Woonsocket Registered Sex Offender Facing Child Pornography Charge

WOONSOCKET, RI — A registered sex offender from Woonsocket was charged in federal court in Providence Friday after prosecutors said he was caught with more than 8,000 images and videos of child pornography.

Matthew Hathaway, 25, was charged with possessing and accessing with intent to view child pornography.

According to court documents, Rhode Island State Police got a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an IP address, later determined to originate from a Hathaway's home, was being used to possess and transfer child pornography.

On March 16, state police searched Hathaway's home and seized a desktop computer and cell phone belonging to Hathaway. Prosecutors said a forensic audit of the electronic devices by U.S. Homeland Security investigators revealed the devices contained 7,984 images and 192 videos of sexual abuse towards children.