Local man arrested for third time for Possession of Child Pornography while on probation

Colonel James M. Manni, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Director of the Department of Public Safety, announces that a Providence man was arrested Thursday for a third time for possession of child pornography – while he was on probation from prior convictions. He also faces narcotics charges.

Matthew Viano, age 35, of 100 Chapin Ave., Apartment 2, Providence, was arrested after an investigation by the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force regarding an individual sharing child pornography over the internet. Viano was identified as the suspect, and a warrant was obtained for his arrest.

Members of the ICAC Task Force, accompanied by Probation and Parole officers from the Department of Corrections, responded to Mr. Viano’s residence earlier today and arrested him there. During the arrest, Task Force members also seized suspected methamphetamine and Xanax.

As a result of his arrest, Mr. Viano was charged with:

• Possession of Child Pornography
• Possession of Controlled Substance, Schedule I, II, III (methamphetamine)
• Possession of Controlled Substance, Schedule I, II, III, IV (alprazolam – commonly known as Xanax)

Viano also has an extensive criminal history that includes two prior convictions for possession of child pornography, stemming from arrests in 2014 and 2016; twice failing to register as a sex offender; and numerous narcotics charges.

Possession of child pornography is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and/or a fine up $5,000. Possession of methamphetamine is a felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison and/or a fine up to $100,000 but no less than $3,000. Possession of alprazolam is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine up $40,000.

The Rhode Island ICAC 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, Newport Police Department, East Providence Police Department, Pawtucket Police Department, Bristol Police Department, North Kingstown Police Department, Woonsocket Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.