Key Takeaways
- Father Kevin Fisette was named by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office as one of four current and former Diocese of Providence priests criminally charged with child sexual abuse as a result of its clergy investigation.
- A statewide grand jury indicted Fisette in May 2022 on one count of first-degree sexual assault, involving a 13 year old boy in Burrillville between 1981 and 1982. Prosecutors say the case is supported by testimony from former Bishop Thomas Tobin and a monsignor about admissions Fisette made to them, as well as emails between Fisette and his accuser. He has pleaded not guilty, and his case is scheduled for trial in November 2026.
- A state police investigation found the allegation against Fisette credible as early as 2009, but prosecutors initially declined to bring charges, citing the statute of limitations for lower-degree offenses; the case was revived over a decade later once investigators determined the conduct alleged could support a first-degree charge, which carries no statute of limitations.
Who Was Father Kevin Fisette?
Father Kevin Fisette was ordained in November 1981 and served at parishes, hospitals, and schools across Rhode Island for nearly three decades before being removed from ministry in August 2009. He has not been laicized.
Fisette is one of four clergy members the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office criminally charged as a result of its investigation into the Diocese, alongside John Petrocelli, James Silva, and the late Edward Kelley. He was also included on the Diocese of Providence’s List of Credibly Accused Clergy on July 1, 2019.
The criminal charge against him remains pending.
Father Kevin Fisette Assignment History
According to the Diocese of Providence’s own assignment record, Fisette served at:
- 1981: Our Lady of Victory Church, Ashaway
- 1981–1982: Rhode Island Hospital, Providence (chaplain)
- 1982–1985: St. Mary Church, Cranston
- 1985–1990: St. Catherine of Siena Church, Warwick (with a 1987–1988 assignment to Our Lady of Providence Preparatory Seminary High School)
- 1989–1997: Bishop Hendricken High School, Warwick
- 1990–1993: St. James Church, West Warwick, and Pawtuxet Valley CYO
- 1993–1997: SS. Peter & Paul Church, West Warwick
- 1997–2004: Holy Name of Jesus Church, Providence
- 2004–2009: St. Leo the Great Church, Pawtucket
- 2009: Removed from ministry
The Case of Father Kevin Fisette
According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, the pending indictment against Fisette alleges he committed first-degree sexual assault against a juvenile male in the town of Burrillville between January 1, 1981, and December 31, 1982, while he was serving as a deacon at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Hopkinton and as a chaplain at Rhode Island Hospital.
A complaint alleging this same conduct first reached the Diocese and Rhode Island State Police around 2009. State police found the allegation credible at the time, but the Attorney General’s Office then in office declined to bring charges, citing the statute of limitations for lower-degree sexual assault offenses. The Diocese removed Fisette from ministry that August. He was publicly added to the Diocese’s list of credibly accused clergy a decade later, in July 2019. He was reportedly fired from a job at Goodwill shortly after his name appeared there.
Prosecutors revived the case in 2022, charging Fisette with first-degree sexual assault, a charge that carries no statute of limitations under Rhode Island law. According to reporting on the case, prosecutors have said it is supported by:
- testimony from former Bishop Thomas Tobin and Monsignor John Darcy, describing admissions Fisette made to them directly,
- emails between Fisette and his accuser that prosecutors characterize as an admission,
- and statements Fisette made to state police.
Fisette’s attorneys have challenged the case on due process grounds, arguing that mental health records related to the accuser were destroyed over the years the case sat inactive; a judge rejected that motion in April 2026, finding no evidence of bad faith by the Attorney General’s Office.
A statewide grand jury indicted Fisette on May 25, 2022, on one count of first-degree sexual assault. He was arraigned in Providence County Superior Court and pleaded not guilty. As of this writing, his case remains pending and is scheduled for trial in November 2026.
Fisette has not been laicized and, according to Diocesan officials, continues to receive approximately $2,000 per month in support along with health and dental coverage, which the Diocese has said is required under Canon Law for priests removed from ministry.
Support for Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse
If you or someone you love was sexually abused by Father Kevin Fisette, Andreozzi + Foote is here to help.
Recent changes to Rhode Island law have created an opportunity for survivors to pursue civil claims that may have previously been barred by the statute of limitations.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we represent survivors of clergy sexual abuse across the nation. Our team takes a trauma-informed approach to every case, ensuring survivors are heard, supported, and empowered throughout the legal process.
If you were abused by Father Fisette or another religious leader, we encourage you to contact us today to learn about your legal options.
Every consultation is free and completely confidential.
Image sources: Father Kevin Fisette, courtesy of The Providence Journal.
