Following a jury trial in the Barnstable Superior Court, 59-year-old Peter Eastman of Barnstable was convicted of rape last Wednesday, a statement from Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert J. Galibois confirmed. Eastman, known for his association with Howard Boats, faced accusations stemming from an incident reported on September 9, 2023, by a woman who alleged he had sexually assaulted her at the boating company's premises on September 4 of the same year.
The trial, which spanned four days and led the jury to deliberate for three hours, ended with Eastman's conviction. Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Isaacs, head of the Domestic Violence section, and Victim Witness Assistant Caitlin Carroll were pivotal in prosecuting the case. In expressing his thanks, Galibois lauded the Barnstable Police Department's investigative work and praised the victim for her courage and integrity in testifying during the trial. He emphasized the difficulties faced by individuals who take the stand, echoing the sentiments in the DA's Facebook post.
As of now, Eastman is detained without bail until sentencing, which is scheduled for May 15. Besides the rape charge, Massachusetts law now requires Eastman to register as a sex offender, the Cape & Islands DA's office stated. Eastman has additional court dates set for the resolution of separate charges that include three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon over 60, Violate Abuse Prevention Order, Threat to Commit a Crime, and five counts of possessing a large capacity firearm, all of which involve a different victim than the rape case.
While Eastman awaits his fate on these various charges, the district court will also see him for a separate Violation of a Restraining Order count. Regarding these pending matters, the DA's office asserts that they will not comment further at this time, maintaining the presumption of innocence for Eastman, as per their office's statement. The remaining charges will be addressed sequentially on May 15 and June 16, reaffirming the office’s commitment to a fair legal process for all involved parties.
