Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced today that Richard Perry (age 57), with a last known address of 50 Arlington Avenue, Warren, pled nolo contendere to three counts of second degree child molestation. The plea came after the start of a jury-waived trial before Superior Court Justice Daniel Procaccini.
Perry pled nolo to three separate cases involving three different victims. Under the terms of the plea agreement, which was reached with the approval of the victims, Perry was sentenced to 30 years with 10 years to serve and the remainder suspended with probation. In addition, he was ordered to undergo sex offender counseling and must comply with sex offender registration and notification statutes.
During the State's presentation of the evidence, Bristol Police Sergeant Steven St. Pierre testified regarding the background and investigation of the case. Perry pled after that testimony and prior to the testimony of the victim involved in one of the three cases in which he was charged.
The State was prepared to prove that between 1999 and 2003 Perry molested a boy he met through Bristol youth athletic programs from time the boy was nine years old to age 13. In the second case, the State was prepared to prove that while Perry was employed as a custodian at the Kickemuit Middle School in Warren he molested a 13-year-old boy in 2001. In the third case, the State was prepared to prove that Perry also molested a 12-year-old boy in 2001.
"The defendant used his job and involvement with youth athletics to prey on young boys. His actions were depraved and despicable, taking advantage of impressionable young men who looked up to him as someone who could be trusted," said Attorney General Kilmartin. "I commend the efforts of the Bristol Police and the Rhode Island State Police in working through the evidence, much of it from long ago, in tracking down and convincing the victims to come forward and putting together a strong case that our Office was able to successfully prosecute."
Bristol Police Sgt. Steven St. Pierre led the investigation with assistance from Rhode Island State Police Detective Matthew Salisbury. Special Assistant Attorneys General John Dean and Shannon Signore, Chief of the Child Abuse Unit, prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.