By The Associated Press
A Rhode Island man who photographed and video recorded himself sexually abusing a toddler was sentenced to 35 years in prison, the U.S. attorney’s office in Providence said.
Jose A. Cortes, 41, of Central Falls, started abusing the young girl he had regular access to starting when she was about 2 1/2 years old, prosecutors said in a statement Wednesday.
In addition, he collected thousands of images of child pornography, authorities said.
City police started investigating when Cortes showed an acquaintance images of children being molested, and even showed images of his abuse of the victim, prosecutors said.
Cortes told that person he would place the toddler’s sibling in another room with video games and treats so he could molest her.
Cortes, detained since his arrest in April 2018, pleaded guilty last June to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of possession of child pornography.
