Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced Wednesday that a Johnston man was sentenced in Providence County Superior Court to serve nine years at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) after pleading to sexually assaulting a male victim under the age of 14 in 2018.
Anthony Cerbo, 43, entered a plea of nolo contendere to one count of first-degree child molestation and one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree child molestation, according to a press release from Neronha’s office.
At a hearing on Feb. 11, before Superior Court Justice Maureen B. Keough, Cerbo was sentenced to 30 years, with nine years to serve and the balance of the sentence suspended with probation, according to Neronha’s office.
The court has also issued a no-contact order between the defendant and his victim, and Cerbo will be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life, must attend sex offender counseling, and is subject to community supervision requirements under state law, according to the press release.
Cerbo had been held without bail since his bail hearing in November 2018.
On May 15, 2019, the Providence County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Cerbo with one count of first-degree child molestation, one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree child molestation, and one count of second-degree child molestation.
“Sexual assaults against children remain an ongoing, devastating problem in Rhode Island – we have charged over 400 such cases over the last five years alone,” Neronha said. “Here, the defendant, with the help of a co-defendant, came up with a scheme to use social digital media to identify a vulnerable child, and once identified, execute that scheme and prey on that child. While nothing can reverse the damage he has caused, it is my hope that the defendant’s conviction and the long sentence imposed by the Court will bring a measure of justice for the victim and his family. I am grateful to the victim for coming forward and demonstrating strength and resiliency throughout the investigation and prosecution of this case.”
According to Neronha’s office, had this case proceeded to trial, the prosecution was prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that during the early morning hours of Nov. 19, 2018, the defendant sexually assaulted a male victim under the age of 14, at his residence in Johnston.
“Prior to the assault, the defendant connected with the victim via the online dating app, Grinder. The defendant and victim exchanged messages, during which the victim communicated to the defendant that he was 14 years old,” according to the press release. “The defendant arranged for a co-defendant, Matthew Heuser, to pick up the minor victim and drive him to the defendant’s home in Johnston. Subsequently, Mr. Cerbo sexually assaulted the victim. It is alleged that Mr. Heuser also sexually assaulted the victim at that time.”
Heuser faces multiple felony charges, including second-degree child molestation and conspiracy to commit first-degree child molestation.
Heuser’s prosecution is pending in Providence County Superior Court.
On May 15, 2019, the Providence County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Heuser with one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree child molestation, one count of second-degree child molestation, one count of assault with intent to commit first-degree child molestation, and one count of aiding and abetting Cerbo to commit the offense of child molestation.
“Detectives from the Johnston Police Department worked very diligently with the members of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office to ensure that the defendant was brought to justice,” said Johnston Police Chief Joseph P. Razza. “Sexual assaults against minors have a resounding and devastating effect on the victims and their families. We are indebted to the victim for providing their full cooperation and assistance throughout these criminal proceedings.”
Johnston Police Detectives Brian Loffredi and John DeAngelis investigated, aided by Special Assistant Attorney General Michael S. McCabe and Assistant Attorney General Shannon Signore, who conducted the prosecution of the case.
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