Jury Finds Man Guilty of Molestation

CRANSTON, RI—A 22-year-old Providence man was found guilty of two counts of first-degree child molestation on Thursday after a nine-day trial.

Markus Acevedo, of 187 Lennox Ave., was arrested by Cranston police in 2011 after an investigation into allegations raised by a 9-year-old girl during a therapy session.

State prosecutors told the jury that that Acevedo molested the girl in April of 2011 and the victim reported the molestation to a therapist who then told the girl’s mother. The mother brought the girl to Hasbro Children’s Hospital for examination.

Cranston Det. Jean-Paul Slaughter led the investigation and Special Assistant Attorney General and Chief ot he Child Abuse Unit Shannon Signore prosecuted the case on behalf of the AG’s office.

Superior Court Justice Daniel A. Procaccini will sentence Acevedo on Feb. 16. The sentencing guideline for a first-degree child molestation conviction is 10 to 30 years depending on the relationship with the victim and whether injury occurred.

According to the state Department of Corrections, Acevedo is currently on home confinement.