Warwick investigation leads to 19-year prison sentence for Massachusetts man

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced last week that a Massachusetts man was sentenced by the Kent County Superior Court to 19 years in the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) for sexually assaulting a male victim under the age of 14 in Warwick.

At a hearing on Sept. 6, Judge Luis M. Matos sentenced 32-year-old Joao Soares to 40 years in prison, including 19 years in the ACI and 21 years suspended with 40 years probation, according to Neronha's office.

“The defendant must also register as a sex offender, comply with all statutory requirements related to sex offender registration, and complete sex offender counseling,” the Attorney General said in a press release. “There is also a no-contact order between the defendant and the victim and with children under the age of 16.”

On June 5, after a three-day trial, a jury found the defendant guilty of seven counts of first-degree child abuse and one count of second-degree child abuse.

“Behind every child sexual abuse case we prosecute is a brave victim who, despite incredible trauma, brought her attacker to justice,” Neronha said in a press release. “I want to thank the victim in this case for her incredible courage in coming forward and giving a strong statement in court, which ensured the accused was held accountable for his crimes. I am grateful to the Warwick Police Department for their outstanding work during the investigation and prosecution of this case.”

During the trial, the prosecution was able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant sexually abused a male offender under the age of 14 known to him in a home in Warwick between 2007 and 2009, according to Neronha's office.

“The victim's courage in coming forward allowed justice to be served, and for that I am grateful,” said Warwick Police Chief Colonel Bradford Connor. “I appreciate the efforts of our investigators and prosecutors in the Attorney General's Office in their successful investigation and prosecution of this offender. Hopefully this verdict will help the victim and her loved ones in the ongoing healing process.”

Special Assistant Attorneys General Arthur DeFelice and Doug Ciullo led the prosecution; Warwick Police Sgt. Nate Chea and Detective Joseph DeDonato (retired) led the investigation.