A former Bradley Hospital employee accused of sexually assaulting a patient at the Rhode Island children's psychiatric facility has pleaded no contest to amended charges, closing out a case that began with allegations reported on June 11. Jose Montanez changed his plea in court Tuesday after prosecutors agreed to amend two of the three third-degree sexual assault counts he faced, avoiding a trial on the full slate of allegations.
Prosecutors agreed to amend two of Montanez's three third-degree sexual assault counts to abuse in a healthcare facility and to dismiss one sexual assault charge outright in exchange for the no-contest plea, according to WPRI.com. He received a suspended sentence of three years and six years of probation, with three years of probation attached to each count. Court records also show Montanez was ordered not to have any contact with the victim during that probationary period.
Montanez's legal troubles trace back to allegations first reported to a clinical supervisor at Bradley Hospital, which is described as a psychiatric facility for children and adolescents. Bradley Hospital placed him on leave, and the station's report notes an internal investigation ultimately led to his firing. He was not arrested until weeks after the allegations surfaced, and the earlier report had identified all three of the initial charges against him as felonies.
From Felony Charges to a Negotiated Plea
Montanez, who lives in Warwick, was initially charged with second-degree sexual assault, third-degree sexual assault, and indecent solicitation of a child, with the alleged incident said to have occurred the month before those charges were filed. In February, prosecutors amended the charges down to three counts of third-degree sexual assault, a step that preceded this week's plea agreement. The earlier charges carried potential felony penalties, per the same account, though the case ultimately resolved short of trial.
Rhode Island's statute on third-degree sexual assault, codified at R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-37-6, defines the offense Montanez originally faced before prosecutors further amended two of those counts to abuse in a healthcare facility as part of the plea deal. Under the terms of his sentencing, Montanez cannot work at any healthcare facility or in the healthcare industry while he remains on probation, a restriction drawn from court records obtained by the outlet.
Conflicting Details and Unanswered Questions
Reporting on Montanez's age has varied between accounts: the most recent coverage lists him as 34, while an earlier report put him at 33. Both reports identify him as a Warwick resident. The discrepancy has not been resolved in available reporting.
Montanez's attorney, Andrew McElroy, did not respond to a request for comment on the case, according to the same outlet's reporting. Those seeking docket details or confirmation of court proceedings can consult the Rhode Island Judiciary Public Portal, which maintains public case information for the state's courts.
