Local Officers, State Police Arrest Coventry Man for Sexual Assault of 14-year-old Girl

Coventry, RI – On Wednesday, Dec. 17, members of the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, including Warwick officers, arrested Joseph Oakes, 24, of 1 Allison Ave., Coventry, Rhode Island, for Third-Degree Sexual Assault and a Superior Court Probation Violation Warrant.

Oakes had been arrested for Possession of Child Pornography in April 2011 by the State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) and had since been placed on probation, on the condition that he didn’t use the Internet.

On Dec. 16, Coventry officers, including a detective assigned to the ICAC Task Force, aided Adult Probation in a compliance check at Oakes’ home.

The ICAC member discovered Oakes had “Kik” Messenger installed on the phone, a web based app used for online chatting, a violation of his probation. The officer also discovered there was evidence on Oakes’ cell phone of alleged sexual activity with a 14-year old female.

ICAC members and Warwick Police detectives investigated and discovered the identity of the teen, who confirmed that she had been involved in a sexual relationship with Oakes.

With the assistance of the Adult Probation Office and the Attorney General’s Department, a probation violation warrant was obtained. On Wednesday morning, members of the ICAC Task Force and Coventry Police arrested Oakes at his residence without incident.

Oakes was arraigned before the Honorable Judge Mary McCaffrey in the Third Division District Court, Noel Judicial Complex, 222 Quaker Lane, Warwick, Rhode Island where he was held without bail on the violation warrant. He is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on Jan. 15, 2015.

There are no indications at this time to suggest that Mr. Oakes is inappropriately involved with any other juveniles.

Oakes faces up to five years in prison on the charges.

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 [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.