Pawtucket Man Sentenced for Child Molestation

Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that Ricardo Romero (age 35), of Pawtucket, was sentenced today to 20 years, with seven years to serve and the remainder suspended with probation, after having been found guilty in May of three counts of second degree child molestation. The sentence was imposed by Superior Court Justice Robert D. Krause who presided over the trial. Justice Krause also ordered Romero to have no contact with the victim and to undergo sexual offender counseling. Upon release, Romero must register as a sex offender.

During the trial, the State proved that on multiple occasions between August 2012 and February 2013, Romero molested a seven-year-old girl known to him. The victim reported the abuse to her mother who contacted the Providence Police.

«The sexual or physical abuse of a child is one of the most deplorable crimes one can commit. Children are perhaps our most vulnerable victims as they are less likely to report the abuse out of fear of their abuser. For this young girl to tell her mother about the abuse took a great deal of courage, and now he can no longer victimize her,» said Attorney General Kilmartin.

Providence Police Detective Christopher Rotella 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.