PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – A Rhode Island man convicted of sexually molesting a 7-year-old girl has been granted a new trial by the state’s highest court over improper statements by the prosecution.

The Rhode Island Supreme Court in its decision Thursday on Henry Bozzo’s appeal vacated his conviction and sent the case back to Superior Court.

The 64-year-old Warwick man was convicted in 2017 of first-degree child molestation and sentenced to 18 years in prison.

He appealed, saying the trial judge erroneously denied his motion for a mistrial based on the prosecutor’s comments.

The justices said the prosecutor’s comments had the potential for unfair prejudice.