PROVIDENCE, RI — A Massachusetts man was sentenced to 25 years in Rhode Island state prison for child molestation.
Carlos Vaqueranozelaya, 61, was found guilty of second-degree child molestation and simple assault at the conclusion of a four-day jury trial in March.
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On Thursday, he was sentenced to 25 years in the Adult Correctional Institutions and 20 year probation following his release.
"Additionally, Judge (Brian) Van Couyghen ordered that (Vaqueranozelaya) register as a sex offender and undergo sex offender counseling, issued a No Contact Order between (him) and the victim, and ordered he have no unsupervised contact with minors," the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office said in a media release.
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“Every child deserves to grow up in an environment safe from harm,” Attorney General Peter F. Neronha said in the release.
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“This victim demonstrated immense courage, which allowed us to achieve justice on her behalf," Neronha said. "When victims feel supported and empowered to come forward, we can hold more perpetrators accountable. I am grateful to the West Warwick Police Department for their partnership on this difficult case.”
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In the release, West Warwick Police Chief Ernest Lavigne, whose department investigated Vaqueranozelaya, commended the victim for "great bravery throughout the investigation and prosecution of this case.”
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