PAWTUCKET, R.I. — A former state social worker is charged with having sex with a teenager under her authority.
Kimberly Raposa, 45, of West Warwick, was arrested by Pawtucket police and arraigned Monday on a felony charge of third-degree sexual assault of a teen between 16 and 18 years old, according to a court complaint.
Raposa is charged under a law passed in 2022 that makes it a crime for a person in a position of authority — such as teachers, coaches, and priests — to have sexual contact with teens over the age of 14 under their supervision.
Republican Senator Jessica de la Cruz and Democrat Representative Julie Casimiro sponsored the legislation after a flood of accusations against longtime North Kingstown High School basketball coach Aaron Thomas, who’d conducted “naked fat tests” on hundreds of male teen athletes. Thomas was convicted in 2025 of two misdemeanor battery charges and sentenced to a year of probation.
Under this law, an authority figure who has sexual contact with a minor over 14 and under 18 years old can be charged with felony third-degree sexual assault, and face up to five years in prison if convicted.
After her arraignment at District Court in Providence, Raposa was released on her own recognizance. Her lawyer, John Grasso of Providence, had no comment.
A spokesman for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families said that Raposa no longer works for the state, and declined comment on the allegations.
“These allegations are extremely troubling and stand in direct violation of our agency’s core mission of protecting Rhode Island children and supporting their safety and well-being,” DCYF spokesman Jonathan Darling said in a statement. “Our team of dedicated, caring child welfare professionals are committed to helping at-risk children and families heal and thrive.”
The president of the union representing the state’s social workers said that Raposa was no longer a member, and that the allegations were a matter for DCYF, the state Department of Administration, and law enforcement.
“The actions of one individual will not overshadow the dedication of hundreds of Local 580 members who serve the state’s most vulnerable with dignity and care, every single day,” Matthew Gunnip, the president of Local 580, SEIU, AFL-CIO, RI Alliance of Social Service Employees, said in a statement Friday.
Amanda Milkovits can be reached at amanda.milkovits@globe.com. Follow her @AmandaMilkovits.