Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that Eric Mensah (age 38), of Pawtucket, was sentenced on Friday, November 24, 2017, to a total of 35 years, with 25 years to serve and the remainder suspended with probation for multiple counts of first and second degree child molestation. In addition, Menash was ordered to have no contact with the victim, must undergo alcohol counseling and sex offender counseling, and is subject to lifetime sex offender registration and community notification.
Menash was found guilty in September of two counts of first degree child molestation and two counts of second degree child molestation after a 10-day trial presided over by Superior Court Justice Netti C. Vogel.
During the trial, the State proved that Menash molested his biological daughter on multiple locations between August 30, 2013 and December 20, 2015. The molestation began after the child moved from Ghana to Pawtucket to reside with her father.
The victim testified during the trial that she was afraid to report the molestation because the defendant physically assaulted and threatened her if she disclosed. The victim finally disclosed to her babysitter the physical and sexual abuse on December 20, 2015. The next morning, the babysitter reported the abuse and molestation to a school counselor who in turn contacted DCYF.
A forensic interview was conducted at the Children's Advocacy Center at Day One on December 22, 2015, after which the defendant was arrested and charged by the Pawtucket Police Department.
"This young girl came to this country with the hopes and dreams of a better life than she could have in her home country of Ghana, only for the one person she should have been able to trust unequivocally, physically and sexually assault her almost from the day she arrived. She showed tremendous strength and courage in coming forward to report the violence and intimidation perpetrated on her by her father. It is my sincerest hope that she feels safe knowing her abuser will not be able to harm her again," said Attorney General Kilmartin.
Pawtucket Police Detectives Charles "Chip" Devine and Carrie Hormanski led the investigation and Special Assistant Attorney General and Chief of the Child Abuse Unit Shannon Signore prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.