Man charged with child rape

By Jonathan Cook
Turley Publications Reporter

STURBRIDGE - A 26-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly raping a 13-year-old boy in the JCPenney dressing room.
On Nov. 24, around 6 p.m. police received a phone call report of the incident from one of the boy’s parents. Responding officers were told that a JCPenney employee had entered the dressing room when the boy went in to try on clothes. Once inside the dressing room, the employee allegedly raped the boy.
As a result, officers confronted Francisco Wellington Barros-Gomes, of Charlton, arrested him and charged him with indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and rape with use of force.
According to the Dudley District Court Clerk’s office, Barros-Gomes pleaded not guilty.
Sturbridge Detective Mark Saloio reported that Barros-Gomes did confess to indecent assault.
Bail was set at $25,000 and he had not been released as of deadline.
According to a Boston television report, Barros-Gomes is from Brazil and is a married man. He had been in the U.S. for 10 months.
While this alleged predator is new to the area, in Charlton where Barros-Gomes lives, three known level three sex offenders live there, according to the National Sex Offender Public Web site. In Southbridge, 12 convicted level three offenders reside there.
In Sturbridge, four convicted level three offenders live or work, including a 43-year-old male who was convicted last year of two counts of indecent assault and battery of a child under 14.
According to the Sex Offender Registry Board level three offenders are considered to be at a high risk of offending again. “The degree of dangerousness posed to the public is such that a substantial public safety interest is served by active community notification,” according to the Web site.
For information on registered sex offenders anywhere in the United States, visit nsopw.gov.