Johnston Man Charged with Child Porn Possession

A 48-year-old Johnston man is facing charges of possession of child pornography.

Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Steven G. O’Donnell said in a release that Kevin J. Blondin, of 140 Borden Ave., Johnston, was arrested on Thursday by members of the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force after an investigation.

The investigation began after a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported a person in Rhode Island had uploaded child porn to an online storage account.

Police tracked the internet connection to Blondin’s address and soon got a warrant, leading to today’s arrest.

Police seized a laptop and cell phone for further forensic examination at the scene.

Blondin is due to be arraigned in Third Division District Court this afternoon.

A person found guilty of Possession of Child Pornography may be subject to a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisoned not more than five (5) years, or both.

The Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force actively engages in investigative efforts to identify subjects involved in child exploitation-related activities. The Rhode Island ICAC Task Force Program is administered by the Rhode Island State Police and supports a national network of multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task forces engaged in investigations, forensic examinations, and prosecutions related to Internet crimes against children and technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation. The Rhode Island ICAC Task Force is comprised of members of the Rhode Island State Police Computer Crimes Unit along with detectives from the Coventry Police Department, Warwick Police Department, North Smithfield Police Department, Pawtucket Police Department, North Kingstown Police Department, Portsmouth Police Department, Bristol Police Department, South Kingstown Police Department, Woonsocket Police Department, and special agents from Homeland Security Investigations and United States Postal Inspection Services.

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