Lincoln RI First Degree Sexual Assault Child Molestation Case
Criminal Charges:
Man charged in the Providence County Rhode Island District Court (6th Division) for:
- First Degree Sexual Assault Child Molestation in violation of RIGL § 11-37-8.1
City, State, County and Court:
Lincoln, Rhode Island, Providence County
Rhode Island District Court (6th Division)
Case Overview:
A man was accused by his stepdaughter of sexual assault. The 12 year-old told a school social worker that she was molested by him at age 9. She specifically said the man, while intoxicated, would tickle her, and during this process, move his hand up her leg, onto her vagina, and then would place his fingers inside her vagina. She claims he did not multiple times. School officials notified Lincoln Police. A deeper investigation into the complainant revealed that she made a similar report years earlier to both Woonsocket Police, when living in that city, and also the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). Charges were not filed at that time because the young girl recanted. This time around, based solely on the girl’s unsubstantiated claim, her stepfather was arrested and charged with First Degree Sexual Assault Child Molestation in Rhode Island District Court. The Court ordered that he remain held without bail. His wife (and the complainant’s mother) hired Rhode Island Sex Assault Defense Lawyer, John L. Calcagni III, to defend him in this matter.
Case Result: Dismissed.
In preparation for a bail hearing, Attorney Calcagni and his team interviewed the girl with her mother present. She recanted again, this time claimed that she made the allegation because she feared she was about to move out of her apartment in Lincoln, and did not want to leave the area because of her many friends there. Attorney Calcagni and his legal team documented this important development, and shared it with prosecutors and the judge. As a result of this development, Attorney Calcagni secured his client’s release on bail. Several months later, he worked further with the prosecutor’s office, and ultimately secured the dismissal of this case.