Attleboro, Mass., Resident to Plead Guilty To Federal Child Pornography Charge

PROVIDENCE, RI — Richard F. Woodhead, 54, of South Attleboro, Mass., will plead guilty to attempting to receive child pornography, the U.S. Attorney's office said Thursday. He was an Attleboro police sergeant when Rhode Island state police raided his home. Woodhead was arrested on April 6 by Homeland Security Investigation agents and members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force following a court authorized search of his residence.

According to court documents, Woodhead and the government agreed to "the facts that he used a computer to store and view material involving a prepubescent minor or a minor who has not attained the age of 12; the offense involved between 10 but less than 150 images; and that he caused, transported, permitted or sought a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography."

Attempted receipt of child pornography is punishable by statutory penalties of between 5-20 years imprisonment followed by a term of up to lifetime supervised, and a fine of $250,000, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra R. Hebert.