Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that Superior Court Justice Daniel A. Procaccini today sentenced Antonio Acosta (age 70), of Providence, to 15 years to serve for child molestation and sexual assault. In addition, Acosta was ordered to have no contact with the victim and must participate in sex offender counseling while incarcerated and comply with the state's sex offender and community notification statute upon release. Acosta was found guilty by a Providence County Superior Court jury in May of three counts of second degree child molestation and one count of first degree sexual assault.
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 defendant was a close friend to the victim's family. 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.
"The defendant is a sexual predator who abused the trust of a young girl," said Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin.
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.