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Pawtucket Man Sentenced to Life for Child Molestation and Child Abuse of Four Month Old Girl

Emanuel Baptista, formerly of Pawtucket, was sentenced to two life sentences plus 20 years for the 2009 molestation of a four month old child in his care.

On each of the two counts of first degree child molestation, Baptista was sentenced to life, with the sentences to run concurrently. Baptista was sentenced to 20 years with 10 years to serve and 10 years suspended with probation for each of the two counts of first degree child abuse, sentences to run concurrently, but consecutive to the molestation sentences.

Baptista was found guilty on March 2, 2011 by a Providence County Superior Court jury on two counts of first degree child molestation and two counts of first degree child abuse. The trial was heard before Superior Court Justice Netti Vogel.

In August 2009, Emanuel Baptista molested and abused a four month old child in his care. The child’s mother sought medical attention for the four month old after it was reported to her by the defendant that she had choked on a baby wipe earlier in the day. The child was treated at Hasbro Children’s Hospital and later by a nurse practitioner. The Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) was informed of the abuse.

The medical exam of the child revealed bruises to the child’s cheek, lips and tongue, a torn frenulum, abrasions to her pallet in the back of the throat, and an inflamed throat. The exam also revealed significant injury to her vaginal area. X-rays revealed 10 broken ribs and fractures to both arms.

When questioned by the Pawtucket Police, Baptista admitted to molesting and abusing the child.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Scott Erickson on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General. The lead detective from the Pawtucket Police Department was Charles “Chip” Devine.

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