Cranston Child Molestation Case: Successful Defense Outcome

Criminal Charges:

Cranston resident charged in the Rhode Island Superior Court (Providence County) for:

• Multiple Counts of Second-Degree Child Molestation Sexual Assault, in violation of R.I.G.L. § 11-37-8.3 and 11-37-8.4

Case Overview:

Cranston Police received a report from authorities in Florida that a teenager living there accused a man residing in Cranston of 2nd Degree Child Molestation Sexual Assault. The accuser was a cousin of the man’s wife. All members of this family were immigrants from Haiti. At one point in time, the accuser lived with the man and his wife. Due to behavioral issues and their inability to discipline her, she relocated to live with other relatives in Florida. Once there, she accused the man of repeatedly sexually abusing her between the ages of 13 and 16. Her claims were that the man repeatedly touched her breasts and vagina, kissed her, and forced her to repeatedly touch his penis. She made no claims of penetration. Based on her uncorroborated claims alone, the man was arrested and charged in Rhode Island Superior Court with six counts of child molestation. He retained Rhode Island Sex Assault Defense Lawyers, John L. Calcagni III and John E. MacDonald.

Case Result: Amended Charge and 6-Year Suspended Sentence with Probation.

This dynamic duo conducted discovery, performed their own investigation, and prepped the case for trial. Based on their efforts and overall reputation for courtroom success, Attorneys Calcagni and MacDonald successfully persuaded the prosecution to resolve this case by amending the one child molestation charge to the non-sex offense charge of felony assault. In exchange for the man’s admission to this amended and less serious charge, he received a 6-year suspended sentence with probation. The remaining five counts were dismissed. This disposition allowed the man to avoid both jail time and sex offender registration.