Grand Jury indicts East Providence man on molestation charges

PROVIDENCE — A city man was indicted by a Providence County Grand Jury this week on two counts of first degree child molestation.

Andrew DaSilva, 21, is alleged to have on or about the dates September 1 and 2, 2015 and February 28, 2016, molested a female 14 years of age or under. The alleged molestation took place in East Providence. East Providence Police conducted the investigation. Mr. DaSilva is scheduled to be arraigned in Providence County Superior Court on November 16.

On Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, East Providence Police apprehended Mr. DaSilva, of Vanderland Avenue, in conjunction with Burrillville law enforcement following an investigation of a separate incident of alleged criminal activities involving a the minor resident of the northwestern Rhode Island town.

Mr. DaSilva was brought to the attention of EPPD detectives after a parent of an at the time 13-year-old came to local police to report that her child may have been sexually assaulted by Mr. DaSilva after the child and he met through social media sites. An investigation was initiated and led to an arrest warrant being signed for Mr. DaSilva.

During the course of the investigation, it was learned that the Burrillville PD was also looking for Mr. DaSilva for an unrelated incident, which involved his solicitation of another 13 year old for sex on social media. The 13-year-old in the Burrillville case was actually a Burrillville Police detective, posing as the minor child. Burrillville Police said Mr. DaSilva had been repeatedly attempting to meet up with an undercover Burrillville detective, believing that he was interacting with a 13-year-old female.

On August 6, a Burrillville detective, working with the EPPD, agreed to meet with Mr. DaSilva, who directed the officer to East Providence and what bus would be needed to take to meet him. They agreed to meet at the Burger King restaurant on Taunton Avenue. Members of the East Providence Detective and Patrol divisions conducted surveillance in the area.

At the agreed upon time, the Burrillville detective, posing as the minor female, messaged Mr. DaSilva that she was near the location. Mt. DaSilva was observed loitering behind the Burger King where he was sending messages to the child he thought he was meeting. Members of the East Providence Police Department moved in to detain Mr. DaSilva but he fled the area. After a short search, he was apprehended running through the yard of a a nearby residence.

The Burrillville Police Department are also pursuing a charge against Mr. DaSilva for Indecent Solicitation of a Child.