Previous sex offender convicted of disturbing crimes against children in New Bedford denied parole

A Bristol County man will remain behind bars after losing his bid for parole.

According to the Parole Board, on January 20, 2008, Corey Saunders approached a 6-year-old child in a New Bedford Library while the child’s mother used a computer in a nearby room. After speaking with the child briefly, he guided the child to an area between two bookshelves. While there, Saunders put his hand down the victim’s pants and touched his penis and then put the victim’s penis in his mouth and bit it. Saunders was arrested later that day. 

On February 2, 2009, in Bristol Superior Court, Corey Saunders pleaded guilty to rape of a child with force. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole to run concurrent with the sentence he was currently serving. On that same date, he pleaded guilty to: indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 for which he received a from and after sentence of probation for life, indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 for which he received a sentence of 9-10 years, enticing a child under 16 for which he received a sentence of 4-5 years, and threatening to commit a crime for which he received a 6 month House of Correction sentence. All sentences were to be served concurrently. 

At the time of his 2008 rape, Saunders was on probation for his sexual abuse of a 7- year-old boy. On December 30, 1999, 17-year-old Corey Saunders was placed at the victim’s home as an emergency shelter through DSS. During a SAIN interview, the victim disclosed that, on the same night Saunders arrived at the home, he approached him while he was watching television and told him to pull his “Pull Up” diaper down. Saunders then put his penis in the victim’s anus until he was interrupted by the victim’s mother entering the room. 

On July 9, 2024, Corey Saunders, represented by Attorney Debra Beard-Bader, appeared before the Board for an initial hearing. In addition to the testimony presented at the hearing, the Board received and considered substantial written material, including, but not limited to, records of the Department of Correction that described Saunders’ history while incarcerated, submissions received from Saunders and his attorney, records related to his prior commitment as a Sexually Dangerous Person, and records related to the criminal cases against Saunders. 

The Board stated in results released in October of 2024 that during the hearing, Saunders discussed sexual predator behaviors before the Board. His disclosures, while candid and forthcoming, suggested he needs to invest more fully with his mental health providers.

Saunders has completed Sex Offender Treatment Program and is currently in maintenance. The Board considered the attributes of the juvenile brain and Saunder’s mental development. The Board encourages Saunders to continue to engage in programming and vocational training.

The Board concluded by unanimous decision that Saunders has not demonstrated a level of rehabilitation that would make his release compatible with the welfare of society.