Survivors of sexual abuse in Woonsocket, Rhode Island deserve answers, support, and a path to justice. Whether the abuse happened decades ago or more recently, you have rights under Rhode Island law, and those rights may be stronger today than they have ever been. A sexual assault attorney at Sommers Schwartz can help you understand your legal options, protect your privacy, and hold the people and institutions responsible for your harm accountable.

Table of Contents

• Woonsocket Has a Documented History of Clergy Sexual Abuse
• Rhode Island’s New 2026 Child Sexual Abuse Law Opens a Two-Year Window for Survivors
• What Rhode Island Law Says About Child Sexual Abuse Claims
• Institutions Can Be Held Liable, Not Just Individual Abusers
• How a Woonsocket Sexual Abuse Lawyer at Sommers Schwartz Can Help You
• FAQs About Woonsocket Sexual Abuse Lawyers in Rhode Island

Woonsocket Has a Documented History of Clergy Sexual Abuse

Woonsocket is one of the Rhode Island cities most heavily affected by clergy sexual abuse within the Diocese of Providence. Among the communities where credibly accused clergy served most frequently were Providence, Cranston, Woonsocket, and Pawtucket. That is not a coincidence. It reflects the size of the Catholic presence in Woonsocket and the number of institutions, parishes, and schools where children were placed in the care of clergy.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Providence identified specific abusers who operated in Woonsocket. Father Paul Henry Leech repeatedly abused four boys, ranging in age from 10 to 16, in their homes and in rectories of churches in Lincoln and Woonsocket. In 1985, Father Leech pled nolo contendere to eight felony counts related to that abuse and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He is listed on the Diocese’s Credibly Accused List.

Father Francis Santilli reportedly sexually abused three, and possibly as many as five, altar servers in rectories and sacristies in Providence and Woonsocket in the early 1980s. He is also listed on the Diocese’s Credibly Accused List. Father Roland Lepire is another name tied to Woonsocket. The Attorney General’s Report notes that Lepire allegedly abused at least six boys between 1975 and 1980 at parish assignments in Woonsocket, Cranston, and Central Falls.

St. Joseph Church in Woonsocket and St. Agatha Church in Woonsocket are among the parishes where five or more credibly accused clergy served during the review period covered by the Attorney General’s investigation. Mount Saint Charles Academy in Woonsocket was also identified as a location where abuse reportedly occurred. These are not rumors. They are findings supported by more than 250,000 pages of diocesan records reviewed by the Attorney General’s Office and the Rhode Island State Police.

If you were abused in Woonsocket, at a church, school, rectory, or anywhere else, what happened to you was real. It was not your fault. And you may have legal options available right now.

Rhode Island’s New 2026 Child Sexual Abuse Law Opens a Two-Year Window for Survivors

Governor Dan McKee signed legislation amending the statute of limitations for child victim claims of sexual abuse and creating a two-year window for victims to bring otherwise time-barred claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. The new law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

This law, known as H-7200A/S-2616A, directly addresses a problem that blocked many survivors from getting justice. Before this law, the Rhode Island Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Houllahan v. Gelineau made clear that the 2019 statute of limitations extension only applied to individual perpetrators, not to the institutions and supervisors who enabled or concealed the abuse. That ruling left many survivors without a legal path against the Diocese and other organizations.

The new law establishes a two-year civil revival window that opens from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028. During this 24-month period, survivors can file civil suits even if the statute of limitations on their claims had previously expired. Under the text of the law itself, a cause of action that involves sexual conduct or sexual contact with a child, including claims alleging negligent supervision, wrongful hiring, failure to report, or concealment of sexual abuse of a child, and that would otherwise be time-barred, is revived and must be commenced by no later than June 30, 2028.

Future claims, for those whose window has not yet expired, must be filed by whichever date is later: either 35 years from the date of the abusive act, or seven years from when the survivor first discovers or reasonably connects their adult injuries to the childhood abuse. The law defines a child as a person under 18 years of age, and defines sexual abuse as any act committed against a person under 18 that would constitute a criminal violation of Chapter 37 of Title 11 of the Rhode Island General Laws.

