Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin has announced that a Newport County Superior Court jury found James Dalton (age 61), of Fall River, MA, guilty yesterday of one count of second degree sexual assault. The jury returned the verdict in less than an hour after a one and one half day trial presided over by Superior Court Justice Stephen P. Nugent.
During the course of the trial, the State proved that the defendant sexually assaulted a male unknown to him. On September 5, 2015, the victim was visiting Newport to celebrate a friend’s birthday. As the evening wore on, the victim became separated from his group of friends and eventually fell asleep in Aquidneck Park, located behind the Newport Public Library. The victim awoke to the defendant grabbing at his genital area and screaming obscenities.
After being found guilty, the defendant was remanded to the Adult Correctional Institutions pending sentencing, which is scheduled for February 3, 2017.
Captain Russell Carlone (retired) of the Newport Police Department led the investigation and Special Assistant Attorney General Eric Batista prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.
