NEWPORT — A 26-year-old Providence man was sentenced here yesterday to 13 years in prison for molesting the 8-year-old daughter of a former girlfriend in Middletown.

Superior Court Judge Melanie Wilk Thunberg also gave Jonathan L. Moore, whose last known address is 70 Ralph St., Providence, a suspended prison sentence of 17 years with probation.

The incident occurred in the home of Moore’s ex-girlfriend on April 30, 2007. The daughter told her mother the next day that Moore inappropriately touched her, according to Michael J. Healey, spokesman for the attorney general’s office.

Middletown police officers arrested Moore later that day. Since then, he had been held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions, in Cranston.

After a five-day trial, on Oct. 21 a jury convicted Moore of first-degree child molestation.

Moore will serve the prison sentence on the molestation charge concurrent with a nine-year sentence for violating the terms of probation for four previous convictions. At the time of his arrest, Moore was on probation for convictions of assault to rob, delivery of crack cocaine, larceny of a firearm and larceny over $500. He was also on bail for a second count of assault to rob.

In light of Moore’s prior convictions, Special Assistant Attorney General Kelly McElroy had sought a 40-year prison sentence. Healey called the 30-year sentence, with 13 to serve, “disappointing.”

akuffner@projo.com