Statewide investigation leads to 11 arrests for child porn

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - State police have arrested 11 people in a statewide child pornography investigation.

A religious education teacher and a convicted sex offender were among those taken into custody Tuesday when the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force executed court-authorized search warrants at residences across the state

Those arrested were charged with possessing and transferring child pornography.

Federal authorities assisted in the arrests that seized associated digital media.

Officials say while there is nothing to indicate that the suspects behaved inappropriately with children, just having the images makes someone more likely to commit a crime against a child.

The men ranged in age from 25 to 69 and came from several communities, including Smithfield, Pawtucket, Providence and Warwick.