Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that Ricardo Florez, age 51, with a last known address of 27 Summit Street, Central Falls, was sentenced on Tuesday to 20 years, with eight to serve and the remainder suspended with probation, for one count of second degree child molestation. Florez was found guilty by a jury on March 31, 2014 after a trial before Superior Court Justice Daniel A. Procaccini.
In addition, the defendant was ordered to have no contact with the victim, undergo sex offender counseling and is subject to sex offender registration and community notification upon release.
During the course of the trial, the State provide beyond a reasonable doubt that on August 1, 2010, Florez molested a young boy in the bathroom of a McDonald's on Armistice Boulevard in Pawtucket. The victim, who was 13 years of age at the time, was approached by the defendant in the bathroom. Exposing himself, the defendant solicited the victim and grabbed his hand in attempt to force the victim to touch him.
The victim reported the incident immediately to his father, who contacted the Pawtucket Police. The Police apprehended the defendant a few days later after spotting him riding his bicycle in the same vicinity that the incident occurred
"This brave young victim was able to escape from his abuser before something worse happened, yet no child should ever be in a position where they need to escape from a sexual predator," said Attorney General Kilmartin. "This sentence assures the community that Mr. Florez will serve a significant sentence and be subject to sex offender registration and community notification for essentially the rest of his life."
Pawtucket Police Detective Charles Devine led the investigation and Assistant Attorney General Scott Erickson prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.