Coventry man sentenced to prison for sexual assault

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office announced Tuesday that a man has been sentenced to state prison for first-degree sexual assault in Coventry.

Austin Davis, 29, was sentenced 13 years at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) and a seven-year suspended sentence for sexually assaulting a female victim in 2020.

The hearing was held on Jan. 26 in Kent County Superior Court.

Davis was found guilty at the conclusion of a four-day trial on Oct. 25, 2023, when the State “proved beyond a reasonable doubt” that he had sexual intercourse with the victim while she was incapacitated at a house party in Coventry on Oct. 16, 2020.

The victim reported the assault on Oct. 18, 2020, and Coventry Police matched DNA results from the victim’s sexual assault exam with Davis, who was then arrested.

“This victim’s bravery in coming forward helped us hold her attacker responsible, allowing justice to be served,” said Coventry Police Chief Frederick J. Heise III. “I want to thank Detective Pacheco and our partners at the RI Attorney General’s Office for their investigation and prosecutorial work.”

In addition to his 20-year total sentence, Davis will have 20 years of probation service and be required to register as a sex offender.