Woonsocket Man Sentenced For Having Thousands Of Child Porn Pictures

WOONSOCKET, RI — A registered sex offender from Woonsocket was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha said Wednesday.

Matthew Hathaway, 26, pleaded guilty Jan. 4, to possession of child pornography involving prepubescent minors.

According to court documents, Rhode Island State Police got a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an IP address, later determined to originate from a Hathaway's home, was being used to possess and transfer child pornography.

On March 16, 2023, state police searched Hathaway's home and seized a desktop computer and cell phone belonging to Hathaway. Prosecutors said a forensic audit of the electronic devices by U.S. Homeland Security investigators revealed the devices contained 7,984 images and 192 videos of sexual abuse towards children.

Hathaway was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Providence. Following his 42-month prison sentence, he must serve eight years of probation.

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