Former Cranston Resident Found Guilty of Child Molestation and Child Abuse

Former Cranston Resident Found Guilty of Child Molestation and Child Abuse

Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that today a Providence County Superior Court Jury found Jonathan Phillips (age 35), of Hampton Bays, NY, guilty on 10 counts of first degree child molestation, four counts of second degree child molestation, and one count of second degree child abuse.  The jury returned the verdict after one day of deliberations after a one-week trial presided over by Superior Court Justice Netti C. Vogel.

During the trial, the State provided that on multiple occasions between 2011 and 2013, the defendant molested two girls on multiple occasions.  The victims were 10 years old at the time the abuse began. The defendant was living with the mother of one of his victims in Cranston at the time of the abuse.

One of the girls first disclosed the abuse to a teacher in January 2013. During the subsequent investigation, the second girl disclosed the defendant had molested her as well.  Both victims testified to during the trial and provided specific details of the many times they were sexually assaulted by the defendant.

The defendant was remanded following the verdict pending sentencing.

Cranston Police Detective Michael Iacone led the investigation and Special Assistant Attorney General Ania Zielinski prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.

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