Cranston Man Pleads Guilty To Child Porn Possession, Distribution

CRANSTON, RI — A Cranston man pleaded guilty to charges of child pornography possession and distribution in federal court last week. Robert Soares, 39, is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3.

According to Rhode Island U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Weisman's office, Soares was arrested in May 28, 2018 relating to a domestic violence incident after his girlfriend called the police and said she feared for her safety and that Soares had locked her and another woman in a bedroom, keeping them from leaving the house or the room.

Two days later, the woman once again called police, saying someone had called her to say Soares previously sent him "disgusting" images depicting child pornography, Weisman's office said. Cranston police searched Soares' phone and found more than two dozen explicit images, along with text messages discussing child pornography and searches relating to child pornography in his browser history.

On Friday, Soares pleaded guilty to chares of distribution and possession of child pornography in federal court. The distribution charge carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison, up to 20, followed by five years to a lifetime of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and a $5,000 special assessment by the Justice for Victims Trafficking Act in some cases.