Central Falls man to serve 30 years for child molestation

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Attorney General Peter Neronha announced Monday that a Central Falls man was sentenced after he was found guilty of three charges of first-degree child molestation and three counts of second-degree child molestation.

On November 17, 2023, 66-year-old Celestino Ribeiro was sentenced to 40 years with 30 years to serve and a 10-year suspended sentence with 40 years of probation.

On June 8, 2023, after a six-day trial, the state proved beyond a reasonable doubt that between 2015 and 2017, Ribeiro molested two female victims under the age of 14, who were known to him, at homes in Pawtucket and Central Falls.

Back in 2017, one of the victims reported the molestation to their school nurse after learning about “bad touching” in health class. A school social worker then spoke to the other victim who also confirmed that Ribeiro molested them.

A No Contact Order was issued between Ribeiro and the victims and he is required to register himself as a sex offender and attend counseling.