UPDATE: 74-year-old sexual assault suspect held without bail

October 16, 2017 7:57 pm

By: News Staff

Email: news@abc6.com

Twitter: @ABC6

COVENTRY R.I. (WLNE) — A Coventry nursing home resident who was arrested for child molestation in 2012, is still awaiting trial for that case, which has been delayed due to his medical issues.

However, in the meantime, 74-year-old Francis Kinsey is out on bail and is staying at a nursing home in Coventry, which is where police say he found his latest victim.

Slowly and deliberately, Kinsey stated his name and age for a judge in Kent Country Court Tuesday afternoon.

Kinsey, confined to a wheelchair with his full right leg and part of his left foot amputated, may not appear to be a threat, but a lengthy record proves otherwise.

The 74-year-old is currently awaiting trial in a 2012 case accusing him of molesting a child. The case was pushed back due to Kinsey’s medical issues, but with the latest charge Kinsey was ordered held without bail.

According to Coventry police, Kinsey sexually assaulted an 80-year-old woman at the Coventry Center, a nursing home where they both live.

Local advocates say sadly these kinds of incidents are nothing new.

“Perhaps individuals who commit violent crime or sexual crimes should not be housed with the general population that is so vulnerable to being attacked or assaulted,” said Carolyn Medeiros of The Alliance for Safe Communities.

Medeiros is exploring legislation to put more surveillance cameras in nursing Homes or to have a state facility for violent offenders.

“Would you have wanted your grandmother or your mother to have been subjected to this? Either we revisit the surveillance camera bill or look into alternative housing for individuals who are violent sexual predators, violent criminals awaiting trial or already charged,” said Medeiros.

The judge ordered Kinsey to undergo a competency evaluation. He is due back in court at the end of the month.