A Johnston man has been sentenced to 16 years in state prison for child molestation, according to an announcement from Attorney General Peter F. Neronha. Dezmond Choquette, 24, received a total sentence of 30 years, with 16 years to be served at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) and the remainder as probation. The sentencing took place on February 2, 2026, before Superior Court Justice Luis M. Matos.
In addition to the prison term and probation, Judge Matos imposed a no contact order between Choquette and the victim. Choquette is also required to register as a sex offender, attend sex offender counseling, and will be subject to community supervision.
Choquette was found guilty by a jury on October 24, 2025, of two counts of first-degree child molestation and three counts of second-degree child molestation. The offenses occurred between June 2015 and January 2023 and involved a juvenile male known to the defendant.
“My heart goes out to this victim, who after enduring years of trauma demonstrated incredible bravery in coming forward and helping us seek justice on his behalf,” said Attorney General Neronha. “By fostering supportive environments for victims to tell their stories, we make our communities safer, one case at a time. I am grateful to the prosecutors in my office and the Johnston Police Department for their partnership on this difficult case.”
Johnston Police Chief Mark A. Vieira commented on the outcome: “Every child deserves to grow up in an environment safe from harm. Because of this victim’s courage, we have held this perpetrator accountable. I want to thank our detectives and our partners at the Attorney General’s Office for their investigation and prosecution of this case.”
The investigation and prosecution were led by Special Assistant Attorneys General Jillian M. Dubois and Allison Stackpole from the Attorney General’s Office along with Detective Steven A. Lopez from the Johnston Police Department.
