Crime & Safety

Suspect in Johnston Molestation Had Prior Assault Charges Dismissed

Johnston Police charged Lance Nicoletti, 26, of Smithfield, with first-degree molestation following his arrest on Aug. 24.

 

The Smithfield man charged with child molestation by on Aug. 24 had two previous assault charges dismissed, according to online court records.

Lance Nicoletti, 26, of 5 Oakhurst Drive, remains held at the Adult Correctional Institutions, Cranston, following his arraignment on first-degree child molestation charges on Friday. A bail hearing on the recent case, and a status review hearing on a previous charge, are scheduled for Thursday.

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According to police reports, Det. Robert Lemieux responded to a local home at about 3 am Friday "in reference to a disturbance in progress."

Lemieux wrote that he "was advised by Lt. [Richard] Norato" to arrest Nicoletti.

Find out what's happening in Johnstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Providence Journal quoted unnamed officials as alleging that Nicoletti raped a four-year-old girl.

Judge Pamela Woodcock-Pfeiffer on Friday ordered Nicoletti remanded to the ACI for violating the terms of probation set for a separate charge of making crank phone calls, to which Nicoletti pleaded no contest in April.

Court records posted online show that Judge Terence Houlihan Jr. dismissed charges brought by Smithfield police of simple assault and disorderly conduct on Aug. 14, and charges of simple assault, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest in January.

Houlihan ordered Nicoletti to perform 20 hours' community service and revoked Nicoletti's license for three months on a DUI charge included in the January case.


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