Woonsocket Man Receives 18-Year Sentence For Molesting Girl Under 14

WOONSOCKET, RI — A Woonsocket man was sentenced Thursday in Providence County Superior Court to 18 years in state prison after he sexually assaulted a girl who was under 14 between 2002 and 2005.

At a court hearing on Tuesday, Kent Prokopy, 59, pleaded nolo contendere to first-degree child molestation.

"This victim bravely decided to report the assaults committed against her, decades later, in the hopes that she could stop the defendant from harming others, showing great courage and selflessness along the way," Attorney General Peter Neronha said. "While nothing can undo the pain caused to the defendant, it is my hope that his conviction and the lengthy sentence of imprisonment he now faces will bring a measure of justice for the victim, while demonstrating that it is never too late for justice to be served. I am grateful to the victim for her bravery and to the men and women of the Woonsocket Police Department for their outstanding work."

Had the case proceeded to trial, prosecutors said they were prepared to prove Prokopy sexually assaulted the victim at her Woonsocket home. Prosecutors said Prokopy knew the victim.

In August 2020, the victim came forward to the Texas County Sheriff’s Department in Missouri, leading to an investigation by the Woonsocket Police Department.

During his plea hearing, Prokopy admitted guilt in a pre-written statement read to the court by his attorney.

"Sexual assaults against minors have a devastating effect on the victims and their families," Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas F. Oates III said. "Individuals involved in such crimes always be priority targets of investigations of the Woonsocket Police Department, and we thank the attorney general’s office and the Texas County Sheriff’s Department in Missouri for their commitment to bringing the defendant to justice."

Superior Court Justice Joseph Montalbano sentenced Prokopy to 40 years, with 18 years to be served and a 22-year suspended sentence and 40 years of probation.

Prokopy must register as a sex offender, complete sex offender counseling, and is subject to community supervision. The court also issued a no-contact order between Prokopy and his victim.