(WJAR) — A Fall River man convicted of molesting three girls over an eight-year period was sentenced in court Friday morning.
A jury found Daniel “Danny” Arruda guilty on July 31. He was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in prison, followed by five years of probation, for sexually assaulting girls who were known to him.
Officials said the victims were between 12 and 16 years old at the time of the assaults. Arruda was convicted of three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child over 14, and aggravated rape of a child with a five-year age difference.
Evidence presented during the trial showed the abuse was not an isolated event but continued from 2013 to 2021.
The sentencing hearing was emotional as all three victims delivered powerful impact statements, describing their ongoing battles with anxiety, depression, and the long process of healing.
“He preyed upon each of them, and the impact that his actions has had I don’t think can be even comprehended,” prosecutor Karen O’Sullivan said in court. “It’s something that they are going to have to deal with for the rest of their life.”
