PROVIDENCE, RI – Christopher Kinney, a 44-year-old resident of Warren, RI, is staring down a decade to life in federal prison after pleading guilty to entice a minor and possessing and distributing child pornography. United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, along with Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Colonel James M. Manni and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh, made the announcement.
In what police describe as a chilling exchange, Kinney began communicating online on April 16, 2018, with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl. The conversation swiftly turned sexual, and Kinney admitted plans to meet the teenager at Warwick Mall, with intentions of inappropriate contact. His intended victim was actually a Rhode Island State Police Detective from the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
The ICAC Task Force caught Kinney on April 26, 2018, as he arrived at the mall food court for their arranged meeting. A search of his car yielded a diaper bag with a pacifier, baby bottle, and other unsettling items, alongside an Apple iPhone containing approximately 56 images of child pornography.
Kinney pleaded guilty on May 30, 2019, facing penalties that include a life sentence on the enticement charge. Sentencing is scheduled for September 13, 2019, in front of U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith. He also faces additional charges in state court.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gendron is handling the prosecution of Kinney, whose actions have sparked outrage and a renewed call for stricter laws against child exploitation.
RELATED: Fu Banga Pleads Guilty to Barclays Center Shooting
RELATED: 9/11 Memorial Guard Maquan Moore Pleads Guilty to Gun Trafficking
Related Federal Cases
- Warwick Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges · Rhode Island
- Westerly Resident Sentenced for Child Pornography Distribution · Rhode Island
- 55-Year-Old Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Possession · Rhode Island
- Providence Man Sentenced for Child Pornography Possession · Rhode Island
- Scituate Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges · Rhode Island
Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
