A former gym teacher from Woonsocket has been sentenced to 10 years in state prison for child molestation. Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that Steven Porricelli, aged 53, was sentenced in Kent County Superior Court to serve time at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) for sexually assaulting a victim under the age of 14 in 2023.
Superior Court Justice Luis M. Matos handed down the sentence on February 28, 2025. Porricelli received a total of 25 years with 10 years to be served at the ACI and an additional 25 years of probation. The court also issued a No Contact Order between Porricelli and the victim, required him to register as a sex offender, and mandated attendance at sex offender counseling.
The sentencing follows a three-day jury trial that concluded on October 23, 2024. The jury found Porricelli guilty of two counts of second-degree child molestation.
“Child victims of sexual assault endure unimaginable pain, the kind which most of us cannot fathom,” said Attorney General Neronha. He highlighted that "about 90% of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by a trusted adult known to the victim," emphasizing the life-altering consequences for victims. Neronha praised the bravery of the victim in coming forward and thanked the Warwick Police Department for their partnership in handling this case.
During the trial, it was proven beyond reasonable doubt that on May 19, 2023, Porricelli assaulted a female victim under age 14 at a home in Warwick. The victim was known to him.
Warwick Police Chief Colonel Bradford E. Connor expressed gratitude for justice being served: “This would not be possible without the victim’s testimony, as well as the tireless work of the Warwick Police Department and the Attorney General’s Office.” He thanked Detective Arico and prosecutors for ensuring that Porricelli can no longer harm children.
Special Assistant Attorneys General Arthur DeFelice and Megan Andrews led the prosecution alongside Detective Adam Arico from Warwick Police Department.