Westport official accused of abusing child to return to court Aug. 20

FALL RIVER — A Westport town official facing two counts of indecent assault on a child under 14 appeared in court Tuesday for a routine pretrial hearing.

According to the court file, Kevin Rioux, 48, was ordered to return to Fall River District Court for a pretrial hearing on Aug. 20. His attorney, Joseph Silvia, filed a motion for discovery.

The Herald News reported this week that Rioux, a member of the Westport Finance Committee and School Building Committee, was arrested at his President Street home on May 16 by Detectives Robert Rebello and Jeff Majewski and Officer Todd Oliver, according to a police report. Westport police arrested him after investigating an incident that occurred April 26 at his home, according to court documents.

Reached via email on Monday, Rioux told the Herald News that he maintains his innocence and referred all other questions to his lawyer.

According to the police report, a 12-year-old victim alleged Rioux had inappropriately kissed and touched her. The victim told her mother, who confronted Rioux and took other actions. Rioux told the Herald News that he plans on remaining on the School Building Committee and the Finance Committee.

Email Brian Fraga at bfraga@heraldnews.com.