Scituate man to serve 13 years in state prison for child molestation

Published on Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today that a Scituate man has been sentenced in Providence County Superior Court to serve 13 years at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) for sexually assaulting a female victim under the age of 14 multiple times in 2021.

On November 6, 2024, at a hearing before Superior Court Justice Linda Rekas Sloan, the defendant, Mark Salerno (42) pleaded nolo contendere to two counts of first-degree child molestation. At the hearing, the Court sentenced the defendant to 40 years, with 13 years to serve at the ACI, and 40 years of probation. The Court further issued a no contact order between the defendant and his victim. Additionally, the defendant is required to register as a sex offender, must attend sex offender counseling, is subject to community supervision requirements under state law.

“I want to recognize the extraordinary bravery of another victim whose courage in coming forward helped bring her attacker to justice,” said Attorney General Neronha. “This victim channeled her trauma into action, facing her attacker in court and telling her story in order to secure accountability. Bottom line: when we support victims, we support public safety. I want to thank the Rhode Island State Police and our prosecutors for their hard work and collaboration on this difficult case.”

Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant sexually assaulted a female victim under the age of 14, who was known to him, on multiple occasions between January and April of 2021 in the town of Scituate.

“I am grateful for this victim’s bravery in coming forward and enabling justice to prevail,” said Rhode Island State Police Colonel Darnell S. Weaver. “I appreciate the efforts of our Troopers and prosecutors in the Attorney General’s Office on their successful investigation and prosecution of this offender. Hopefully, this sentencing will provide some closure and help in the ongoing healing process for the victim.”

Assistant Attorney General Shannon Signore of the Office of the Attorney General and Detective Ian Andrade of the Rhode Island State Police led the investigation and prosecution of the case.

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