South Kingstown man sentenced to serve 25 years in state prison for child molestation

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WLNE) — Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today that a South Kingstown man has been sentenced in Washington County Superior Court to serve 25 years in person for multiple counts of child molestation against a victim under the age of 14.

The incidents occurred from 2015 to 2022.

55-year-old Rudolph Bliss pleaded no contest on August 5 to two counts of first-degree child molestation.

The judge sentenced the defendant to 25 years to serve at the ACI, and a 15-year suspended sentence with 40 years of probation.

According to a release, had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant sexually assaulted a victim under the age of 14, who was known to him, multiple times at a South Kingstown residence between 2015 and 2022.

The defendant, a registered sex offender, was on probation at the time.

“Crimes like these are uniquely devastating in how they impact victims, their families, and our communities,” said Attorney General Neronha in a statement. “This victim demonstrated exceptional courage in coming forward and testifying. Because they spoke up, they ensured their attacker was held accountable for his crimes and protected other victims from a dangerous criminal. I am grateful to the South Kingstown Police Department for their investigative work in this case and many others.”