New Bedford Man Pleads Guilty to Raping Child

A New Bedford man is sentenced to up to a decade in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to the sexual assault of an underage girl.

The Bristol County District Attorney's office says 38-year-old Nathaniel Rodrigues pleaded guilty Monday in Fall River Superior Court to multiple charges including rape of a child with force and indecent assault and battery of a person under 14.

The charges stem from several occasions between October, 2012 and June, 2013 when Rodrigues raped an underage girl. The girl reported the rapes six months after they took place, with Rodrigues being arrested and indicted in March, 2014.

Rodrigues was sentenced to 8-10 years in state prison Tuesday.

Superior Court Judge E. Susan Garsh also ordered Rodrigues to be placed on supervised probation for seven years after his release from prison. Under the probation terms, Rodrigues must have no contact with the victim, have his movements monitored with a GPS bracelet, and register as a sex offender.