Press Release  Lawrence Police Officer Sentenced to 10-12 Years in State Prison

Lawrence, MA — A Lawrence Police officer was sentenced to ten to twelve years in state prison at a hearing in Salem Superior Court this afternoon.

Judge Thomas Drechsler also ordered the defendant to serve five years of probation upon completion of his prison term; during which he must stay away from and have no contact with the victim and his family; seek and complete sex offender evaluation and treatment; register as a sex offender; and have no unsupervised contact with children under 16. 

A jury found Carlos Vieira, 53, guilty of Aggravated Rape of a Child (2 counts) and Indecent Assault & Battery on a Child Under 14 on October 25^th.

“The defendant’s conduct is an affront to the community he swore to protect,” Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said. “It’s important to acknowledge that many people were impacted by this defendant’s criminal behavior.  The victim and his entire family will never be the same.  I hope that they can now find some healing and peace.”

Essex Assistant District Attorney Kate MacDougall requested a 12 to 15-year sentence.  In her sentencing argument, she said, “This defendant knew exactly what he was doing.  There was no mistaking that the victim was a boy.  And as a police officer, his actions further eroded the public’s trust in law enforcement.  Worse, the victim’s mother, who poured her life into providing a nice home for her family, had to sell her house because of its proximity to the defendant’s home and the park where her son was raped.”

The defendant is represented by Attorney John Morris and received 20 days of jail credit.

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