Crime & Safety

Chelmsford Man Found Guilty of Aggravated Rape of a Child

Defendant sentenced to 10-12 years in prison.

Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan issued a statement Tuesday that a Chelmsford man has been found guilty of aggravated rape of a child, rape of a child by force and numerous additional charges.

A Middlesex Superior Court jury in Lowell found Trinidad Atencio, 56, of Chelmsford, guilty on charges of aggravated rape of a child, rape of a child by force, indecent assault and battery on a person 14 years or older, enticement of a child under the age of 16, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, dissemination of matter harmful to a minor, and possession of child pornography.

Middlesex Superior Court Judge Janet Kenton-Walker sentenced Atencio Thursday to 10-12 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised probation with conditions to include that the defendant stay away from and have no direct or indirect contact with the victim and the victim’s family; complete sex offender treatment; refrain from any unsupervised contact with children under 18; refrain from work or volunteer work involving any contact with children under 18; refrain from possessing any devices that allow access to the internet; be subject to GPS monitoring; and comply with the regulations of the Sex Offender Registry Board.

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“The defendant took advantage of a vulnerable teenager and manipulated his friendship with this child for his own objectives,” District Attorney Ryan said in a statement.  “It can be extremely difficult to disclose abuse and to testify about it in court.  We have great respect for this victim’s willingness to tell authorities and a jury what happened to him.”

According to authorities, starting in May 2011, the defendant, then living at an apartment in Chelmsford, would invite the 15-year-old victim to come over. While there, the defendant would give the teenager money and marijuana to hang out and to perform small jobs around the apartment. Beginning shortly thereafter, the defendant on numerous occasions made sexual advances towards the victim, including trying to get the victim to watch pornography and touching him inappropriately.

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Authorities conducted a forensic analysis of the defendant’s computer, pursuant to a search warrant, and found images of young children engaged in sexual conduct.


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