Lincoln school teacher assistant, camp counselor arrested on child solicitation charges

The Rhode Island State Police announce that members of the State Police Computer Crimes Unit and Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force have arrested a Mount Hope High School Teacher’s Assistant and Camp Ramsbottom Camp Counselor for Indecent Solicitation of a Child and Electronically Disseminating Indecent Material to a Minor.

Alexander Carlson, 26, of 2 Beverly Drive, Lincoln, Rhode Island was arrested for two counts of Indecent Solicitation of a Child and two counts of Electronically Disseminating Indecent Material to a Minor. The arrest stemmed from an investigation by members of the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. An individual later identified as Carlson engaged in a series of communications with a person whom he believed to be a 14-year-old female. The conversation became sexually explicit and he allegedly electronically disseminated indecent material and solicited a person whom he believed to be a 14-year-old female to engage in sexual activity.

Earlier today, ICAC Task Force members executed a court-authorized search warrant at the address and identified Alexander Carlson as the alleged owner of digital media used to indecently solicit a child and electronically disseminate indecent material to a minor. Detectives seized several pieces of digital media belonging to Carlson. Forensic examinations of Carlson’s digital media are pending.

Carlson has been employed as a teacher’s assistant within the special education program at Mount Hope High School in Bristol, RI since December 2019. Carlson has also been employed as a summer camp counselor at The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket’s Camp Ramsbottom, located in Rehoboth, MA since 2012.

Detective Commander Major Timothy G. Sanzi stated, “At this time there is no evidence of any involvement with students/campers at Mount Hope High School or Camp Ramsbottom however we continue to investigate and ask that anyone with information regarding Mr. Carlson contact the Rhode Island State Police/Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force at (401) 921-1170.”

Carlson was arraigned on the charges at Third Division District Court this morning before the Honorable Associate Judge Bucci and issued $5,000.00 surety bail with special bail conditions of no unsupervised contact with minors and limited internet use.

A person found guilty of Indecent Solicitation of a Minor may be imprisoned not more than five years. A person found guilty of Electronically Disseminating Indecent Material to a Minor may be subject to a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years or both.

Yesterday, a Little League and former Pop Warner coach was arrested in Warren on Child Pornography charges.