As reported by Katie Mulvaney in the October 1, 2014 edition of the Providence Journal, a Coventry man and a West Warwick man have been arrested following the kidnapping of a fourteen (14) year old girl. The Coventry man has been charged with kidnapping of a minor, first degree sexual assault and second degree sexual assault. The West Warwick man has been charged with third degree sexual assault.
Pursuant to Rhode Island General Law 11-26-1.4, kidnapping of a minor is defined as whoever, without lawful authority, forcibly or secretly confines or imprisons any child under the age of sixteen (16) years within this state against the child's will, or forcibly carries or sends the child out of this state, or forcibly seizes, confines, inveigles, or kidnaps the child with intent either to cause the child to be secretly confined or imprisoned within this state against his or her will, or with the intent of sexually assaulting or molesting the child as defined in chapter 37 of this title, or with the intent to abuse the child as defined in chapter 9 of this title, shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment for life or for any term not less than twenty (20) years. However, nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to make the reasonable lawful acts of a parent in caring for his or her child a violation of this section.
Pursuant to R.I.G.L. 11-37-6, third degree sexual assault is defined as a person is guilty of third degree sexual assault if he or she is over the age of eighteen (18) years and engaged in sexual penetration with another person over the age of fourteen (14) years and under the age of consent, sixteen (16) years of age.
The penalties if convicted include imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, sex offender counseling and registration and a no-contact order with the victims.
If you or a family member has been charged with kidnapping,sexual assault or other serious felony offenses, please allow Attorney Robert H. Humphrey's reputation, experience and skill to successfully guide you through the legal process. Please contact Attorney Robert H. Humphrey, Esq., at 401-816-5862 or e-mail him at rhh@rhumphreylaw.com.