Fall River Man Convicted of Attempted Rape and Kidnapping on Rail Trail

FALL RIVER (WBSM) — A Fall River man has been convicted of attempting to kidnap and rape a woman on the Quequechan Rail Trail back in 2022.

According to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III, Paulo Silva, 28, was convicted on May 29 by a jury of assault with intent to rape, attempted kidnapping and accosting/annoying.

Silva was sentenced today to serve four and a half to five and a half years in state prison, followed by two years of probation.

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Silva Admitted to Detectives He Tried to Sexually Assault the Victim

On July 18, 2022 at about 7 a.m., Fall River Police received a report of an attempted rape on the Quequechan Rail Trail in Fall River.

The victim, a 52-year-old woman, told police that she was walking on the trail and saw Silva attempting to interact with a pregnant woman on the trail. Then as the victim walked by Silva, he began to follow her.

“(He) approached the victim, grabbed her arm, and began to forcefully push her away from the trail towards a grassy embankment of the Quequechan River verbally indicating he was going to sexually assault her,” the D.A.’s Office said. “The victim screamed for help, at which time two individuals came to the victim’s aid” as Silva fled on foot.

Surveillance video helped Fall River Police identify Silva as the suspect. When they located him, he told detectives he “first attempted to obtain a phone number from a woman who was walking on the trail.”

“He indicated that when he saw the victim, she caught his attention, and he admitted to grabbing her and pulling her towards the grassy embankment,” the D.A.’s Office said. “He indicated to police that he was trying to sexually assault the victim but when the victim screamed for help, he released her and fled to his vehicle.”

DA Quinn: Silva “Poses a Clear Danger to the Public”

“I am very pleased that the jury held the defendant accountable for this very disturbing act of violence against the victim,” D.A. Quinn said. “It is extremely concerning that a woman can’t even enjoy a morning walk without being attacked. The defendant also approached and harassed a pregnant woman before trying to rape the victim. The defendant poses a clear danger to the public and does not belong on the street.”

A Paulo Silva who is the same age was also arrested in 2017 for allegedly attempting to solicit sex from an undercover police officer in a prostitution sting.