Longtime Local Journalist Charged with Indecent Assault on Minor

FALL RIVER — Richard “Ric” Oliveira, a longtime journalist, radio personality and musician in Southeastern Massachusetts, is facing charges of indecent assault and battery on a minor, according to court documents.

Oliveira, 51, of 41 Maplewood Avenue in Swansea, was arraigned Dec. 11, 2019, in Fall River District Court on two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, and one count of assault and battery. He was released on personal recognizance.

Details about the alleged offenses were not immediately available because the police reports in the case have been impounded, or sealed. Oliveira did not respond to messages on Wednesday seeking comment. His attorney, identified in court records as David Ellison, did not comment on the case when reached by phone.

The charging documents indicate that the alleged offenses are said to have occurred sometime between 2012 and 2014. The Swansea Police Department was the investigating agency. A criminal complaint against Oliveira was issued on Nov. 14, 2019, after a closed-door magistrate hearing where probable cause was found to substantiate the charges.

After Oliveira’s arraignment, Fall River District Court Judge Kevin Finnerty allowed the prosecution’s discovery motion for video recordings and related documents and images, according to court documents. Oliveira’s lawyer filed discovery motions to obtain all police reports and recorded witness interviews, as well as records that prosecutors have from the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.

Oliveira, who was ordered to stay away from and have no contact with the alleged victim, is scheduled to return to court for a pretrial hearing on June 10.

Oliveira was formerly a longtime talk show host and general manager at WSAR Radio in Somerset. He was also a local print journalist and publisher of the O Jornal Portuguese-language newspaper in Fall River. On his professional LinkedIn page, Oliveira describes himself as a singer, songwriter and guitarist for his own band.

On Facebook, Oliveira recently posted a 27-page Google document he wrote alleging a widespread pattern of corruption and retaliation by Swansea town officials against residents who speak out.