State v. Rivera

OPINION

Chief Justice SUTTELL,

for the Court.

The defendant, Jose Rivera, appeals from a judgment of conviction, after a jury trial, of two counts of first-degree sexual assault, four counts of second-degree sexual assault, and one count of simple assault. On appeal, the defendant presents four grounds for reversal of his conviction. He contends that: (1) the complaining witnesses were not competent to testify at trial; (2) the trial justice erred in denying his motion to sever the trial counts; (3) the denial of his motion for new trial was an abuse of discretion; (4) the testimony of the…