Former Local Talk Show Host Convicted of Child Molestations; Sentenced to Jail
Bristol County District Attorney’s Office
Thomas M. Quinn III
District Attorney
Press Release
August 9, 2023
A 53-year-old former local talk radio host and newspaper editor was convicted by a jury of his peers yesterday in Fall River District Court of indecently assaulting and physically assaulting his pre-teen close female relative, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.
The jury convicted Richard Oliveira of Indecent Assault and Battery on a Person Under the Age of 14 and Assault and Battery.
During the trial, the victim testified that when she was eight years old, she entered the defendant’s bedroom seeking comfort during a dark stormy night. Once inside the bedroom, the defendant sexually molested her. Then, about two years later, the defendant punished the victim for throwing out his cigarettes by dragging her around the house by her hair and, while doing so, ripped some of her hair off of her head. The victim testified that she got rid of the cigarettes because she was suffering from asthma and that it was difficult for her to breath when the defendant smoked.
The crimes occurred in Swansea, where the defendant resides.
During the victim’s impact statement to the court this afternoon, she stated that she has suffered through years of anxiety and depression as a result of what the defendant did to her. She said she still fears walking alone on the street and said what happened to her as tainted her childhood.
During the sentencing hearing today, Assistant District Attorney Kyle McPherson requested that the defendant serve the maximum two-and-a-half year jail term for the indecent assault and an additional one year in jail for the physical assault for a total of three-and-a-half years in jail. The defense asked for no jail time, and instead sought a three to five year probationary term.
The defendant was sentenced by Judge Cynthia Brackett to two years in the house of corrections, with one year to serve and the balance suspended for three years. If the defendant violates any terms of his eventual release or commits a new crime, he could be liable to serve the remainder of the suspended jail sentence.
The case was investigated by Detective Sergeant Jonathan Boyd, Sergeant Keith Chomka, and Officer Robert Wilson of the Swansea Police Department.
“The defendant took advantage of his position of trust and engaged in despicable conduct by molesting an eight year old girl. In addition, he later violently assaulted the girl. The defendant’s conduct is difficult to comprehend,” District Attorney Quinn. “Based on the facts of the case, I feel the defendant should have been sentenced to a longer period of incarceration. I commend the victim for coming forward and fir testifying in court under very difficult circumstances.”
Contact:
Gregg Miliote
Director of Communications
774-292-9576