Fall River Man Found Guilty: He Sexually Assaulted Newport Birthday Party Guest

NEWPORT, RI— A Newport County Superior Court jury on Tuesday found James Dalton, 61, of Fall River, Mass., guilty of one count of second degree sexual assault.

The jury returned the verdict in less than an hour after a one and one half day trial presided over by Superior Court Justice Stephen P. Nugent, Atty. Gen. Peter Kilmartin's office said.

According to the prosecutors, the victim was in Newport on Sept. 5, 2015 to celebrate a friend’s birthday. He became separated from his group of friends and eventually fell asleep in Aquidneck Park, located behind the Newport Public Library. The victim awoke to the defendant grabbing at his genital area and screaming obscenities.

Dalton has been sent to the Adult Correctional Institutions pending sentencing on Feb. 3.

Captain Russell Carlone (retired) of the Newport Police Department led the investigation and Special Assistant Attorney General Eric Batista prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.

Image via Shutterstock