Somerset Child Molester Sentenced

FALL RIVER — A former Somerset man who sexually assaulted the young granddaughter of a woman he was dating will be spending eight to 15 years in state prison.

The Bristol County District Attorney's Office said 46-year-old Joshua Bourassa was sentenced yesterday after pleading guilty to statutory rape and multiple indecent assault charges as well as assault with intent to rape a child, and open and gross lewdness.

Bourassa sexually assaulted the girl on multiple occasions in Fall River while she was just five to seven years old.

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The victim eventually told another child about the abuse, according to the D.A.'s office.

When the other child told her mother, she contacted the victim's mother.

After his prison term the defendant will also be placed on supervised probation with GPS monitoring for an extra seven years, the D.A.'s office said.

“The defendant took advantage of his access to the victim and sexually abused her on multiple occasions starting when she was only five," said Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn.

"The defendant’s conduct is depraved and highly offensive. I commend the victim for disclosing this disgusting behavior and persevering through the case," he added.

"I hope she can move forward with her life."