Former Dartmouth officer convicted of child rape

A former Dartmouth police officer was convicted Wednesday of child rape, assault and battery.

Shawn Souza was convicted following a three-day jury trial in Fall River Superior Court on two counts of aggravated rape of a child, one count of forcible rape of a child and one count of indecent assault on a person 14 years of age or older, according to a statement from the district attorney of Bristol County, Thomas M. Quinn III.

Souza was taken into custody after the conviction was announced, authorities said, and will be sentenced at 10 a.m. Thursday.