Cranston man, previously charged for murder-plot, accused of child molestation

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A Cranston man who was previously charged in connection to a murder-for-hire plot was indicted on upgraded charges after allegedly abducting a 12-year-old girl back in 2021.

According to court documents, 29-year-old Chandler Cardente was indicted Friday with six counts of first-degree child molestation, one count of enticement of children and one count of contributing to delinquency of a minor.

It is alleged that in December of 2021, Cardente picked up a 12-year-old student from Burrillville Middle School and and lured her into his vehicle. The girl’s family reported her missing later that evening, according to the Burrillville Police Department.

Police monitored the victim’s phone, connecting her to Cardente, who was in contact with the girl since July of that year, posing as a 17-year-old boy.

After learning that police were searching for him, he kicked the girl out of his car, leaving her on Jefferson Boulevard in Warwick. Cranston police were later able to track down Cardente and he was taken to the Adult Correctional Institute in Cranston after being in violation of his parole from an incident seven years before.

While in the ACI, Cardente was indicted again on charges of enticement of a minor, committing a felony on a minor while being a registered sex offender and interstate murder for hire.

Court documents alleged Cardente said the victim needed to “end up dead.”

Cardente is scheduled to be arraigned on August 23, in Providence County Superior Court.