Warwick man sentenced to prison for attempting to solicit a minor

WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — A Warwick man was sentenced to 10 years in prison Wednesday for attempting to solicit a minor.

The United States Attorney’s Office for Rhode Island said 64-year-old Richard Senecal admitted that in April 2022, he engaged in sexually explicit online communications with who believed was a 14-year-old boy.

According to court information, the messages occurred only months after Senecal was released on bail after being arrested in October 2021 for attempting to solicit a different 14-year-old boy for sex.

Officials said the individuals that Senecal thought were 14-year-old boys were, in both cases, members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

In the most recent case, Senecal sent sexually explicit images, suggested sharing drugs, and made arrangements to meet in Warwick to engage in sex with the boy, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Senecal pled guilty on Feb. 28 to attempted inducement of a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison followed by eight years of supervised release.

He will also be required to register as a sex offender.