Man Accused of First Degree Child Molestation Assault in Providence RI
Criminal Charges:
Man charged in the Providence County Rhode Island District Court (6th Division) for:
- First Degree Child Molestation Sexual Assault in violation of 11-37-8.1.
Case Overview:
Rhode Island State Police initiated a criminal investigation into allegations of First-Degree Child Molestation Sexual Assault by a teenage boy against a family friend. The boy, a Citizen and resident of Italy, claimed he was forced to perform oral sex on an adult male approximately five years ago while visiting family in Rhode Island during the summer. The teen also claimed the man unsuccessfully attempted to anally penetrate him during the same encounter. The teen claimed his younger brother was present to witness the entire incident. Police attempted a controlled call with the man during which time the teen’s aunt disclosed the molestation claims. The man vehemently denied any wrongdoing. The man is both a Citizen of Italy and Resident of the United States. Fearing he may flee the country after learning of the allegations, police arrested the man and charged him in Rhode Island District Court (6th Division) with First-Degree Child Molestation Sexual Assault. Over the Defense’s objection, the man was initially ordered to be held at the ACI without bail. Once detained, his family retained Rhode Island Sex Assault Criminal Defense Lawyer, John L. Calcagni III, to defend him in this matter.
Case Result: Bail Granted.
The matter proceeded to a bail hearing, which lasted three days and involved multiple witnesses. There was very little evidence to corroborate the teen’s claims. During Attorney Calcagni’s cross-examination of the complainant, he regularly expressed a lack of memory to many of the questions posed. He could also not pinpoint an exact year when the alleged event occurred. He admitted to not reporting it for years, and experienced consistent and normal contact with the accused for years after the fact and their families never observed or suspected anything of the ordinary between them. When the State presented the younger brother, on cross-examination by Attorney Calcagni, the boy denied seeing the alleged sexual assault, which directly contradicted his older brother’s testimony. Based on weaknesses in the State’s case, combined with the man’s strong family ties to Rhode Island, employment history, lack of criminal record, and character inconsistent with the teen’s claims, the Court granted Attorney Calcagni’s request for his client’s release on home confinement along with posting $100,000 surety bail and surrendering his passports.