Taunton Man Pleads Guilty to Child Rape and Intimidation

TAUNTON (WBSM) — A Taunton man pleaded guilty earlier this week to enticing and raping his 14-year-old godson.

According to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III, James Robichau, 34, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, February 20, to indictments charging him with rape of a child, enticing a child under the age of 16, and intimidation of a witness.

In late 2021, the victim’s guardian noticed a series of sexually explicit text messages sent from Robichau’s phone between December 2020 and May 2021.

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The investigation revealed that the victim’s family was staying with Robichau at his home in Taunton. During this time, the victim awoke one night to find Robichau performing oral sex on him.

According to court documents, Robichau proceeded to send text messages to the victim requesting that they meet in various rooms so he could perform sexual acts on him again. Robichau texted the victim’s father, begging him not to contact the police after the messages were discovered.

Robichau was sentenced to serve eight to 12 years in state prison, followed by five years of supervised probation.

“The defendant took advantage of his relationship with, and access to, the victim to sexually molest him. I commend the victim for coming forward, which is the only way the defendant could be held accountable for this despicable abuse,” District Attorney Quinn said.