Middletown man to serve 40 years in state prison for child molestation and sexual assault

Published on Thursday, August 27, 2026

Attorney General Peter F. Neronha today announced that a Middletown man has been sentenced in Newport County Superior Court to serve 40 years at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) for multiple counts of child molestation and sexual assault.

On August 27, 2026, Superior Court Justice William E. Carnes sentenced Steven Sousa (age 36) to 50 years, with 40 years to serve at the ACI. Additionally, Judge Carnes issued a No Contact Order between the defendant and the victim, and ordered that the defendant register as a sex offender, and undergo sex offender counseling and community supervision. On June 18, 2026, following a four-day trial, a jury found the defendant guilty of three counts of first-degree child molestation, three counts of second-degree child molestation, and one count of first-degree sexual assault.

“Many sexual assault victims suffer in silence, and it is my hope that each time an offender is held accountable for this terrible crime, it signals to other victims that justice is possible,” said Attorney General Neronha. “This victim demonstrated extraordinary bravery in coming forward and telling her story, and because she did so, this defendant received a lengthy sentence for his crimes. The more we can foster supportive environments for victims to come forward, the more accountability we will achieve. Thank you to the prosecutors in my office and the Middletown Police Department for their partnership in this difficult case.”

During the trial, the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that between February 2023 and May 2024, the defendant sexually assaulted a female victim, who was known to him, while she was under the age of 14 and after she turned 14.

“This victim’s bravery in coming forward helped us hold her attacker responsible, allowing justice to be served,” said Middletown Police Chief Jason Ryan. “I want to thank Detectives Dellefratte and Kravchuk and our partners at the RI Attorney General’s Office for their investigation and prosecutorial work.”

Assistant Attorney General Eric Batista and Special Assistant Attorney General Carina Donato of the Attorney General’s Office and Detectives Geoffrey Dellefratte and Michael Kravchuk of the Middletown Police Department led the investigation and prosecution of the case.

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