Local Man Found Guilty Of Child Abuse By Jury

WAKEFIELD – A Rhode Island man awaits sentencing in February after being found guilty by a jury of first-degree child abuse, felony assault and simple assault against his two-month-old daughter.

The jury returned the verdict against Brian Verry, 34, on Jan. 14. Verry could serve up to 20 years for the child abuse charge, with a minimum sentence of 10 years.

Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 18, with a pre-sentencing report due Feb. 14. Following the verdict, Superior Court Associate Justice Edwin Gale ordered that Verry be held at the ACI.

According to court records, Verry’s most recent address is 23 Melrose St., Apt. #1, East Greenwich, but past media and police reports also give him addresses of 846 Tower Hill Road, North Kingstown, and a home in Narragansett that he shared with the victim and her mother.

According to Narragansett police reports included in court documents, on March 8, 2006, they began an investigation after receiving a report from staff at South County Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

Staff told police and DCYF officials that the injuries sustained by the infant were likely caused by abuse. After interviews with Verry and the mother of his child, it was determined that he had been alone with the child, and he was placed under arrest.

Verry was initially tried in 2010, but a hung jury was declared in April 2010. Verry was represented by court-appointed lawyer Richard K. Corley, and Stephen A. Regine prosecuted for the state.

This isn’t Verry’s first time at the ACI. In January 2005, he pleaded no contest to a West Warwick felony charge of larceny greater than $500. He was ordered to serve 18 months of a five-year sentence, with the balance to be served as probation.

In 1999, he pleaded no contest to state police charges of obtaining money under false pretenses, and was ordered to serve probation. Verry also had two suspended license charges against him dismissed in 2002, and a third dismissed in 2009.

The South County Independent covered the trial live. For their write-up, click here.