This is a limited window. If you were abused as a child in Woonsocket and believed your time had passed, this law may have changed that. But the deadline to file is June 30, 2028, and that date will not move.

What Rhode Island Law Says About Child Sexual Abuse Claims

Rhode Island law draws clear distinctions between types of sexual offenses, and understanding those distinctions matters when you are evaluating a civil claim. Under Rhode Island General Laws Chapter 37 of Title 11, sexual assault and child molestation are classified by degree. First-degree offenses involve sexual penetration. Second-degree offenses involve non-penetrative sexual contact.

Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-4, second-degree sexual assault prohibits sexual contact with another person where the defendant knows or has reason to know the victim is mentally incapacitated, mentally disabled, or physically helpless, or where the defendant uses force, surprise, or coercion. Sexual contact is defined broadly as the intentional touching of intimate parts, clothed or unclothed, if that touching can reasonably be construed as intended for sexual arousal, gratification, or assault.

Rhode Island’s child molestation statutes apply specifically to victims who are under 14 years of age. A key distinction between child molestation and sexual assault charges is that child molestation requires proof only of the victim’s age and the act itself. It does not require proof of additional elements like force or coercion. This matters in civil cases because it defines the scope of conduct that qualifies as actionable sexual abuse under state law.

For civil purposes, H-7200A defines sexual abuse as any act committed against a person under 18 that would constitute a criminal violation of Chapter 37 of Title 11. That definition is broad enough to cover a wide range of conduct, from groping and fondling to penetrative assault. It also covers conduct that occurred as part of a continuing pattern, and the law specifically provides that a survivor does not need to prove which specific act in a series caused their injury. The date of discovery can be calculated from the last act in a common scheme or plan of abuse.

If you are unsure whether what happened to you qualifies legally, do not try to answer that question alone. A sexual abuse lawyer at Sommers Schwartz can review the facts of your situation and give you a clear answer.

Institutions Can Be Held Liable, Not Just Individual Abusers

One of the most important things survivors need to understand is that the person who abused them is often not the only party that can be held legally responsible. Institutions, supervisors, and organizations that knew about abuse, failed to stop it, moved abusers to new positions, or actively concealed what happened can all face civil liability under Rhode Island law.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 report documented exactly this kind of institutional failure within the Diocese of Providence. Though the Diocese cooperated in producing a large volume of records, those records laid bare the deep institutional and personal failures at the heart of this crisis. Accused priests were reassigned to new parishes. Complaints were not reported to law enforcement. Parents and parishioners who raised concerns were told there was nothing to worry about.

The new H-7200A law was written specifically to reach this institutional conduct. The law’s text covers claims alleging negligent supervision, wrongful hiring, negligent employment, negligent training, negligent monitoring, failure to report, and concealment of sexual abuse. That language captures the full range of ways an organization can fail a child in its care.

The new law specifically targets institutions and organizations such as churches, schools, youth programs, healthcare facilities, and sports leagues, as well as supervisors. This means that if you were abused at a Woonsocket parish, at Mount Saint Charles Academy, or in any other institutional setting, the organization itself may be a proper defendant in your civil case, not just the individual who harmed you.

Holding institutions accountable serves a purpose beyond individual justice. It creates a record, forces transparency, and can help ensure that the same failures do not harm future generations of children. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz understand how to build these institutional liability claims and have the resources to pursue them effectively.

How a Woonsocket Sexual Abuse Lawyer at Sommers Schwartz Can Help You

Taking the first step toward a legal claim can feel overwhelming. Many survivors carry years of silence, shame that was never theirs to carry, and uncertainty about whether anyone will believe them. At Sommers Schwartz, we want you to know that we believe you, and we are here to help you move forward on your terms.

Our attorneys represent survivors of sexual abuse and assault across Rhode Island, including Woonsocket and the surrounding communities. We handle cases involving clergy abuse, institutional abuse, school abuse, and abuse by any person in a position of authority or trust. As a sexual assault lawyer resource for Rhode Island survivors, our team understands the specific legal framework that governs these cases, including the new H-7200A lookback window, the Houllahan decision, and how Rhode Island courts approach institutional liability.

