Later that day, Barrington police pulled over Deware. He sped away and was captured after a chase, in Seekonk.

John Sexton said this afternoon that he was pleased with the sentence. He estimated 50 to 60 letters had been sent in support of a tough sentence.

Two Barrington town councilors were on hand at the courthouse after today's decision, which was also attended by Police Chief John LaCross. Council President Jeffrey Brenner, a lawyer, said the 20-year sentence was substantial in relation to what sometimes happens in these cases.

John Sexton said Daniel Guglielmo, the prosecutor in the probation violation case, had said the defense might seek a shorter prison term for Deware and that the Sextons should make clear in writing their support for a longer sentence, if that was how they felt.

In 1993, Deware was sentenced to 14 years to serve and 26 years suspended for molesting a North Kingstown boy in 1992 in Quidnessett Memorial Cemetery, according to court records and the state attorney general's office.

While serving that sentence, Deware admitted to raping a 15-year-old Cranston girl in 1990, according to Michael Healey, a spokesman for Attorney General Patrick Lynch. Deware was sentenced to 20 years in prison, concurrent with the first prison sentence.

Deware was paroled in 2002. He violated his parole later that year and went back to prison for four more years. He was released in January.