Crime & Safety

Cranston Man Snared in Statewide Child Porn, Child Exploitation Sweep

Members of the Computer Crimes Unit and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force rounded up nine Rhode Island men after an undercover investigation.

A 60-year-old Cranston man is among nine people caught up in a statewide sweep cracking down on child exploitation and child pornography.

The State Police announced the arrest of Richard Dias, of 227 South Clarendon St., Cranston, along with six other people who allegedly possessed or transmitted child pornography after a joint task force investigation between the state police, the United States Marshals and the Secret Service.

Members of the Computer Crimes Unit and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force went undercover to identify the suspects and on Tuesday morning, federal, state and local officials executed search warrants at houses across the state.

Police seized digital media "which contained evidence related to the victimization of children and technology-facilitated crimes," State Police Superintendent Col. Steven G. O'Donnell said in a statement.

The investigation "identified the alleged owners of digital media containing pornographic images and videos of children," O'Donnell said.

Along with Dias, who was released on $20,000 recognizance after arraignment in Third Division District Court on Tuesday, police charged the following:

Gregory Wagner, 29, 2 O'Donnell Avenue, Unit #3, Warwick was arraigned in Third Division District Court where bail was set $20,000 personal recognizance. 

Christopher Skinner, 25, 4 Collyer Street, Providence was arraigned in Sixth Division District Court where bail was set on the new charges of $5,000 with surety. He was held as a Superior Court probation violator relating to a previous charge of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. 

Enrique Rodriguez, 40, 282 Asylum Avenue, Woonsocket was arraigned in Sixth Division District Court where bail was set $10,000 personal recognizance. 

Andrew Fontaine, 26, 4 Shane Drive, West Warwick was arraigned in Third Division District Court where bail was set $20,000 personal recognizance. 

Nolan Ross, 20, 53 Seacrest Drive, Portsmouth was arraigned in Fourth Division District Court where bail was set $10,000 personal recognizance. 

Joshua Martenson, 33, 856 Smith Street, Unit #1, Providence was arraigned in Sixth Division District Court where bail was set $100,000 personal recognizance.

Everyone was ordered to have no contact with minors or the Internet.

Police said Skinner and Martenson are registered sex offenders.

A Providence man, David Harris, 60, of 45 Taft Ave., Providence, was arrested for indecent solicitation of a minor and third degree sexual assault in connection with a Foster Police investigation prompted by a complaint alleging solicitation of a 14-year-old girl for sexual purposes. He was released on $10,000 surety bail and ordered not to contact minors or use the Internet.

Police also charged Eduardo Guzman, 20, of 218 Pleasant St., Providence, with video voyeurism after a task force investigation showed he recorded a woman in the bathroom and bedroom of his house without her knowledge or consent. That arrest came after a prior investigation and arrest for possession of child pornography when police searched his seized computer equipment.

Guzman was released on $5,000 personal recognizance after his Sixth Division District Court arraignment with special conditions that he not contact minors or the Internet.


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