Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today that John Celico, a 30-year-old man from South Kingstown, has been sentenced to seven years in the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) for sexually assaulting a woman in August 2022. The sentencing took place in Washington County Superior Court on May 13, 2024.
Superior Court Justice Melanie Wilk Thunberg handed down a sentence of 15 years, with seven years to be served at the ACI and an eight-year suspended sentence with 15 years of probation. Judge Thunberg also issued a No Contact Order between Celico and the victim and ordered him to register as a sex offender and undergo sex offender counseling. At the hearing, Celico pleaded nolo contendere to one count of first-degree sexual assault.
“Offenders of sexual violence must be held accountable for the physical and emotional trauma they cause their victims,” said Attorney General Neronha. “It takes great courage to come forward as this victim did, and in doing so, she serves as a great reminder to other victims that justice is indeed possible. Additionally, I want to thank the South Kingstown Police Department for their commitment to delivering justice in this case and many others.”
The State was prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that on August 2, 2022, Celico sexually assaulted a woman known to him at a residence in South Kingstown. The victim had used her cell phone to record audio of the preceding conversation between them and the assault without Celico's knowledge.
South Kingstown Police Chief Matthew Moynihan commended the victim's bravery throughout the process. “Justice was served in this case," he said, "and I thank Detective Bouffard and our partners at the Attorney General’s Office for their investigation and prosecutorial work.”
Assistant Attorney General Mark Trovato of the Office of the Attorney General and Detective Thomas Bouffard of the South Kingstown Police Department led the investigation and prosecution of the case.