Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that yesterday a Providence County Superior Court jury found Antonio Acosta (age 69), of Providence, guilty of three counts of second degree child molestation and one count of first degree sexual assault. The jury returned the guilty verdict in four hours after a five-day trial before Superior Court Justice Daniel A. Procaccini.
During the course of the trial, the State proved that over a three year period, Acosta molested a young girl from the time she was 11 years of age to 14 years of age. The victim was not related to the defendant, although she perceived him as a grandfatherly figure in her life.
The victim reported the abuse to a school counselor, who in turn contacted the Department of Children, Youth and Families. Soon after, the Pawtucket Police initiated a criminal investigation.
Pawtucket Police Detective Raymond Doran led the investigation. Special Assistant Attorney General Kaitlin Tracey prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.
Acosta remains out on bail pending sentencing.