RI Man Admits To Cyberstalking A Child, Distributing Child Porn

PROVIDENCE, RI — A Rhode Island man admitted in federal court he cyberstalked a child and was distributing child pornography.

Melvin Vidal Herrera Perez, 21, pleaded guilty Thursday to cyberstalking and four counts of distribution of child pornography.

Prosecutors said Perez admitted to a federal judge he befriended a girl and encouraged her to take sexually explicit photos of herself. He also admitted to later using the pictures to threaten and harass her after she turned 18.

Perez also admitted he used a variety of tactics to cause serious emotional distress to the victim, including opening websites to display her images, texting and emailing her images, and messaging a wide number of people in the victim's social circle.

Perez has been detained since his arrest in December 2024. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 6.

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