Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Molesting Child at Newport Funeral

NEWPORT, RI—A Georgia man, who came to Newport for a funeral in 2015, has pleaded guilty to one count of child molestation, Atty. Gen. Peter Kilmartin said today.

Gathmann, 20, of Roswell, GA, molested a 13-year-old girl whom he knew, Kilmartin's office said.

"At the time of the assault, the defendant, victim, and others were staying in Newport for the funeral of a relative," KIlmartin said. The girl told her mother who called police.

"Under the terms of the plea," Kilmartin's office said, "Gathmann was sentenced to 25 years with 12 years to serve, ordered to undergo sex offender counseling, and is subject to lifetime sex offender registration and community notification."

Newport Police Detective Jacqueline Wuest led the investigation and Asst. Atty. Gen. Roger Demers prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General