Former youth hockey coach charged with soliciting a minor

CRANSTON, R.I. (AP) - A former Cranston youth hockey coach has been charged with soliciting a minor for sex and possessing child pornography.

State police say members of the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested 50-year-old Michael Defelice of Cranston on Friday during an undercover operation.

Authorities say Defelice is a manager at a deck hockey rink in Cranston and a referee for adult street hockey in Warwick. State police say they contacted supervisors at those locations who said they weren’t aware of any inappropriate conduct between Defelice and children.

It’s not clear what Defelice’s response to the allegations is. No one answered phone listings for him Friday, and it’s not clear if he has a lawyer.

Defelice was arraigned in Warwick District Court on Friday. Bail was set at $20,000.