Warren Man Gets 16-Year Prison Sentence For Molesting 3 Children

WARREN, RI — A Warren man was sentenced Tuesday to 19 years in state prison after admitting to molesting three girls under the age of 14 between 2009 and 2014, Attorney General Peter Neronha said.

On Jan. 3, Christopher Kinney, 49, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree child molestation and one count of second-degree child molestation.

Providence County Superior Court Judge Linda Rekas Sloan sentenced Kinney to 35 years, with 19 to serve at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston. The remaining 16 years of the sentence will be suspended with 35 years of probation. The judge also issued a no-contact order between Kinney and his victims and ordered him to register as a sex offender.

"Sexual assaults against children at the hands of 'trusted' adults remain an ongoing, devastating problem," Neronha said. "In this case, multiple children bravely mustered the courage to come forward in the name of accountability, and in doing so, helped to ensure that other children won’t experience trauma at the hands of this defendant. I am also grateful to the men and women of the Rhode Island State Police for their continued partnership and their outstanding work to deliver justice for victims."

Had the case went to trial, prosecutors said they were prepared to prove that on various dates between 2009 and 2014, Kinney sexually assaulted three girls. Prosecutors said Kinney knew his victims, and all were under the age of 14 at the time of the assaults.

In 2022, the Kinney was also sentenced to 16 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to enticement of a minor to engage in sex, and possession and distribution of child pornography.

Cases such as these are devastating for the victims, their family, and the community," Rhode Island State Police Col. Darnell Weaver said. "However, I want to thank the whole team who has worked on this case and the willingness of the victims to come forward as we worked to investigate these terrible crimes. The Rhode Island State Police and [RI] Attorney General’s Office were dedicated to this case and spent many difficult hours on investigation and prosecution of the defendant."

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