Man Charged of Capital Felony in East Providence
Criminal Charges:
Man charged in the Rhode Island District Court (6th Division) for:
- Domestic First-Degree Sexual Assault, in violation of RIGL § 11-37-2
- Domestic Assault by Strangulation, in violation of RIGL § 11-5-2.3
- Domestic Refusal Relinquish a Telephone, in violation of RIGL § 11-35-14
- Domestic Simple Assault and/or Battery, in violation of RIGL § 11-5-3(b)
- Domestic Disorderly Conduct, in violation of RIGL § 11-45-1(a)
City, State, County and Court:
East Providence, Rhode Island, Providence County
Rhode Island District Court (6th Division)
Case Overview:
A young woman reported to East Providence Police that her boyfriend has recently raped, strangled, and assaulted her. She claimed the man returned home from work intoxicated. He allegedly picked her up from the coach in the living room and transported her to their bedroom. She further alleged that he tore her clothing off, despite her efforts to resist him, put on a condom, and raped and choked her simultaneously. Just when she through the ordeal was over, she attempted to call police, but the man snatched to phone from her hands, and struck her with a closed just. He then warned her to not provoke him. She made her claims some days later. She offered no physical evidence, witnesses, or any other form of corroboration to support her claims. Based solely on her words, police arrested the man and charged him in Rhode Island District Court (6th Division) with Domestic First-Degree Sexual Assault, Domestic Strangulation, Domestic Refusal Relinquish a Telephone, Domestic Simple Assault and Domestic Disorderly Conduct. Because the sexual assault charge is considered a capital felony (punishable by up to life imprisonment), the man was initially denied bail. His family hired Rhode Island Sex Assault Defense lawyer, John L. Calcagni III, to defend him in this matter.
Case Result: Dismissed.
Attorney Calcagni worked tirelessly to secure the man’s release on bail. Once out of jail and reunited with his family, Attorney Calcagni persuaded prosecutors to not seek an indictment against the man in Rhode Island Superior Court. As such, the case was dismissed for lack of prosecution.