Providence man sentenced to 23 years for sexual assault

"Because of the hard work of prosecutors from the RI Attorney General’s Office, Providence Police Detective Koren Garcia, and a courageous neighbor who reported what they heard that night, the defendant has been brought to justice.”

November 17, 2020 10:26 am

ABC6 News,

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE)- A Providence man was sentenced to serve 23 years in the Adult Correctional Institute after sexually assaulting a woman in December of 2016, according to Attorney General Peter F. Neronha.

James White, 30, was found guilty of committing first-degree sexual assault in 2016 at a home on Dexter Street in Providence.

White was arrested by Providence police officers after neighbors heard the victim’s cries for help. He was found guilty on November 12, 2019 by a Providence Superior Court.

A little over one year later, White was seen in court and sentenced to 38 years at the ACI. 23 of these years will be served, and the balance of the sentence suspended with probation.

Additionally, Rhode Island law requires that White registers as a sex offender for the remainder of his life, even after being released from prison.

“Cases involving sexual violence harm victims in unimaginable ways. Defendant’s reprehensible conduct here entirely warrants the long sentence imposed by the Court, and that long sentence will ensure that he will not be in a position to harm others well into the future,” said Attorney General Neronha. “I am grateful to the victim for her courage in seeing this case through to the end, and to the Providence Police Department for their strong investigatory work in support of this successful prosecution.”

Providence Commissioner of Public Safety Steven Pare said, “We hope the victim can begin to heal from the pain inflicted upon her that night in 2016. We appreciate Judge Vogel’s strong message that this violent assault will result in a long prison sentence. Because of the hard work of prosecutors from the RI Attorney General’s Office, Providence Police Detective Koren Garcia, and a courageous neighbor who reported what they heard that night, the defendant has been brought to justice.”