Crime
Cape and the Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois “commends the victim on the courage it took to stand up to someone that had abused her, and even more strength to see a criminal matter through to a jury trial.”
A 76-year-old Orleans man was convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl over the course of multiple years, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
Richard Alberts, of Orleans, was found guilty by a Barnstable County Superior Court jury, according to the Cape and the Islands District Attorney’s Office.
In July 2022, the victim reported to Orleans police that Alberts began sexually assaulting her during the summer of 2017 and continued into 2021. The victim finished fifth grade before the summer of 2017 and was in the eighth grade in 2021, making the age gap between Alberts and the victim more than 50 years, the DA’s office said.
Following an investigation, Alberts was charged with three counts of aggravated rape of a child and one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, officials said.
The jury found Alberts guilty on all charges, and he was subsequently sentenced to 12 to 14 years in prison for the rape convictions and three years of probation for the indecent assault, the DA’s office said. Prosecutors requested a sentence of 20 to 30 years in prison for the rape convictions followed by 5 years of probation on the indecent assault and battery conviction.
District Attorney Robert Galibois “commends the victim on the courage it took to stand up to someone that had abused her, and even more strength to see a criminal matter through to a jury trial,” he said in a press release.
“Facing that process and allowing her voice to be heard before a jury is no small thing. We recognize the victim’s courage, resilience, and determination,” he continued.
An attorney for Alberts did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
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