WARWICK — RI State Police have arrested Hoxsie Elementary School teacher and Pilgrim High varsity girls’ softball coach Richard Conti, 69, charging him with possession of child pornography.
Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force members began an investigation of an individual allegedly using the internet connection at 61 Norfolk Road, Warwick, to access child pornography, according to RI State Police.
Earlier today, ICAC Task Force members executed a search warrant at that address and identified Conti as the alleged owner of digital media used to possess the child pornography, police reported to local media.
Conti was arrested and charged with one count of possession of child pornography. He was arraigned this morning in Third Division District Court, where bail was set at $2,500 with surety with the special bail conditions of no contact with minors and limited internet use.
Conti is currently employed as a fifth-grade teacher at the Contrell F. Hoxsie Elementary School in Warwick, where he has worked for the last 21 years. Conti is also an umpire for local sports.
“At this point in time, Mr. Conti has been suspended pending an investigation and has no contact with students in the Warwick School Department. There will be employee and student assistance for anyone who may need support, tomorrow at Hoxsie School,” said Warwick Schools Superintendent Philip Thornton in a message on the Warwick Schools Facebook page.
Thornton declined further comment on the matter, since it is a personnel issue, he said.
Author: Rob Borkowski
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
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