Julio Morais

Sources

1. Pawtucket man found guilty of molesting his stepdaughter, Providence Journal, September 19, 2013.

• 1. Pawtucket man found guilty of molesting his stepdaughter

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  PROVIDENCE — A Superior Court judge found a Pawtucket man guilty of molesting his stepdaughter, calling him a “sexual predator disguised as a husband and father.”

  Judge Daniel A. Procaccini found Julio Morais, 51, guilty of four counts of first-degree child molestation for sexual assaults that began in 2002 when the child was 71/2 years old and continued until she was 12.

  The victim, whose mother married and had a child with Morais, reported the assaults in 2010 to her religious education instructor at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She gave the teacher a note seeking advice about a “friend” who had been sexually abused for years. She wanted to know if the “friend” would be punished for not telling the church. She later revealed that she was the friend.

  The instructor notified officials at the church’s headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, who then contacted Pawtucket police.

  Procaccini issued his ruling after a bench trial in which the state called four witnesses, including the girl, who is now 18. She told of Morais warning her not to tell anyone, calling her stupid and telling her no one would ever believe her.

  “He used a combination of degradation and fear over [the victim]. His words and actions and the threat of ostracization from the rest of her family was his form of control over this child so he could repeatedly sexually abuse her,” Procaccini said.

  That changed, the judge said, when the girl matured into a thoughtful, intelligent young woman with a moral compass.

  Morais, who remains held without bail, showed no reaction as an interpreter delivered the verdict. His last known address is 23 Walker St.

  Special Assistant Attorney General Shannon Signore prosecuted the case, with Thomas Connors representing Morais.