We also understand that privacy matters deeply to survivors. Rhode Island law allows survivors to file civil claims under a pseudonym, such as Jane Doe or John Doe, which means you may be able to pursue justice without your name becoming part of the public record. We will explain exactly how that process works and help you decide what approach is right for you.

Every case begins with a confidential conversation. There is no pressure, no obligation, and no cost to speak with us. We take sexual abuse cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. The revival window closes June 30, 2028. The time to act is now, while your options are open.

If you or someone you love was sexually abused in Woonsocket or anywhere else in Rhode Island, please contact Sommers Schwartz today. You do not have to carry this alone.

FAQs About Woonsocket Sexual Abuse Lawyers in Rhode Island

What is the deadline to file a sexual abuse claim under Rhode Island’s new lookback window?

The deadline is June 30, 2028. Rhode Island’s H-7200A/S-2616A, signed by Governor Dan McKee on June 11, 2026, and effective July 1, 2026, creates a two-year civil revival window for previously time-barred claims. Any claim that would otherwise be barred by the statute of limitations must be filed by June 30, 2028, or it may be permanently closed. If your abuse happened years or even decades ago, this window may be your only remaining opportunity to pursue civil justice against the institutions that enabled or covered up what happened to you.

Can I sue the Diocese of Providence or another institution, not just the person who abused me?

Yes. Rhode Island’s new law was specifically designed to reach institutional defendants. Under H-7200A, claims can be brought against parties whose conduct caused or contributed to childhood sexual abuse, including through negligent supervision, negligent hiring, failure to report, or concealment of abuse. Before this law, the Rhode Island Supreme Court’s 2023 Houllahan v. Gelineau decision limited institutional claims. The new law changes that by reviving previously expired claims against institutions and supervisors for the duration of the two-year window.

What if I am not sure whether what happened to me qualifies as sexual abuse under Rhode Island law?

Rhode Island law defines sexual abuse broadly. Under H-7200A, the term covers any act committed against a person under 18 years of age that would constitute a criminal violation of Chapter 37 of Title 11 of the Rhode Island General Laws. That includes both penetrative and non-penetrative conduct, such as groping, fondling, or unwanted touching of intimate parts. You do not need to know the legal label for what happened to you before calling an attorney. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz can review the facts of your situation and tell you clearly whether you have a viable claim.

Will my name become public if I file a sexual abuse lawsuit in Rhode Island?

Not necessarily. Rhode Island courts allow sexual abuse survivors to file civil claims using a pseudonym, such as Jane Doe or John Doe, in order to protect their identity. This means you may be able to pursue a lawsuit without your name appearing in public court records. The decision about whether and how to proceed is entirely yours. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz will walk you through your privacy options during your initial consultation so you can make an informed choice about how to move forward.

How much does it cost to hire a sexual abuse attorney at Sommers Schwartz?

There is no upfront cost. Sommers Schwartz handles sexual abuse cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney’s fees unless your case results in a recovery. Your initial consultation is confidential and free of charge. You can speak with an attorney, ask questions, share your story, and receive honest guidance without any financial obligation. The firm’s goal is to remove every barrier between survivors and the justice they deserve.

More Resources About Rhode Island City Pages

• Providence Sexual Abuse Lawyer
• Cranston Sexual Abuse Lawyer
• Warwick Sexual Abuse Lawyer
• Pawtucket Sexual Abuse Lawyer
• East Providence Sexual Abuse Lawyer
• Newport Sexual Abuse Lawyer
• Bristol Sexual Abuse Lawyer
• Smithfield Sexual Abuse Lawyer
• Lincoln Sexual Abuse Lawyer
• North Providence Sexual Abuse Lawyer
• East Greenwich Sexual Abuse Lawyer
• Westerly Sexual Abuse Lawyer
• Middletown Sexual Abuse Lawyer
• Coventry Sexual Abuse Lawyer