WARWICK, RI – A Coventry man has been sentenced in Kent County Superior Court to 13 years at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) for sexually assaulting a female victim in Coventry in 2020.
Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced the sentencing today. At a hearing on Jan. 26, 2024, Superior Court Justice Luis M. Matos sentenced Austin Davis, 29 to a total sentence of 20 years, with 13 years to serve at the ACI and a seven-year suspended sentence with 20 years of probation.
The Court also issued a no-contact order between the defendant and his victim. Additionally, the defendant is required to register as a sex offender, must attend sex offender counseling, and is subject to community supervision requirements under state law.
On Oct. 25, 2023, following a four-day trial, Judge Matos found the defendant guilty of one count of first-degree sexual assault.
“Many sexual assault victims suffer in silence, and it is my hope that each time an offender is held accountable for this terrible crime, it signals to other victims that justice is possible in these often-complex cases,” said Neronha. “I’m grateful to the Coventry Police Department, as well as the prosecutor and investigative teams for their outstanding work in this case and many others.”
During the trial, the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that on October 16, 2020, the defendant sexually assaulted a female victim at a residence in Coventry. That night, both the defendant and the victim attended a house party in Coventry. During the party, the defendant had sexual intercourse with the victim while she was incapacitated. On Oct. 18, the victim reported the sexual assault to Kent Hospital.
An investigation by Coventry Police matched DNA results from the victim’s sexual assault exam with the defendant. The defendant was subsequently arrested by the Coventry Police Department.
“This victim’s bravery in coming forward helped us hold her attacker responsible, allowing justice to be served,” said Coventry Police Chief Frederick J. Heise III. “I want to thank Detective Pacheco and our partners at the RI Attorney General’s Office for their investigation and prosecutorial work.”
Special Assistant Attorney General John C. Malloy of the Office of the Attorney General and Detective Paul Pacheco of the Coventry Police Department led the investigation and prosecution of the case.
Author: Rob Borkowski
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at editor@warwickpost.com with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
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