Cranston custodian arrested for possession and transfer of child pornography

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island State Police said Thursday they arrested a Cranston custodian for possessing and transferring child pornography.

Col. James Manni said the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force started an investigation regarding a person sharing child porn over the internet.

The internet connection was discovered to be associated with Michael Macari’s address, police said.

After executing a court-authorized search warrant, investigators learned that Macari, who’s 34 years old, had digital media and social media accounts that were allegedly involved in the transfer of the child porn, said the colonel.

The 34-year-old has been an employee with the Cranston Public Schools for about five years, and was last working at Western Hills Middle School.

Police believe that no inappropriate content occurred with students.

He was arraigned in court Thursday and charged with one count possession of child pornography, one count of mail, transport, deliver, or transfer of child pornography.

Macari was held on a $5,000 surety bail, and ordered no unsupervised contact with minors.

In a statement to ABC 6 News, the school district said that once they learned about this incident, they “immediately to put him on leave.”

“We are cooperating fully with the investigation,” added the district.