Grand Jury: 80-Year-Old Man Sexually Assaulted 11-Year-Old In Rye

BRENTWOOD, NH — The grand jury at Rockingham County Superiour Court has indicted an 80-year-old man on three felony sexual assault charges against a child. Arturo F. Cortina, 80, of Barrington, is charged with two counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault stating he committed sexual acts against an 11-year-old child in April 2014. The 2014 sexual assault occurred occurred in Rye, according to the grand jury indictments issued this month.

In addition, Cortina is charged with sexually assaulting the same victim in New Castle in July 2016, while the victim was 13 years old. Because the victim at the time was at least 13 years old, Cortina is charged with felonious sexual assault in connection with the 2016 incident, as opposed to aggravated felonious sexual assault.

The grand jury indicted Cortina on all three charges earlier this month. Each aggravated felonious sexual assault charge is a special felony carrying a maximum possible penalty of 10 to 20 years in prison. The felonious sexual assault charge is a Class B felony, which carries a maximum possible sentence of 3 1/2 to 7 years in prison.

An indictment is not an indication of guilt; rather, it means a grand jury found enough evidence in the case to warrant a trial.