Former Narragansett Police Officer Indicted, Arraigned on Federal Child Pornography Charge

PROVIDENCE – Matthew C. Riley, 50, of Narragansett, a former Narragansett Police Department K-9 Officer, was arraigned Friday in Providence federal court. The federal grand jury indicted him Thursday for allegedly sending a sexually explicit picture of himself to a Nebraska minor.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, he was released on an unsecured bond after his 'not guilty' plea was entered.

The indictment was unsealed Friday, U.S. Atty. Stephen G. Dambruch's office said.

According to court papers, "in June 2016, the parents of a juvenile female living in Nebraska reported to Nebraska State Patrol that they had information that their daughter had received sexually explicit online communications, including sexually explicit photographs, from a person who claimed to be a 29-year-old physical therapist from Boston." The Nebraska State Patrol investigated and linked the alleged communications to an Internet address at Matthew Riley’s Narragansett home and to his online accounts.

"Among the materials allegedly retrieved by investigators was a sexually explicit photograph Riley allegedly took of himself and allegedly sent to the victim," Dambruch's office said. Nebraska State Patrol provided this information to the FBI.

The FBI and Rhode Island State Police raided Riley's house on May 31, 2017.

If convicted, he could face three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.