Cranston sex offender arrested for second degree child molestation

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — A previously convicted sex offender from Cranston who was released on bond earlier this year after a video voyeurism charge is back behind bars.

Christopher Jones was arrested and arraigned Thursday on second-degree child molestation charges.

The new investigation is of a 2003 offense and started back in December.

Jones faces up to thirty years in prison.

Now parents and families in the area are trying to figure out how to move forward.

“A big piece of me worries that there’s many more people out there that this has happened to by him,” said Tara Ereil, who lives on Midland Drive.

Britty and Tara have lived in this home in Cranston with their teenage son for the last three years.

They share a backyard with Jones, and their son’s bedroom faces the sex offender’s home.

“After the last occurrence over the summer, we talked about a variety of different things that we could do, modifications in the home, changing our bedrooms in the house, and everything like that for safety’s sake,” Ereil said.

Over the summer Jones used a drone to spy on Ereil’s neighbor, Stephanie Merola, in the bathroom.

Like the Ereil’s, Merola says she had to turn her life upside down to feel safe in her own home.

“I’ve spent thousands of dollars on updated security cameras,” she said. “I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on restraining orders. I don’t even want to think about the lawyer fees that are going to come of this at the end.”

Second-degree child molestation refers to sexual acts with someone 14-years-old or younger.

Merola says she’s lived on Midland Drive her whole life, including back in 2003.

“I was 13, so whoever that person is that came forward, that means they’re probably my age right now,” she said.

ABC 6 News crews asked if there was any concern Merola could have ended up in this situation.

“Could it have been me? Absolutely,” she said. “I’m glad that he picked me out of everybody. Because I’m relentless, and I have a big mouth, and I’m not going to let this go away until he is behind bars and everybody that assisted in his freedom is held accountable.”

“And I can’t imagine how hard that would be to kind of go up there and say, ‘Yes this happened to me.’ But it’s important because these things continue to happen.” Ereil said. “Midland Drive is here for you.”

Jones is expected back in court in March for a pre-trial conference.