State v. Antonio Acosta

Syllabus

The defendant, Antonio Acosta, appealed following the September 21, 2015 judgment of conviction and commitment that was entered against him for one count of first-degree sexual assault and three counts of second-degree child molestation following a jury trial in Providence County Superior Court. He contended on appeal that the trial justice clearly erred in denying his motion for a new trial because he overlooked and misconstrued material evidence such as the victim's motive to lie, the implausibility of the victim's claims, and the \complete absence of any independent evidence to support these accusations.\ The Supreme Court carefully reviewed the analysis conducted by the trial justice in passing upon the defendant's motion for a new trial, and it concluded that he did not overlook or misconceive material evidence and did not commit any clear error. Accordingly, the Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the Superior Court.