Rhode Island teacher and coach accused of inappropriate conduct with student

The Rhode Island State Police announced that on Monday, members of the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, assisted by members of the Barrington Police Department, arrested 53-year-old Sean Cassidy of Pawtucket, for Contributing to the Delinquency of a Child and Procurement of Alcoholic Beverages for Underage Persons.

Over the past 72 hours, Detectives from the Barrington Police Department and members of the Rhode Island State Police ICAC Task Force initiated an investigation into an individual, later identified as Sean Cassidy, who currently serves as a teacher and athletics coach at the Barrington Christian Academy. The Barrington Christian Academy is a K-12 Christian college-preparatory school, located at 9 Old County Road, Barrington, Rhode Island.

This investigation revealed alleged acts of inappropriate conduct between Cassidy and a current Barrington Christian Academy student who is under the age of 16 years old. Specifically, members of the investigative team determined that the inappropriate conduct was orchestrated by Cassidy, which was identified to have taken place both on and off school grounds.

On Monday, members of the Rhode Island State Police ICAC Task Force, with the assistance of members from the Barrington Police Department, executed court-authorized search warrants at numerous addresses related to this investigation. Two of these such addresses are identified as the residence of Cassidy, located at Crest Drive, Pawtucket, and an isolated portion of the Barrington Christian Academy. Cassidy was ultimately taken into custody at his residence, without incident.

Cassidy was arraigned by a Justice of the Peace at Rhode Island State Police Headquarters and released on bail pending a re-arraignment date at 6th Division District Court. He was also ordered to have no contact with the victim and abide by other conditions of his bail. The Barrington Christian Academy has been fully cooperative in this investigation and Cassidy has been placed on administrative leave. At this time, there is no information identified indicating that there is inappropriate conduct beyond what has been alleged involving Cassidy.

This investigation is ongoing and more criminal charges are expected to be forthcoming. The Rhode Island State Police are requesting anyone who believes they have information about the incident or are aware of other potential victims relative to this criminal behavior, to contact the Rhode Island State Police ICAC Task Force at 401-921-1170, or the Barrington Police Department at (401) 437-3935.

The Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force actively engages in investigative efforts to identify subjects involved in child‑exploitation-related activities. The Rhode Island ICAC Task Force Program is administered by the Rhode Island State Police and supports a national network of multi-agency, multi‑jurisdictional task forces engaged in investigations, forensic examinations, and prosecutions related to internet crimes against children and technology‑facilitated child sexual exploitation. The Rhode Island ICAC Task Force is comprised of members of the Rhode Island State Police Computer Crimes Unit, along with detectives from the Warwick Police Department, Cranston Police Department, East Providence Police Department, Pawtucket Police Department, Johnston Police Department, Narragansett Police Department, Middletown Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations.