East Greenwich man charged with sex assault and possession of narcotics after investigation by RISP Major Crimes Unit

EAST GREENWICH, RI – An East Greenwich man was charged with the sexual assault of a
15-year-old girl and narcotics charges after Rhode Island State Police seized more
than $30,000 worth of cocaine, marijuana and amphetamines from his home earlier
today.

Austin W. Almeida, 21, of 187 Kent Drive, East Greenwich, was charged with:

* Two (2) counts of 1st Degree Sexual Assault.
* One (1) count of 3rd Degree Sexual Assault.
* One (1) count of Purchase/Procurement of Alcohol for a Minor.
* One (1) count of Possession of One (1) Ounce to One (1) Kilogram of Cocaine.
* One (1) count of Possession with Intent to Deliver Schedule II drug (Adderall).
* One (1) count of Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana.

Major Dennis Fleming, Detective Commander, said Almeida was initially arrested on a
warrant stemming from an investigation by the Major Crimes Unit into allegations
that Almeida had sex with a 15-year-old girl, in violation of a state law that makes
the age of consent 16. In addition, Almeida allegedly forced the girl to have sex
without her consent on at least two occasions.

Members of the Major Crimes Unit arrested Almeida at his home without incident, but
while there, they allegedly saw a digital scale and large amounts of marijuana in
plain view, the commander said. They obtained a court-authorized search warrant for
his house, which resulted in the seizure of approximately 36 grams of cocaine, 468
grams of marijuana, 327 Adderall pills and $32, 670 in United States currency. The
street value of the seized narcotics is estimated at $13,000.

Almeida was processed at the Rhode Island State Police Headquarters and later
brought before the Honorable Judge Mary E. McCaffrey at 3rd District Court, where he
was arraigned and held without bail on the above charges and as a probation
violator. Almeida was also ordered to have no contact with the victim.