around the house by her hair and, while doing so, ripped some of her hair off of her head. The victim testified that she got rid of the cigarettes because she was suffering from asthma and that it was difficult for her to breathe when Oliveira smoked.

The crimes occurred in Swansea, where the defendant resides.

During the victim’s impact statement to the court this afternoon, she stated that she has suffered through years of anxiety and depression as a result of what Oliveira did to her. She said she still fears walking alone on the street and said what happened to her has tainted her childhood.

During the sentencing hearing today, Assistant District Attorney Kyle McPherson requested that the defendant serve the maximum two-and-a-half year jail term for the indecent assault and an additional one year in jail for the physical assault for a total of three-and-a-half years in jail. The defense asked for no jail time, and instead sought a three-to-five-year probationary term.

Oliveira was sentenced by Judge Cynthia Brackett to two years in the house of corrections, with one year to serve and the balance suspended for three years. If Oliveira violates any terms of his eventual release or commits a new crime, he could be liable to serve the remainder of the suspended jail sentence.

The case was investigated by Detective Sergeant Jonathan Boyd, Sergeant Keith Chomka, and Officer Robert Wilson of the Swansea Police Department.

“The defendant took advantage of his position of trust and engaged in despicable conduct by molesting an eight year old girl. In addition, he later violently assaulted the girl. The defendant’s conduct is difficult to comprehend,” District Attorney Quinn. “Based on the facts of the case, I feel the defendant should have been sentenced to a longer period of incarceration. I commend the victim for coming forward and fir testifying in court under very difficult circumstances.”