Warwick man sentenced to serve 15 years in state prison for child molestation

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today that a Warwick man has been sentenced in Providence County Superior Court to serve 15 years at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) after pleading to sexually assaulting a male victim under the age of 14 between 2014 and 2016.

At a hearing on February 9, 2023, Michael Elgar (age 41) entered a plea of nolo contendere to two counts of first-degree child molestation.

At the hearing, before Superior Court Justice Richard Raspallo, the Court sentenced the defendant to 30 years, with 15 years to serve at the ACI, and a 15-year suspended sentence and 30 years of probation. The defendant was ordered by the Court to register as a sex offender, complete sex offender counseling, and is subject to community supervision, including GPS monitoring for life. The court also issued a No Contact Order between the defendant and his victim.

“The words are difficult to say, but this is truth: this defendant sexually assaulted a boy he knew, repeatedly, over a number of years. No sentence is long enough, and nothing can undo the devastating harm the defendant’s conduct visited on his young victim. But that courageous boy stood up, came forward, and ensured that this defendant will no longer be in a position to harm others. I am so grateful to him and his family,” said Attorney General Neronha. “I am also grateful to the Providence and Coventry Police Departments for their outstanding work in this case.”

Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that between 2014 and 2016, the defendant sexually assaulted a male victim under the age of 14, who was known to him, at a residence in Providence and a location in Coventry.

The victim reported the assaults to law enforcement several years later in 2021.

“Cases involving the sexual exploitation of children are some of the most heartbreaking investigations conducted by the men and women of the Providence Police Department,” said Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez. “Our thoughts are with the victim and his loved ones at this time, and hope that this verdict can bring a sense of justice to them, following their traumatic experience.”

“I commend the young victim in this case for coming forward and exhibiting great courage throughout the investigation and prosecution of this case,” said Coventry Police Chief Frederick Heise, III. “These cases have a profound impact on so many connected to the victim, whether it be family or the greater community. I thank the members of the Coventry and Providence police departments and the Office of the Attorney General who worked diligently on this case to ensure that justice was served.”

Detective Koren Garcia of the Providence Police Department, Detective Paul Pacheco of the Coventry Police Department, and Special Assistant Attorneys General Amanda Jacober and Meagan Thomson of the Office of the Attorney General led the investigation and prosecution of the case.