RI Man Admits To Having More Than 1,300 Child Pornography Files

NORTH PROVIDENCE, RI — A North Providence man admitted to a federal judge he was caught with more than 1,300 files containing child pornography.

Mark Peterson, 46, pleaded guilty Friday to distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 10.

In February 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent a tip to Rhode Island State Police about an online app being used to distribute child pornography. Prosecutors said state police determined an account from Peterson's IP address contained 114 files depicting child sexual abuse.

On April 5, 2022, authorities searched Peterson's home and seized three cellphones. A fourth cellphone stored inside Peterson’s vehicle was also turned over to investigators.

Prosecutors said police conducted forensic audits of the devices and found more than 1,300 files comprising videos and images of child sexual abuse, including the abuse of pre-pubescent children, infants, sadomasochism, and bestiality.

According to prosecutors, one phone had numerous sexualized screen recordings of prepubescent children from social media applications. Investigators also found screen recordings in which Peterson falsely portrayed himself as 15 years old.

Peterson's conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years.

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