Cranston man accused of sending inappropriate messages to minor in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (WLNE) — The Portsmouth Police Department took custody of a Cranston man who is accused of sending inappropriate messages to a minor, according to Portsmouth police.

Nicholas Antoniou, 36, was arrested April 17 after an investigation by Portsmouth police detectives into a report of electronically disseminating indecent material to a minor.

Investigators learned that Antoniou had allegedly sent inappropriate messages to a 14-year-old in Portsmouth, and obtained evidence including online communication between the suspect and the juvenile.

Antoniou was arrested in Cranston without incident on April 17 by the Violent Fugitive Task Force and was transported to the custody of Portsmouth police.

Portsmouth police said that child pornography was also found on the suspect’s electronic devices.

Antoniou was arraigned on April 17 on two counts of electronically disseminating indecent material to a minor and possession of child pornography. 

His bail was set at $5,000 and he is prohibited from contacting minors, using the internet, smartphones and computers.