Police: Coventry Man on Probation for Child Porn Was Having Sex with 14-Year-Old

A 24-year-old Coventry man on probation and barred from using the Internet after a 2011 child porn possession conviction is facing new charges of third-degree sexual assault for allegedly fostering a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old Warwick girl using a popular instant messaging app on his cell phone.

The state police arrested Joseph Oakes, 24, of 1 Allison Ave., Coventry, Wednesday morning after a State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigation concluded that he used the Kik Messenger app to communicate with the girl, who confirmed to police that they had been having sex.

The investigation began after a probation compliance check on Tuesday during which a Coventry detective assigned to the task force discovered that Oakes had Kik Messenger installed on his phone. In the app, the detective saw what looked like evidence of a sexual relationship between Oakes and a 14-year-old female.

That, along with other evidence of Internet usage in violation of his probation led to the issuance of a probation warrant. Meanwhile, ICAC members and Warwick Police Detectives were able to track down the girl and she confirmed that she and Oakes had been involved in a relationship.

Oakes was taken into custody at his home in Coventry Wednesday morning without incident.

He was arraigned before Judge Mary McCaffrey in THird Division District Court and was ordered held without bail as a probation violator.

He will return to court for a pretrial conference on Jan. 15.

Police said there are no indications that Oakes is involved with any other juveniles.