DARMOUTH, Mass. (WLNE) — A former Dartmouth Police officer was sentenced this morning to serve 10 to 15 years in prison, after he was convicted of raping his young step-daughter and molesting a teenaged family friend. Souza faced charges of aggravated rape of a child, one count of rape of a child by force, and one count of indecent assault, and battery of a person 14 or older. According to a release sent out by Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III, evidence presented by the prosecutors proved that the defendant raped his stepdaughter on multiple occasions. She was between the ages of 6 and 8 from 2011 to 2013. Souza was also found guilty of molesting a 15-year-old girl in 2013. The second victim, a family friend, was at the defendant’s home with her family to watch a movie when the molestation occurred. Both victims testified and provided the court this morning in Fall River with victim impact statements. In a statement, District Attorney Quinn said: “The defendant took advantage of his position of trust and access to sexually abuse a six year old child over a two year period.  The victim had viewed him as a father figure and eloquently said in court that he was the only father she had, and he should’ve protected her.  It is a particularly aggravating factor that he was raping the victim while he was a police officer.  In addition, I also want to thank the second victim for coming forward and testifying,” District Attorney Quinn said.  “ I commend the victims and their families for persevering through this difficult ordeal, including a second trial. I admire the victim for telling the court today that she refused to be defined by what the defendant did to her. I would like to thank the prosecution team, specifically Assistant District Attorney Silvia Rudman, Chief of the Special Victims Unit, and Assistant District Attorney Kalene Kobza for their efforts in this case. A lengthy state prison sentence was warranted.” Categories: News