Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that today John Avarista (age 35), of Cranston, RI, pleaded nolo contendere before Superior Court Magistrate John F. McBurney to one count of domestic strangulation and one count of violation of a no contact order third offense. Under the terms of the plea, Avarista was sentenced to a total of 15 years with five years to serve and the remainder suspended with probation. In addition, the defendant was ordered to have no contact with the victim.
The sentenced imposed today runs consecutive to a previous 21-month sentence imposed by Superior Court Justice Daniel A. Procaccini on July 13, 2017 for violating the terms and conditions of a previous domestic violence felony conviction.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove on the evening of June 29, 2017, the defendant physically assaulted a female with whom he was in a domestic relationship while the two were staying with an acquaintance at a residence in West Warwick. After the assault, the victim contacted the West Warwick Police Department. When officers responded to the scene, the defendant was found in the presence of the victim, in violation of a no contact order from a pending domestic violence felony case.
West Warwick Police Detective Jesse Tuomisto led the investigation with the assistance of Detective Dana Packer of the Lincoln Police Department. Special Assistant Attorneys General Shannon G. Signore and James E. Smith prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.