Fall River man sentenced for attempted rape of a woman in 2022

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — A Fall River man was sentenced on Friday for the attempted rape of a woman in 2022, according to the office of Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III.

28-year-old Paulo Silva, of Fall River, was sentenced to four and one-half to five and one-half years in state prison, followed with two years of probation.

Silva was convicted of assault with intent to rape, attempted kidnapping and accosting/annoying on May 29.

On July 18, 2022, Fall River police responded to the Quequechan Rail Trail around 7 a.m. for a report of an attempted rape.

The 52-year-old female victim told police she was walking on the trail when she saw Silva attempt to interact with a pregnant woman.

The victim walked by Silva, who then began to follow her.

According to the Bristol County District Attorney’s office, Silva then grabbed the victims’ arm and “forcefully” push her towards a grassy embankment of the river “verbally indicating he was going to sexually assault her.”

The victim screamed, getting the attention of two people and causing Silva to flee on foot.

Through surveillance video, detectives were able to watch Silva enter a vehicle near the trail’s entrance “moments after the assault.”

When found, Silva told police the victim caught his attention and “indicated to police that he was trying to sexually assault the victim,” according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s office.