Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin today announced that George Tabora (age 54), of East Greenwich, RI, was found guilty by a Kent County Superior Court jury of two counts of second degree child molestation. The jury returned the verdict after five hours of deliberations following a five-day trial presided over by Superior Court Justice Brian P. Stern.
During the trial, the State provided that Tabora molested a young boy known to him, with the molestation being in the second degree. The molestation occurred when the victim was seven and eight years of age.
When the victim's mother feared the defendant had physically abused her son, she contacted the Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center seeking assistance and guidance. An advocate at the Center in turn reported the possible abuse to the Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF).
In the course of the investigation, the victim was examined by physicians at the Aubin Child Protection Center at Hasbro Children's Hospital and subsequently started mental health counseling. The victim, who suffered nightmares and lived in fear the defendant was going to hurt him, disclosed the molestation to his counselor.
After the disclosure, the victim was brought to the Children's Advocacy Center at Day One for a formal, recorded interview. The defendant was charged and arrested a short time after.
The defendant was ordered held without bail after the verdict and sentencing is scheduled for March 31, 2017.
East Greenwich Police Detectives Kerrie Mazur and Bryan McManus led the investigation and Assistant Attorney General Stephen Regine prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.