Norton Man Who Raped Child Sentenced to Prison
A 32-year-old Norton man who raped a pre-teen child on numerous occasions in 2012 and 2013 pleaded guilty to a litany of indictments on Tuesday and was sentenced to serve 10 to 15 years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III has announced.
Timothy Barker pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to two counts of rape of a child with force, and one count each of indecent assault and battery on a person under 14, assault to rape a child, intimidation of a witness, displaying obscene matter to a minor and posing a child in the nude.
The defendant was 23 and the victim was under 10 at the time of the assaults. The victim disclosed the sexual assaults six years after they occurred, the DA's office said in a media release.
The defendant worked with the victim’s father and rented a room from the family. While in the home, the defendant forced the child into numerous sex acts in 2012 and 2013. He also showed the victim pornography and took photos of the victim performing a sex act, according to the District Attorney's office.
The victim was present in the courtroom during the defendant's sentencing on Tuesday and read a victim impact statement to the judge.
The case was prosecuted by Second Assistant District Attorney Silvia Rudman and Assistant District Attorney Matthew Friedel.
"The defendant took advantage of his access to an eight year old child to commit repeated sexual assaults against the young victim who trusted him. The defendant engaged in persistent and very offensive sexual crimes against an innocent victim who should have been enjoying childhood," said Quinn in a statement. "I commend the victim for coming forward and persevering through this extremely difficult ordeal. I pray that the victim can move forward in life."
In addition to the state prison term, Judge Raffi Yessayan also placed the defendant on supervised probation for an additional seven years.