A 36-year-old man from Cranston is facing serious charges after his arrest on April 17. Nicholas Antoniou is accused of sending indecent material to a minor electronically and possessing child pornography.
The Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested Antoniou in Cranston following an investigation by Portsmouth Police detectives. The case began when authorities received a report that Antoniou had been sending inappropriate images and messages to a 14-year-old in Portsmouth.
During their investigation, detectives uncovered evidence of online communication between Antoniou and the teenager. They also found child pornography files on Antoniou’s electronic devices.
Antoniou appeared in the 2nd Division District Court, where he was charged with two counts of electronically disseminating indecent material to a minor and possession of child pornography. The court set bail at $5,000 with surety and imposed strict conditions for his release. These include a ban on contact with minors and restrictions on using the internet, smartphones, and computers.
On April 23, the Portsmouth Police Department announced Antoniou’s arrest on Facebook, stating that he was taken into custody without incident after an arrest warrant was issued.