Federal Child Porn Charges For RI Man

WESTERLY, RI – A Westerly man faces federal child porn charges after an IP address allegedly belonging to him was uncovered as part of an investigation in Canada, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Jonathan Breslin, 32, was ordered detained in federal custody this week following his appearance in federal court in Providence.

He has been charged with receiving and distributing child pornography, possessing and accessing with intent to view child pornography, transfer of obscene material to a minor via interstate commerce and attempted production of child pornography.

Breslin was arrested Wednesday following a search of his Westerly home, where authorities seized a computer, a digital media storage device and a cell phone allegedly containing child pornography.

According to court documents, in March 2016 a person was arrested in Saskatchewan, Canada on an unrelated charge. Authorities there searched the individual's cell phone and found an app allegedly used to discuss and share child porn images and videos to a network of users.

Saskatchewan police identified 78 unique users who allegedly participated in the communication about child porn. Among the IP addresses was one allegedly belonging to Breslin.

A Homeland Security agent in Rhode Island posed as a person interested in child porn. During the agent's alleged communications with Breslin, authorities said Breslin discussed viewing, possessing and attempting to produce child porn.

Editor's Note: This report was written using information provided by the U.S. Attorney's office in Rhode Island. An arrest does not imply a conviction.

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