Family outraged after accused child molester serves no jail time
By: News Staff
news@abc6.com
CUMBERLAND, R.I. – A family in Cumberland is outraged after a man who plead not contest to molesting their blind son is not only out on the street, but never did any time in jail.
Elizabeth and John Frampton say they’re finally able to speak out about what happened to their son almost six years ago.
“He was a trusted mentor of my son’s and I had great trust in confidence in,” said Elizabeth Frampton.
In 2010 the Frampton’s brought their then 10-year-old son to Tech Access in Warwick, a facility to help the visually impaired learn more about technology.
But years later, their then happy-go-lucky son started to change.
“He became unrecognizable to us, he became a kid who was suicidal,” said Elizabeth Frampton.
Their son finally came clean recently, revealing his teacher and counselor James Spicola sexually molested him for two years inside the facility, including in a bathroom, the kitchen and an office.
“We wanted for him what all good parents want, a good life and we brought him here where we thought would give him that but instead it eroded his well being,” said Elizabeth Frampton.
Spicola plead no contest to two counts of second degree child molestation in April of this year, but he never served any jail time.
Instead he was sentenced to probation.
“James walked away with very little outcomes,” said Elizabeth Frampton.
Their son, who is now almost 16, is still facing many challenges from the sexual abuse.
The Frampton’s are now on a mission to help others going through the same thing.
“I’m here to bring this horrible crime to light. He thought something was done bad to him so something bad would happen to that person, and he did not get that,” said Elizabeth Frampton.
ABC6 News tried reaching out to "Tech-Access" about what happened, and they released this statement:
We are distraught over the inappropriate actions by James Spicola. At no point was Mr. Spicola employed at TechACCESS; he was a volunteer for a program that was discontinued several years ago. We have cooperated fully with authorities. Throughout our 25 years of service to individuals with disabilities, our highest priority is, and always has been, the safety and well-being of our clients. In order to protect the privacy of those involved, we cannot comment further at this time.
James Spicola is no longer working there, and was ordered to stay away from children.
©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2016
