Coventry Rhode Island Possession of Child Pornography Case
Charges
- Possession of Child Pornography in violation of RIGL § 11-9-1.3 (a)(4)
Court Information
Coventry, Rhode Island
Rhode Island Superior Court (Kent County)
Case Overview
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a cyber tip from Microsoft that a cloud service user uploaded an image the met the definition of child pornography. The internet protocol address from which the image was uploaded pointed to a Coventry man who subscribed to the internet serve at his home. Members of local and state police obtained a warrant for the man’s house to search for and seize electronic devices, and thereafter, to search their contents for child pornography. When police executed the warrant, they quickly found what they were seeking. The man, who was the sole occupant and home owner, directed them to the device, which contained the illicit photos and videos. He also waived his rights and confessed to his wrongdoing. Once arrested and criminally charged with Possession of Child Pornography, the man hired Rhode Island Sex Offense Defense Lawyer, John L. Calcagni III, to defend him against this serious charge.
The man was originally charged in Rhode Island District Court ((3rd Division) and ultimately in Rhode Island Superior Court (Kent County). Given the evidence found in the man’s home, on his digital device, and his confession to police, Attorney Calcagni’s defense efforts focused on negotiating a pretrial disposition, opposed to preparing for trial. He sent his client to undergo a sex offender risk assessment, and assembled a robust mitigation package for the judge’s and prosecutors’ consideration. Based on these efforts, Attorney Calcagni talked prosecutors out of their initial jail recommendation, and into agreeing to a non-jail sentence. In exchange for the man’s plea of nolo contendere to the charged offense, the Court sentenced him to 5 years in ACI, all to be suspended with probation, along with special conditions that include sex offender counsel and registration.
Case Result
5-Year Suspended Sentence with Special Conditions of Probation