By Chris Raia
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WPRI) – A
former Pawtucket police officer who resigned last year amid allegations of rape
and domestic assault is due back in court on Thursday.
Stephen Ricco, 41, is accused
of sexually and physically assaulting his girlfriend last Thanksgiving. He was
indicted by a grand jury on one count of first-degree domestic sexual assault,
one count of strangulation and two counts of simple domestic assault.
He pleaded not guilty to those
charges last week and was ordered held without bail.
Ricco will be back in court
Thursday afternoon for a bail hearing.
His alleged victim claims Ricco
choked, bit and raped her last November.
Ricco, a 15-year veteran of the
Pawtucket Police Department before his retirement last June, faced similar
charges last year. He was arrested last February and pleaded no contest last
April to a single count of domestic disorderly conduct. A charge of simple
assault and two additional counts of domestic disorderly conduct were dismissed
by the prosecution.
He was sentenced then to anger
management counseling and community service.