Middletown donut shop owner facing additional sexual assault charges

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Attorney General Peter Neronha announced Tuesday that a the owner of a popular donut shop is facing additional sexual assault-related charges.

According to court documents, Valdemar Leite, 54, who was already indicted on first and second-degree sexual assault charges, is facing another count of first-degree sexual assault.

Leite was arrested by Rhode Island State Police and arraigned Tuesday in Newport County Superior Court. During the arraignment, the court released Leite on $20,000 bail.

It is alleged that Leite, the owner of Ma’s Donuts in Middletown, sexually assaulted two female employees at the business on separate occasions between 2022 and 2023.

On August 18, of this year, a Statewide Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Leite with an additional count of first-degree sexual assault and second-degree sexual assault stemming from a separate incident involving a third victim. That case remains pending.

Leite is scheduled to return to court on January 10, 2024.