Woonsocket Radio News Room

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                  CONTACT:     Kristy dosReis

April 14, 2021                                                                                       (401) 274-4400 x2234

                                                                                                               This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

                                                                                                            Twitter @AGNeronha

 

 

Providence man sentenced to serve 7 years in state prison for child molestation

 

 

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that a Providence man was sentenced in Providence County Superior Court to serve seven years at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) after pleading to molesting a female victim in 2018 at a home on Douglas Avenue.

 

Jeffri Espejo-Yanez (age 38) pleaded nolo contendere to one count of second-degree child molestation.

 

At a hearing before Superior Court Justice Maureen B. Keough, the court sentenced Espejo-Yanez to 20 years at the ACI with seven years to serve and the balance of the sentence suspended with probation. Espejo-Yanez was ordered by the court to register as a sex offender, complete sex offender counseling, and is subject to community supervision. The court also issued a no contact order between Espejo-Yanez and his victim.

 

“This Office prosecutes cases like this one all too often – where a ‘trusted’ adult sexually exploits a young child,” said Attorney General Neronha. “Such criminal conduct causes irreparable harm to victims and their families. I have been so impressed by the victim’s strength, and grateful to her and her family for coming forward and for their willingness to see this case through to the end.”

 

Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that in March 2018, Espejo-Yanez molested a female victim under the age of 14, who was known to him, at a home in Providence.

 

“This is one of many incidents where a juvenile is victimized by a trusted adult, causing severe trauma to both the victim and their family,” said Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven M. Paré. “I commend the victim for coming forward, as the exploitation of a child is one of the most reprehensible crimes that one can commit. I thank the Providence Police Department Special Victims Unit for their investigation into this incident and the Attorney General’s Office for their prosecution of this case, which resulted in removing the defendant from our streets, preventing him from causing harm to additional innocent victims.”

 

Special Assistant Attorney General Bethany Laskowski and Detective Rich Mendez of the Providence Police Department led the investigation and prosecution of this case.

 

###

 

Follow ud on social media! 
President Biden is willing to debate Donald Trump ahead of the November presidential election. During an interview today with radio host Howard Stern, Biden said he doesn't know when, but that he'd be happy to debate Trump. The comment comes as the Biden campaign has declined to commit to a debate for months.        Former President Trump's criminal hush money trial is back in session today in New York City. Jurors are once again hearing testimony from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker who gave details this week on how he protected Trump from negative stories leading up to the 2016 presidential election. This comes as the judge in the case said he'll consider four other Trump gag order violations being alleged by the prosecution.       Hundreds of protesters against Israel's war in Gaza have been arrested across the country in the last two weeks. Anti-Israel protests have sprung up across the country since the NYPD arrested over 100 demonstrators at Columbia University on April 18th. The New York Times says since then, protesting students have been setting up tents at campuses across the country, and over 400 protesters have been arrested for refusing to disperse.       According to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, presidents shouldn't have absolute immunity for their actions in office. That's what the Republican leader told NBC's "Meet the Press" as the Supreme Court heard arguments on the issue related to former President Trump Thursday. McConnell said he still stands by the comments he made after he voted to acquit Trump following the 2021 Capitol riot, in which he said the former president could be held accountable by the justice system.       Millions in the central U.S. are under the threat of severe thunderstorms. The multi-day event is underway and is expected to bring large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes to the region. Major cites that could be hit with multiple rounds of severe storms include Dallas, Kansas City, Omaha and Des Moines.       The NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs include four games on Friday. In the Eastern Conference, the New York Rangers will look to take a three-to-nothing series lead against the Washington Capitals. In the West, the Vancouver Canucks will head to Nashville to take on the Predators in game three of their series. The Winnipeg Jets will face off against the Colorado Avalanche in game three as well. Lastly, the Edmonton Oilers will travel to Los Angeles to take on the Kings.       

Old News Archives