Pawtucket man who molested girl known to him sentenced to prison on four counts of second-degree child molestation

Attorney General Peter Neronha announced that a Pawtucket man was sentenced to serve at the Adult Correctional Institutions after being found guilty of committing multiple counts of second-degree child molestation in 2019 against a female victim under the age of 14.

On June 13, 2022, following the conclusion of a four-day trial before Superior Court Justice Stephen P. Nugent, a jury found 57-year-old Johnnie Doe guilty of four counts of second-degree child molestation.

At a hearing on August 22, before Judge Nugent, the Court sentenced the defendant to 25 years, with 12 years to serve at the ACI and a 13-year suspended sentence with 25 years of probation. The Court further issued a no contact order between the defendant and his victim. Additionally, the defendant is required to register as a sex offender, must attend sex offender counseling, and is subject to community supervision requirements under state law.

“The courage that this young victim displayed in reporting the defendant’s crimes against her and facing him in court is something that will stay with me for a very long time. I admire her and her family very much for their commitment to ensuring that this defendant will no longer be in a position to harm others,” said Attorney General Neronha. “I am also deeply grateful for the outstanding investigative work by the Pawtucket Police Department in this case and in others as we work together to protect Rhode Island’s most vulnerable residents.”

During the trial, the State proved that on the evening of February 15, 2019, the defendant sexually assaulted a female victim under the age of 14, who was known to him, at a home in Pawtucket.

Immediately following the assault, the young victim called 911 and reported the incident to the Pawtucket Police Department. Investigators were able to affirmatively match DNA from the victim’s clothing and skin to that of the defendant.

Doe is facing additional sexual assault charges in a separate case pending in Providence County Superior Court.

Special Assistant Attorneys General Jonathan E. Burke and Taylor L. Matook of the Office of the Attorney General led the prosecution of the case and Detectives Craig Letourneau and Robert Cardente (retired) of the Pawtucket Police Department led the investigation.