Crime & Safety
Police: Providence Firefighter Living in SK Sent Nude Photos to Boy
The state police said Jason August, 32, of South Kingstown, was arrested Thursday.
A 32-year-old South Kingstown man is facing charges of soliciting nude photos from a minor and disseminating indecent material to a child.
Jason August was arrested Thursday as he arrived to work in Providence, where he is a firefighter.
August has been suspended without pay, said Providence Safety Commissioner Steven Pare. He joined the department in 2007.
Find out what's happening in Narragansett-South Kingstownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
August became a person of interest after authorities in Massachusetts found evidence during an investigation, the state police said.
They said that August had sent nude photos to a boy and tried to get a victim to send nude photos.
Find out what's happening in Narragansett-South Kingstownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
August has worked as a youth coach in Narragansett, coaching the high school basketball team as an assistant coach. He also worked for the Sigma Pi Housing Corporation of Rhode Island at the University of Rhode Island.
URI spokesman Dave Lavalle said that August was not an employee of URI but the Sigma Pi board voted to end his employment. Campus police also issued a no-trespass order.
The state police seized digital media at the time of his arrest. He also was in possession of a small amount of marijuana.
Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Steven G. O’Donnell said that August was arrested by the state police’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force without incident. The investigation is ongoing and “there may be additional charges pending the forensic examination” of the seized media.
Police said there’s no evidence to suggest that August had any inappropriate contact with minors at this time, but as the investigation continues, “the ICAC Task Force encourages anyone who may have further information regarding Jason August to contact the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force at (401) 444-1710.”
August is free on $2,000 surety bail after his arraignment in Sixth Division District Court in Providence.
He has been ordered not to use the Internet except for work purposes and to have no contact with minors.
Photo: Jason August via Facebook
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