Former Westerly Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Child Molestation

LPR – Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that Joshua Rathbun (age 41), formerly of Westerly and currently of Utah, was sentenced today by Superior Court Justice Melanie Wilk Thunberg to 40 years, with 25 years to serve and the remainder suspended with probation, for child molestation. In addition, Rathbun was ordered to have no contact with the victim, must undergo sex offender counseling and, upon release from the ACI, must comply with the state’s sex offender registration and community notification statute. In June 2015, Rathbun was found guilty of two counts of first degree child molestation by a jury after an eight-day trial.

During the trial, the State proved that Rathbun molested a girl, who was known to him, on diverse dates between 2003 and 2006. The abuse began when the victim was four years of age and ended when she was seven years of age. She reported the abuse to her mother when she was 13 years of age. The victim’s mother reported the abuse to the Rhode Island State Police.

«The victim in this case was just four years old when the defendant molested her and continued until she was seven years old. It is almost unbearable to think of someone so young and innocent being abused in such a horrific manner. She deserves our great praise for coming forward to share her story of the abuse with her mother and police. Her strength to do so and to face her abuser in Court is the reason he is going to serve a very long jail sentence where he cannot hurt any other children,» said Attorney General Peter Kilmartin.

Rhode Island State Police Detective Richard Ptaszek led the investigation. Assistant Attorney General Mark Trovato prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.