RI Civil Air Patrol cadet director arrested on child pornography charges
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island State Police (RISP) have arrested the Director of Cadet Programs for the Rhode Island Civil Air Patrol on child pornography possession charges.
The RISP arrested Robert A. Gianopoulos, 69, Thursday, at this Parkview Drive apartment in Pawtucket, serving a search warrant which resulted in the discovery of digital media and accounts that contained files of child pornography, according to the RISP.
The investigation was initiated when the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was informed of an individual sharing child pornography images from the Parkview Drive address.
Gianopoulos has been a member of the Civil Air Patrol since 1994, and prospective cadets range from 12-18 years old.
There is no evidence that Gianopoulos engaged in inappropriate activity with cadets at this time.
He was arraigned at 6th Division District Court and issued $2,500 surety bail that comes with the conditions that he has no unsupervised contact with minors and has limited internet access.
